What gear to ride?
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What gear to ride?
Hey guys; easy question.
Was running a 48/18 but with my setup it was out of line with the chain, switched it to a 44/18 setup for now. I'm kind of stuck with a 44 for the chain to line up with my wheel gear due to how the fixed gear sits on the wheel.
My question is; what should I run in the rear for more top end? I was pretty comfortable bombing hills with a 48/18 but id like something with more skid patches. What rear gear should I do to effectively have a 48/18 but with more skid surface? I'm not afraid to go a little higher i do have pretty strong legs!
Was running a 48/18 but with my setup it was out of line with the chain, switched it to a 44/18 setup for now. I'm kind of stuck with a 44 for the chain to line up with my wheel gear due to how the fixed gear sits on the wheel.
My question is; what should I run in the rear for more top end? I was pretty comfortable bombing hills with a 48/18 but id like something with more skid patches. What rear gear should I do to effectively have a 48/18 but with more skid surface? I'm not afraid to go a little higher i do have pretty strong legs!
Last edited by The__Reaper; 03-15-21 at 12:47 PM.
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48 X 18 = 70 gear inches and 3 skid patch positions
A 44 X 17 = 68 gear inches and 17 skid patch positions.
A 44 X 16 = 72 gear inches and 4 skid patch positions
A 44 X15 = 77 gear inches and 15 skid patch positions.
I don't understand what the tooth count has to do with chainline.
A 44 X 17 = 68 gear inches and 17 skid patch positions.
A 44 X 16 = 72 gear inches and 4 skid patch positions
A 44 X15 = 77 gear inches and 15 skid patch positions.
I don't understand what the tooth count has to do with chainline.
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Maybe it has to do with mounting the chainring on the outside of the crank spider in order to clear the chainstay?
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48 X 18 = 70 gear inches and 3 skid patch positions
A 44 X 17 = 68 gear inches and 17 skid patch positions.
A 44 X 16 = 72 gear inches and 4 skid patch positions
A 44 X15 = 77 gear inches and 15 skid patch positions.
I don't understand what the tooth count has to do with chainline.
A 44 X 17 = 68 gear inches and 17 skid patch positions.
A 44 X 16 = 72 gear inches and 4 skid patch positions
A 44 X15 = 77 gear inches and 15 skid patch positions.
I don't understand what the tooth count has to do with chainline.
Also I'm currently running 44/18 which is 9 it seems. Would more skid patches make it easier to skid?
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If you can get a 41 or 43 chainring (both of which are prime numbers) the number of skid patches will equal the number of teeth on the rear cog. 43/16 would be very similar to 48/18.
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If you can run a 17T cog, you'll have 17 patches no matter what chainring you use (except for a 51). 19T = 19 patches. Take a look at this calculator and these tips.
Last edited by Rolla; 03-15-21 at 06:10 PM.
#9
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Not really. I'd say it makes it "harder" all the time. But since most hills have two sides, an uphill and a downhill, it's a bit tricky to say that anything makes "hills" harder or easier. Arguably, small enough inches would make going down steep hills very difficult!
As for flats, sort of the same thing. I think by "easier" you might mean easier to go fast. And if you have difficulty spinning your feet in circles really fast, then more inches will make flats "easier" to go faster. But all of that is relative to speed and power; gear ratios can't defeat laws of physics.
As for flats, sort of the same thing. I think by "easier" you might mean easier to go fast. And if you have difficulty spinning your feet in circles really fast, then more inches will make flats "easier" to go faster. But all of that is relative to speed and power; gear ratios can't defeat laws of physics.
#10
Bike Ethically
Currently, I ride 48/18, and I like that ratio. But I do like to change the ratio once in a while.
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#13
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https://www.bikecalc.com/gear_inches
70" is a good place to start. You can move up or down from there depending on your preference. More inches is harder to pedal/you go farther with each pedal revolution. I rode a hilly 1,200k last year with a guy who was running 85" (48x15), which is the tallest fixed gear I've ever seen someone run on a brevet. I normally run right around 70", a little lower early in the season, a little higher when I'm in better shape.
70" is a good place to start. You can move up or down from there depending on your preference. More inches is harder to pedal/you go farther with each pedal revolution. I rode a hilly 1,200k last year with a guy who was running 85" (48x15), which is the tallest fixed gear I've ever seen someone run on a brevet. I normally run right around 70", a little lower early in the season, a little higher when I'm in better shape.
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