Fixed & SS riders: What gearing to you like to use & why?

[William]

What gearing are you folks using and why did you choose it? I have my ideas on what I want to use but I'm curious what others have chosen and why they went that route.


Thanks!
William

[Ray]

What gearing are you folks using and why did you choose it? I have my ideas on what I want to use but I'm curious what others have chosen and why they went that route.


Thanks!
William
I stay in the low to mid 60 gear inch range. I used a 42x18 for a while, which I think was about 63 inches and now have a 40x17 (with a 16 on the other side of the hub), which I think is about 65 (and maybe 68 or 69 when I flip it). I ride in somewhat hilly terrain, even when I'm trying to avoid the big hills. I can get up most stuff with that gearing and I really learned to spin descending with that.

A lot of folks who ride fixed a lot use much taller gears, well into the 70s and some even over 80, but I once read that the pros winter training was in the mid-60s to work on their spins, so that's where I started and I never saw any reason to go taller. Occasionally I'll flip the rear wheel and use the taller gear when I'm at the beach and have a strong tailwind in one direction, but usually I just leave it in the smaller gear.

-Ray

[ericspin]

47 x 18.

I live in flat Florida and it seems to be the best compromise gearing. Good on flats so I don't out spin it, good on rollers and tolerable on hills.......well the kind we have around here. Plus it make my legs sore the next day........I like that.

[Bruce K]

William;

I ended up with 44X16 for both the SS and the Fixed but I'm guessing you're a little stronger than I am.

BK

[regularguy412]

I'm using a 42 x 16 on my fixie. The 70 inch gear is a nice compromise between the super spin of a lower gear and a knee breaking higher gear. I think the gear you choose should also take into consideration the length crank you will be using. I, personally, like to use the same length crank on my fixed as I do on my multiple gear bikes -- 172.5. A smaller gear and long cranks might make for easy climbing, but really tough descending. My set up makes flats, climbing and descending reasonable.

You may (if you already haven't) want to see what Sheldon Brown says about Gain Ratios. This 'new' metric takes into account not only the gear ratio, but also the length crank being used. It can help you compare just how really big or small a gear feels. See it here:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gain.html

Mike in AR:beer:

[myette10]

42/16 because I had the 42 and the shop only had a 16.

Is it possible to overthink this stuff?

[znfdl]

42x17, but then I like to spin.

[jpw]

A 70 inch gear is good for me. Any less and it runs out on the flat.

[Fixed]

bro i have a 50 17 on my road bike and a 40 15 on my mt. bike fix which i ride everyday ...I am kinda of dumb and it takes me a while to learn what i like and that seems to change as time goes by ..on a fix most cats are not going on a cross country ride it is mostly city riding so a small gear is great you can sprint for a block slow do it again and i think it is good for you legs (supple) here is a link for you http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com/rabbit.applet.html
cheers

[toaster]

48 x 16. Good gear for flat to rolling terrain.

[justinf]

I am rolling the 48x16 too, and have been for a couple years now. I keep thinking I'll try an 18 in the back to get down closer to 70 inches, but then I end up rolling with geared guys and I'm glad that I have the bigger gear.

[MarcusPless]

I usually ride a ~64 inch ratio due to the hills I have to deal with here in San Diego. If it was flatter I'd consider a (slightly) taller gear. It's really about where you ride...

--Marcus

[Peter B]

48-17, for ~76". It lets me cover a lot of ground in a reasonable time, climb 10-11% and spin to 40 mph on the way back down.

I ran that gear for two Super Randonneur series and several doubles last year, then decided to drop to 48-18 for PBP. As it was, the 76 would have been fine, but you never quite know how the fatigue of a 1200k is going to accumulate.

Peter

[jvp]

I run 48/17 also but my riding is mainly urban. My bike is light (17 lbs.) so climbing is pretty easy. If it were more the 22 - 23 lbs. I would gear down some.

[Fixed]

48-17, for ~76". It lets me cover a lot of ground in a reasonable time, climb 10-11% and spin to 40 mph on the way back down.

I ran that gear for two Super Randonneur series and several doubles last year, then decided to drop to 48-18 for PBP. As it was, the 76 would have been fine, but you never quite know how the fatigue of a 1200k is going to accumulate.

Peter
you are my hero bro
cheers

[weatherman]

What gearing are you folks using and why did you choose it? I have my ideas on what I want to use but I'm curious what others have chosen and why they went that route.


Thanks!
William

Road: 48x17 (freewheel, not fixed)
Offroad: 34x19 (29er)

Riding midwest---some hills, but nothing super extended. That road gearing will keep you on your toes, but isn't impossible. :bike:

[markie]

I like to have a few bikes all set up a bit differently that I can pick at will in the morning depending on how I feel.

Lemond beater 39X15
Merckx 39X14
Rivendell 40X17
IF planet Cross 36X15
Ferrous 29er 32x18 ss or 32X16 fixie.

Today I picked the Merckx for the first time in months it felt super quick with that tall gear.

It took the 40X17 of the Rivbike for me to learn to skidstop, now I can do it effectively on all my bikes.

[Lifelover]

I only ride flat lands on it and I use a freewheel. 3:1 is pretty common around here and is what I'm running.

[Joel]

48x18 = 72 inches. I'm not young enough, nor strong enough for more.

For me it's a nice all around gear that works for both the flats and the rolling hills around Orlando. Occasionally have to muscle up a hill if there's a stiff wind. Otherwise that's fine for me.

Oh, 170mm cranks (vs. the 172.5mm on the road bikes).

Joel

[petitelilpettit]

46x17 for the southern California area. Can climb with the 73 gear inches, but starts to hurt when going in a paceline doing 30.

[Kervin]

39/17 but I just got a 42 to put on. I've got big tires (32mm), so the gearing is a bit taller than with 23's. It's hilly here and I ride this bike on some gravel roads from time to time.

[RPS]

48/14 and 48/17 for about 86 and 71 inches.

The bike originally had 48/36 chainrings and a 5-speed cassette with 14/17/21/26/32 cogs. Since I live where it is very flat I almost always ended up riding the 14 and 17, so it seemed like a good place to start.

I mostly ride the 48/14. It allows me to ride 20 MPH at about 80 RPM and up to 30 MPH at 120 RPM. If the wind is too strong for me to go 20 MPH I see it as an opportunity to build strength.

[ss-jimbo]

I was running 42 or 44/16 on the road for a while on my beater fixie with 27x1.5" HEAVY tires. I dropped it to 38x16 for some dirt road stuff. I just bumped it up to 50x16 for some fast group rides. I would go 48, but I don't have one. I broke my road frame, so I'm stuck with the fixie or the crosser for road riding and I figured I'd go with the fixie.

The 50/16 felt really big on the way home.

[mschol17]

42/16, and I would like to go to a bigger gear since I'm more comfortable muscling up hills than I am spinning like crazy down them.

[Monthly Payment]

48x16 or 47x16.

I race on the track, and I only own 47 - 51 chain rings and 14 - 16 cogs. Just bought the 47T chainring. Never thought of buying extra gears for road use but I started doing laps in Central Park, and I got into it over the past winter. Those gears seemed fine for the park including the downhill/ uphill section at the northern end of the park.

[rphetteplace]

55x12 anything less and your a wuss. Did I mention I only ride downhill? :banana:

46x17 on city bike
49x16 on road fixie

[sam.g]

I'm in agreement with most folks here running 70 gear inches with a 42 x 16 free and fixed. Best compromise for muscling up hills yet not running out too soon on the flats.

Sam in Cincy

[WadePatton]

42x15 I think. and I think I'll take it out for a spin today. :banana:

34 or 32x 15-20 for the dirt depending on the course and how much beer i had while making the selection...yes woefully overgeared 3x this year.

[Ti Designs]

I lower my gear in the dead of winter, then bring it back up again in the spring. This year I started in a 42x17 fixed and as soon as the group rides became almost reasonable I switched to the 42x18.

[bironi]

My buddies and I are riding 68 gear inches for the past year or so. We started out at about 66. My Medici will be almost 70. You are a bigger, stronger rider, I would expect something in the low 70's unless you are in steep terrain. It's easy to change later after the addiction has taken hold. :beer:

[72gmc]

I tend to run about 68 gear inches in the winter with 175 cranks; I am consistently on the verge of spin-out on the flats, but I figure it's good for me to spin. Being soft in the head I tend to go looking for hills to climb anyway.

[keevon]

A fixed/fixed hub with a 15 and 17 gives me plenty of gearing options:

For the fall and winter, I run a 39 chainring. This gives me 39x15 for road riding and 39x17 for steep hill climbs (bountiful in Pittsburgh).

Come spring and summer, I swap in a 48 chainring. This gives me 48x17 for road riding and 48x15 for faster stuff.

[rustychisel]

42 x 16 = 70
40 x 15 = 72
52 x 20 = ummmm, about 70

[KeithNYC]

48x16 because that's what the local messengers told me I should use.
:beer:

[false_Aest]

48x17 with 167.5 cranks.

Eventually I'll move up to 48x15 just cause I have the cog laying around.

[PK9]

48 x 18, 170s.

Gets me up and down the hills around here and lets me spin pretty well on the flats.

[Lincoln]

48x16 'cause that's what it came with. So far it was just right in Park City because it was always either too much or not enough :rolleyes: and it's been good here in Boulder because there are some flatter options and it seems to work well on the "flats."

As a side note, it's not quite low enough coming up the hill to home when I have 90 lbs of kid and trail-a-bike behind me (and I can't really stand up and mash too well with that thing on the back). The kid insists it's me not her, little smartypants, she must get that from her mom. Anyway, I'm going to get a little lower gearing (flip flop hub) and I don't know how much of a difference each tooth in the back will make, I'm thinking of getting an 18, 19 or 20. Any suggestions?

[rustychisel]

[Roughly] 3 teeth on the chainring equates to 1 tooth on the back, you're currently pushing about 81 inches, so a 48 x 18 would give you about 72 inches. Lower than that might be a bit 'spinny' the other way, I should think. [Based on the idea that you're stronger than me to even think of towing a child uphill on such a gear]. Respect.

[William]

I'm thinking I'll start out with a 48 x 18 and see what it feels like and how I like it. I think that will put me in the low 70's.




William

[hansolo758]

I find a 68 inch gear works best for me.

[Fixed]

I find a 68 inch gear works best for me.
to get the fixed gear experience i am learning to ride in smaller gears
68 that is about what my work bike is too.. it is my favorite right now
cheers

[TimD]

Which approximates a 42:16.

Decisions:

The ratio - After riding my regular routes using one gear on my geared bikes I found I liked this best.

The crank - It was black and cheap. Cheap is the wrong reason, I know. I'd prefer a longer crank arm.

The chainring - I had it available. Plus its mere size scares the crap out of other fixie / SS riders :banana:

The cog - To make the ratio work.

I like it.

[SoCalSteve]

I find a 68 inch gear works best for me.

I'm right about there as well....Works out to be about 20 mph at 100 cadence...

Steve

[marle]

I use 42x16 which works well on solo rides around hilly Tarrytown NY.

[Fixed]

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*** bro that is a big help imho

[vaxn8r]

I live on a hill with a gradient of 17%. If I can get up that easily it wrecks the rest of the ride, and I won't walk home. I've settled on a 42x17 ~65 inches. I can get up the hill but it's not pretty. On the flats it makes me spin more than I'm used to but that's probably good for me. It really is all about where you ride.

[ericspin]

William, I know you are a big dude but really think about 165 cranks. They have been one of the most fun things about my fixed build. I typically ride 175's but am lovin' the spinnin'. I swear I feel faster and NO corner clearance issues. Just sayin'.......

[Oirad]

I lower my gear in the dead of winter, then bring it back up again in the spring. This year I started in a 42x17 fixed and as soon as the group rides became almost reasonable I switched to the 42x18.


44 x17 on the road (usually a 42, but the LBS had a 44 Sugino ring handy) and
36 x 16 MTB.

I like Ti Design's thinking (if it isn't a typo). Start with a "harder" gear (42 x 17) and when you can really spin go to an "easier" one (42 x 18), rather than try to spin something taller and harder.

Ask yourself, what is your favorite gear, the one you ride in when you aren't thinking about gearing? For me, it has almost always been a 42 x 17. You'll make it up most hills and if you can't, you walk.

Also, you might want to factor in how much you want to use your brake. The harder/taller the gear, the harder it is to slow down the rig (especially on downhills).

Oirad

[Lincoln]

<snip>
Also, you might want to factor in how much you want to use your brake. The harder/taller the gear, the harder it is to slow down the rig (especially on downhills).

Oirad

I hadn't even considered this but I felt in practice today. Replaced my 16 with an 18 for munchkin/trail-a-bike duty and could tell on the DH that I had a little extra "braking power." Also, it was just enough lower that coming home was still a beyotch but I could do it without wondering if I was going to stall out. I'm thinkin' a 19 woulda been OK but the munchkin does like it when we get going fast (I KNOW where she gets that from).

[Pedro72]

44 - 16 Works well in most situations for me...

[Ti Designs]

I like Ti Design's thinking (if it isn't a typo). Start with a "harder" gear (42 x 17) and when you can really spin go to an "easier" one (42 x 18), rather than try to spin something taller and harder.


I can spin fast enough, but who said anything about thinking???

[tys]

47x21 (60")
even though I don't take the fixie on any significant hills.
That's lower than most, but I'd rather spin than mash.
Plus I have to overcome the rolling resistance of those dreadful 27x1-1/4 Armadillos! :bike:

[znfdl]

I use a 48x19, which is close to a 42x17.

I use a 48, as I hope to make it to T-Town. If I do, I will use a 48X15 or 48x14 configuration and a different chain.