I have a stock Giant Bowey (chrome frame) with the stock 48X16. I would like to change the chainring to a 44. Are all chainrings the same bolt pattern? I tried looking for a size on the stock 48 chainring, but it has no labels on it. I do know the cranks are stamped 175. Will I have to change the chain length?

BTW, What kind of wheel can I use for the front that has a quick release? Its a pain in the butt to have to use a wrench to take the front wheel off. What is the actual wrench size? I'm also having trouble with chain tension. How do you guys tension the chain? Is those little black brackets that came on my Bowery a waste of time?? Do you just pull back on the wheel or is there a trick I'm missing?

This is my first single/fixed gear bike and its beginning to be more of a problem than I thought. I would really like to give it a bit more of a chance. I think if I can solve these problems, I will want to ride it more. Thanks for reading my ADD rant.

Any front '700c' or road wheel will work... even if it has a quick release.

You may have to figure out what BCD your chainring/crank is before buying a new chainring:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_bo-z.html#bcd
Your Bowery might be 130 BCD which seems to be pretty common, but its best to measure it. There is lots of other good info on that site.

To tension the chain its pretty much going to be down to pulling the rear wheel back and keeping it in place (and straight) while you tighten down the rear axle bolts. There are some gadgets that can help this process, they basically hold the axles in place and let you adjust a screw on each side to dial-in the perfect chain tension... but i never use them. MKS makes them, and so does Surly and some others.

It would be better to change the rear cog for lower gearing, 1 tooth in back is roughly the same as 3 in front, a 17 or 18 in back would be a good road gear for most w/ 48 in front...front or rear, a 1 tooth difference moves the wheel 1/8", so cog changes most likely will not require a change in chain length. The wrench for the front wheel is 15mm, and your wheel can most likely be easily converted to QR with a new axle. To get the tension right on my bike I cock the wheel towards the drive side chainstay while pushing back on the wheel and let it straighten as I tighten the nut on that side, then tighten the other side, usually get it right the first try, 1/2" up-and-down play half way between the chainring and cog