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Uncle Sixty's Gearing Primer for Newbs

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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Uncle Sixty's Gearing Primer for Newbs

Old 11-27-13, 01:43 AM
  #126  
Leukybear 
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Originally Posted by 1 spoke
so im 15 and weigh 126, would pushing a 50/18 ratio be good
It'll stunt your growth.

Not too sure about the scientific merits of the above statement but we can't speak for you for that question.
However, you are ultimately limited by how strong your lower body is, how fit you are, and the topography of the area you plan to ride in.

In such a case, the old saying holds true, you won't know until you try.
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Old 11-27-13, 03:18 AM
  #127  
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i weigh 105lbs. 50/18 iz so gud.
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Old 11-27-13, 05:48 PM
  #128  
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Originally Posted by TheRealFaux
i weigh 105lbs. 50/18 iz so gud.
do you live in an area with alot of hills?
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Old 11-27-13, 05:52 PM
  #129  
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Originally Posted by Leukybear
It'll stunt your growth.

Not too sure about the scientific merits of the above statement but we can't speak for you for that question.
However, you are ultimately limited by how strong your lower body is, how fit you are, and the topography of the area you plan to ride in.

In such a case, the old saying holds true, you won't know until you try.
i am currently riding 50/16 is this ratio good
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Old 11-27-13, 07:09 PM
  #130  
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Not if you enjoy using your knees when you get older, 69 through 72 gear inch is a good area to start
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Old 11-27-13, 07:20 PM
  #131  
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Everyone said its better to spin then mash.
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Old 11-28-13, 02:15 PM
  #132  
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I just switched from 46/14 to 53/16 today. I haven't ridden it enlighten yet to notice a huge difference. That's going from 86 GI to 87 GI.

I'd also like to add that gain ratios are probably better for comparing bikes with different crank lengths because they take into account the crank lengths. Gain ratio for my fixie is 6.5.
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Old 05-30-14, 01:35 PM
  #133  
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This was the absolute most helpful thread I found when researching how to set-up my own gearing...

Perhaps if it was pulled out of the sticky index at the top of the forum and made a separate sticky, maybe even renamed something like "Official Gearing Thread Thread", it would get some action and you wouldn't have the steady stream of repetitive questions about gear ratios we've seen here lately
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Old 05-30-14, 05:53 PM
  #134  
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Report it to the Mods if you want your idea to get attention.
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Old 05-30-14, 11:44 PM
  #135  
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Originally Posted by hairnet
Report it to the Mods if you want your idea to get attention.
And people still wouldn't read it
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Old 05-31-14, 12:53 AM
  #136  
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Originally Posted by IAmSam
This was the absolute most helpful thread I found when researching how to set-up my own gearing...

Perhaps if it was pulled out of the sticky index at the top of the forum and made a separate sticky, maybe even renamed something like "Official Gearing Thread Thread", it would get some action and you wouldn't have the steady stream of repetitive questions about gear ratios we've seen here lately
What is wrong with the name of the thread ?
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Old 05-31-14, 02:42 AM
  #137  
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Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
What is wrong with the name of the thread ?
It should have been called "Europa's really really useful guide to gearing", but you wouldn't use it ... and just because I didn't write it too


We are hijacking this thread a bit, maybe you should consider asking the mods to lock it ... but only after someone posts a clip of "Bicycle Repair Man" (I think that's the name of the character in your avatar, I can visualise the skit in all it's horrendous glory)
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Old 06-22-16, 12:00 PM
  #138  
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Great thread. I just browsed it, learned a lot. Just getting into SSFG riding, and have a lot to learn.
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Old 06-22-16, 02:41 PM
  #139  
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Kudos to you Beardogger for finding and making use of this very informative thread, instead of starting a new "What gear ratio should I run?" thread like all the geniuses here usually do...
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Old 06-26-16, 08:56 PM
  #140  
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Originally Posted by IAmSam
Kudos to you Beardogger for finding and making use of this very informative thread, instead of starting a new "What gear ratio should I run?" thread like all the geniuses here usually do...
LOL! Every once in a while, even a blind hog finds an acorn!!
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Old 02-19-18, 09:36 PM
  #141  
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muscular adaptions with high rpm

Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
In the old days people started training by doing 1000 miles on a 74-76 inch gear and this is what was often used on the open road to knock down sub hour 40's... you have to spin that at 110 rpm or more for a full hour to knock this down and have to deal with wind and grades.
I used to ride centuries and with groups a couple decades ago when not running and typically rode around 95-102 rpm when pushing it. Since then I've not ridden at all as it was too dangerous around here. I want to ride the indoor wind trainer now for conditioning, and made a mistake this past year riding at too low (53-61) rpm with high resistance (52/12x27 117gi). Now I am changing, and have a question about adapting to high rpms.

Currently the fastest I can seem to go (4th day) is 84 rpm in a very light gear (40/17x27 63.5gi) this morning, but feel like I'm not really pushing it. My legs are just not used to moving any faster, although each day has been slightly higher. However I'm wondering if pushing it now, instead of just giving time to adapt, might be putting a strain on my legs, i.e. hamstrings. My goal is to average 100-110 rpm for an hour, perhaps in a year from now.

Can someone comment on the muscular adjustments that occur when training for high rpm, and how best to adapt to this gradually, without excessively straining the muscles or causing some injury? Thank you.

Last edited by jlvs2run; 03-14-18 at 06:50 PM.
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Old 02-20-18, 10:50 AM
  #142  
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That's not such a low gear. By my calcs it comes to about 65 GI with a 700x23 tire, which is a totally reasonable road gear, especially for someone just getting back into the sport.

Riding a single gear means that effort and cadence are tied directly together. If your fitness won't let you ride faster than X mph, and your current gear has you turning the pedals over at 80 rpm at that speed, you have two options to increase cadence: gear down or pedal harder. IMHO, you're better off gearing down now to something like 42x19 or even 42x20, rather than grinding it out while you wait for your fitness to improve enough to let you spin 110 rpm in that gear for long periods.
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Old 02-20-18, 12:00 PM
  #143  
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Do what seems comfortable. The best way to get better is just to spend time in the saddle. As your fitness increases you will be able to up the rpm comfortably. 84 rpm is probably a good starting point. My advice would be to just get used to training for an hour and once you are there, spend time doing intervals. Do things like 120 for two minutes, 85 for two minutes for 8 repetitions. I wouldn't commit to just going out and riding at 100 rpm for an hour, even if you had a lighter gear.
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