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Favorite Gearing

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Old 01-08-14, 06:58 PM
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tpin
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Favorite Gearing

What's your favorite gearing? I started on 16/48 but 18/48 is much more agreeable on a road oriented SS. On a small hill it is much more comfortable, and I can go fast but not that fast. Come spring I'll want to change this arrangement to go a bit faster. I'll look at new chainrings.
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Old 01-08-14, 07:04 PM
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I run 42x17
I dunno if it's my favorite, I dunno if I even have a favorite but I do get up and down the hills with it
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Old 01-08-14, 07:16 PM
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My favorite is 47/17.

I call it the Prime Ratio.
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Old 01-08-14, 07:25 PM
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Old 01-08-14, 07:31 PM
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46x16, 46x18, 47x16, 47x18, 48x16
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Old 01-08-14, 07:53 PM
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Originally Posted by tpin
What's your favorite gearing? I started on 16/48 but 18/48 is much more agreeable on a road oriented SS. On a small hill it is much more comfortable, and I can go fast but not that fast. Come spring I'll want to change this arrangement to go a bit faster. I'll look at new chainrings.
Then we're on nearly the same page. I found perfection on my SS at 49x18, and ride 46x16 on my fixed where my routes are (necessarily) shorter and flatter. FWIW, I do some fairly long, hilly routes on my SS, with the average at around 35 mi.
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Old 01-08-14, 07:58 PM
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Reply

Originally Posted by stilltooslow
Then we're on nearly the same page. I found perfection on my SS at 49x18, and ride 46x16 on my fixed where my routes are (necessarily) shorter and flatter. FWIW, I do some fairly long, hilly routes on my SS, with the average at around 35 mi.

Great. Those longer rides are what I'll aim for in the Spring. Probably summer by the time I get there.
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Old 01-08-14, 07:58 PM
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Genius, Nagrom
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Old 01-08-14, 08:43 PM
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42/17
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Old 01-08-14, 08:43 PM
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I've kind of settled around 39x16. 700x35. 170 cranks. It's a practical compromise for a bike I ask a lot of.
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Old 01-08-14, 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by tpin
Genius, Nagrom

It really is the best gear to start on. 70.5 gear inches, lots of chain wrap, hella skid patches.
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Old 01-08-14, 09:20 PM
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48/19

48/17 if trying to keep up on a road ride with roadies
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Old 01-08-14, 10:33 PM
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46/17 right now. No complaints. Gives me enough top speed on flats and I can get up some hills.
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Old 01-08-14, 11:22 PM
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Originally Posted by jdgesus
48/19
me too
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Old 01-09-14, 05:20 AM
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Haven't changed from 48x17 since I started running it a few years ago.
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Old 01-09-14, 05:52 AM
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I did most of my early riding on 46/19 because I have some hills to climb on my commute.
New bike has 46/17 and I think that is going to go well.


Just buy 2-3 cogs and mess around with them on the terrain you're going to ride the most.
I liked running a lower amount of gear inches when I have a lot of stop signs and lights because it's easier to control my speed in stop/go traffic.
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Old 01-09-14, 06:29 AM
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My bike came with 46:16, and I really intended to maintain this through the winter. But I find that it's tiring to keep turning this over varied terrain. Now I've switched to 46:17 and it's a lot better for daily use. At my age and strength, 19 mph makes more sense than 21 mph for flat cruising...PG
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Old 01-09-14, 06:41 AM
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I am running 44 x 18 now. I have a hilly commute and I have a long way to go in loosing weight and gaining strength in my legs.
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Old 01-09-14, 06:46 AM
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I've been running 48x20 on the 32s this winter, which is a bit high for the snow. I usually run 48x17.
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Old 01-09-14, 07:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Nagrom_
It really is the best gear to start on. 70.5 gear inches, lots of chain wrap, hella skid patches.
47x17=74.7 gi. 47x18=70.5
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Old 01-09-14, 08:08 AM
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Originally Posted by stilltooslow
47x17=74.7 gi. 47x18=70.5
You right
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Old 01-09-14, 11:20 AM
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My do-it-all bike is 48x17, 700x32. The only real climbing around here are bridges and the overpasses on our nice long trail, which are no problem at all.
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Old 01-09-14, 01:10 PM
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48x19 for downtown/commuting/hilly rides
48x17 for distance rides.
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Old 01-09-14, 01:21 PM
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I am running 52 x 20 which works out to about 70 GI since i have a 35mm tire.
So aside from the odd combination, it is similar to what others here are running.
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Old 01-09-14, 02:01 PM
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46x18 Cause I almost never ride my sw8 fixay, except for quick errands or recovery rides.
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