Riding Fixed, Up Mtns, w Pros: Coryn Rivera

[mtechnica]

48x16 is pretty much the ideal fixed gear ratio since you can actually carry some speed down hill. 48x17 is good for climbing and you can make it up stuff up to 6% on that gearing, any steeper and I don’t know.

[ptourkin]

Originally Posted by mtechnica

48x16 is pretty much the ideal fixed gear ratio since you can actually carry some speed down hill. 48x17 is good for climbing and you can make it up stuff up to 6% on that gearing, any steeper and I don’t know.

This. The people we know who do fixed 508 and other long events are closer to this than the 42x17 previously mentioned. The problem with having a lower gear for fixed road riding is that you don't recover on descents at 150+ rpm and you don't make time on the flats unless you're really turning it over.

[David Tollefson]

Flip-flop rear wheel?

[mtechnica]

Originally Posted by ptourkin

This. The people we know who do fixed 508 and other long events are closer to this than the 42x17 previously mentioned. The problem with having a lower gear for fixed road riding is that you don't recover on descents at 150+ rpm and you don't make time on the flats unless you're really turning it over.

Exactly, with 48x16 you can basically go as fast as a road bike on the flats.