kansukee

I guess I must be a freak because I run either a 49/15 49/16, or 51/15 51/16. I'm in pancake-flat Miami and I like to run with the fast groups using the fg bike or my geared carbon bike...I still can't decide which one I like better which says a lot about how much I enjoy riding this thing!

prooftheory

You are probably not a freak; you are probably just riding very inefficiently. You should be shooting for an RPM of upwards of 100. At 51/15 this would mean that you were averaging 27 mph and it is isn't likely that you are sustaining such speeds even in miami.

There are occasionally very tarcky guys who come in here and brag about their big chainring, running 61/12 or something like that and we laugh at them. Look like a pro and learn to spin.

Sixty Fiver

Maybe he rides with a bunch of slow people...

ThermionicScott 

59" in the winter, 71" in the other three seasons...

kansukee

With the 49/16 I usually spin around 100rpm around 24mph, and one of these groups does 21-24 with occasional bursts past 30 mph at which point I am spinning over 130. The other groups that I ride with during the weekend are faster, basically 24 and up for distances of 60-85 miles so being able to spin at 95rpm at just over 25 mph is nice, while knowing that I still can get it to the mid 30s if I have to.

I know that most people get these bikes thinking that they are supposed to spin like crazy at all times but on a long ride it's just not efficient nor practical to spin at 120rpm on a small gear when I have the choice of a much more comfortable 90-110 while knowing that I can stay with the fast group. I spin a lot more when on the geared bike (95-110) so I actually end up using this one as more of a bike I use when I want to work out with a heavier gear...

prooftheory

Just to be clear though 130 isn't very fast.

kansukee

I agree. I only started riding fg about a month ago so right now the highest I can go without bouncing is around 125. Hopefully as things get smoother I will be able to spin a those cadences for longer periods but as roadies go I spin pretty high_ a lot of riders regularly mash around 70-80rpm while I feel most comfortable around 100.

prooftheory

In response to your original question, though then the answer seems to be that relatively few of us tend to ride in fast groups. Most of us either ride solo or in slower groups. Or we ride geared when we want to ride fast. Also your club seems to be really on the fast side. Are they racers?

kansukee

A few of them are, one of the guys placed second in the state recently and another races Masters and is a beast. A few are trying to get me to start racing but you know, Cat5 is a big mess and I can't afford to crash and potentially miss work so I am just happy to be able to ride with them.

Philasteve

I'm using 47x17 right now, but who really cares.

GENESTARWIND

I'm using 52x19 but I'm thinking about going to 49x18

And i was under the impression running a high gear on a regular basis and ding allot of mileage was terrible on the knees?

TMonk

road: 42/17

track: 50/15

road bike: ALL THE GEARS! HAHAHAHAAA

8bits

48/17 for city riding

europa

70 gi originally.
Having inserted some hills and varying fitness, 66gi makes more sense.

Of course, the S3X makes most sense of all, even if it doesn't get me up Flagstaff Hill

europa

He's not in my bunch ... oh, hang on, I don't have a bunch.

caloso

I once set up my FG with a 52x15 for a flat 10mile TT, which was great for that purpose but it really killed me in town.

Leukybear 

47x17

Pretty mild in my book for a land O' valleys

Sixty Fiver

I prefer larger chainwheel and cog combinations, 52 / 18 gives me 72 gear inches on a road wheel, the winter fix has a 48/20 on a 26 inch mtb wheel so I can churn through the snow.

Dannihilator

I get bored with gearing and change it around every so often. Will see how this 46/44x17/19 thing works out

ThimbleSmash

I got to say I've been enjoying 55-60 gear iches lately. Mid 60's was fine but I didn't like it so much with the frequent stops I deal with in some areas.

Scrodzilla

49/18 (72.60 gi) on my BK and 49/20 (65.31 gi) on my 725. Both are great.

bmontgomery87

If you're mashing constantly and skidding, yes your knees will probably feel like crap.
If you're riding flat ground and the gear isn't absurd you'd probably be fine I would imagine.

LeosLeader

48x17
48x16

Soil_Sampler

46X16

Usually geared around 2.8-3.0 to 1

Prefer Big cogs and Big chainrings.

Depends on crankset and frame.

idc

My hybrid-converted-SS is 48/16. I've also tried 42/16. 48/17 or 48/18 would probably be more ideal with the hills on my commute but I don't have the tools to remove the freewheel.

My FG is 42/18 right now but planning change it to 42/16 when it warms up. Or maybe 47/18.