Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - How many gear inches do you use?

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Most "experts" say 70 inches is a happy medium. I use a 42 x 16 which is 70.9", so i'm spot on.

How bout y'all? More or less?

44/16 on one bike, 47/17 on the other. whatever those are in inches. fine for boston and nyc.:) :) :D :D :) :) :D :eek: :eek:

I'm currently using 47x17, a bit higher than I like but Sac is flat. I found that 74-76 worked really well for me.

I have 81 gear inches, but rarely use all of them.

did a century on 48x16 this weekend with rolling hills equal to 4000 ft of climbing as per someone's GPS. felt fine to me. i commute on 48x17 and train on 48x15.

i have no idea how to calculate gear inches. i roll on 52x19. feels good all around.

78.8 - comfortable most of the time, but i struggle on big hills.

i ran 93.6 [52x15] for about a year, then recently dropped down to 72 [40x15]. 40x15 is much, much better on my knees.

48/18 with 172.5 cranks, right at 70.1, and it's peachy for me...

I run 47/16 which is 77.2" and it works great in NYC.

I gear much lower, usually 60-64 inches, for climbing the steeper hills around NYC. I almost always run a freewheel, so I don't have to worry about maintaining a spin while descending. I lose some top-end speed, but that's only an issue on a group ride. I think the lower gear makes it nice when taking off from stoplights and stop signs in the city.

54/22 or 55/21 with 26" x 1.125 tires

Roughly 70 inches, I guess. It doesn't matter to me very much.

i have no idea how to calculate gear inches. i roll on 52x19. feels good all around.


You can use the gear calculator HERE (http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/articles/steve-cadence/gear_calculator_fordfasterr.html)


For your 52x19, that = 73.89 inches =)

~ 72 inches - (45 x 17 @ 28mm tires)

36x13 (!)

Quite a workout, I must say. After training on this, I'm switching to 36x15.

38 x 13 = 71.5 w/26" wheels. i would go higher than 38, but that's the largest that will fit without hitting my mtb chainstays.

comes out to 68 inches, I can ride up to 22mph without over spinning, also can ride in the 14mph range for hills, but still can be rough if I don't pick the right routes in Arlington VA outside of Washington DC. I also find this gear really good for the C&O canal, but in the winter I ran a 34 X 14 which is 65 gear inches which was nice for the C&O and flat areas, but a pain for anything downhill.

42x13 - ~87.23 gIn. on my black bike

52x16 - ~87.75 gIn. on my red bike..

48 x 15 now, but i'm thinking of gearing down to 17 on the rear to give my knees a little break...

My new ss Cross Check build is 42x17 with 40mm knobby tires and 175mm cranks. Gear inch-wise it's nearly identical according to Sheldon (in the 67-68 range) to my 46x17 fixed with skinny tires but the feel is totally different. The fixed has 170mm cranks and the ss has 175mm cranks.

I will eventually put a 19 or 20 tooth freewheel on the other side of the Cross Check's hub for much lower (more ss MTB-ish) gearing.

70.1" (700x23, 170mm, 48x18) according to Sheldon Brown and his magical calculator. Good for Philly, but I spin out too easily.

I ride 92.6 gear inches. 48/14. It is a little to easy to peddle, I am looking at going a little higher.

71.5 - 49x18 165mm 700x23

77.3, 50x17, 170mm Cranks

69

46X18 is the pro norm in DC. We have a lot of hills and a smaller gear is better for traffic.

Can we use gear ratio instead of the obscure and obtuse 'Gear inches". Even the source of the gear inch measurement, Sheldon Brown, recommends that it be dropped.

Additionally, you might get the same ratio with certain mixes, but if we list the actual teeth it carries more data.

70.1 or 48x18, whichever way you want to look at it.

88.2

71.5 - 49x18 165mm 700x23

however my new commuter will be 40x16 fixed (67), 40x18 free. (60) with 700x28mm tires and 165mm ranks

I ride 92.6 gear inches. 48/14. It is a little to easy to peddle, I am looking at going a little higher.
HOLLA!

I ride 92.6 gear inches. 48/14. It is a little to easy to peddle, I am looking at going a little higher.

peddle faster

49x16

peddle faster

I can't peddle any faster or I would. My legs feel like a ****ing windmill in hundred mile an hour winds. I just want more speed and can't seem to get there.

After reading this earlier today I ordered some new parts to put me at 51/12 (114.75), hope that will get me there.

39 x 13 and 44 x 15

I used to run 42/16 (68), I'm currently running 52/16 (85), and I'm about to start running 48/16 (78). I've got a flip/flop, and I'll either run 15 and 16 or 16 and 17, with 48 up front.

I can't peddle any faster or I would. My legs feel like a ****ing windmill in hundred mile an hour winds. I just want more speed and can't seem to get there.

After reading this earlier today I ordered some new parts to put me at 51/12 (114.75), hope that will get me there.

pedal
http://www.lightfootcycles.com/images/pedal%20gofast.jpg

peddle
http://www.villagehatshop.com/media/street-peddler-2.jpg

petal
http://www.weddingflowersandmore.com/images/silkflower/petal-lavender.JPG

skank
http://redneck414.tripod.com/278_skank.jpg

71.5 @ 45/17. very suitable ratio for g/p. despite the altitude and hills, i'm beginning to outgrow this gear. i can't seem to relaxand enjoy the cruise, i'm always riding an individual TT in my head. time to drop a tooth on the cog...

After reading this earlier today I ordered some new parts to put me at 51/12 (114.75), hope that will get me there.

You'll be in a higher gear then is available on alot of road bikes.

I can't peddle any faster or I would. My legs feel like a ****ing windmill in hundred mile an hour winds. I just want more speed and can't seem to get there.

After reading this earlier today I ordered some new parts to put me at 51/12 (114.75), hope that will get me there.

Don’t quit your day job cause, the comedy aint cuttin it!

48 X 16 700 X 23 / 170MM G.I.78.8
A bit high, but so far so good.
Cheers

30 lb bike and i ride no more then 80 inch gear.

70.2 gear inches. 52x20 on 27&1/4's on my SS road bike conversion. It's alright, not bad taking off from the stop lights and the top end is fairly good too.
I can still climb hills with this gearing so I'mma stay with it.

The formula is very simple. (Front teeth/rear teeth) X wheel diameter. A 700c wheel is about 27".

So for someone with a 48 chain ring and a 14 cog that would be 48/14 X 27 = 92.6.

64.4". 40x16. Single speed full rigid MTB.

71.5 - 49x18 165mm 700x23
+1

49/16- 82.7

Im going to pick up a 18t cog soon to slap on the other side for when im tired.

36x15, about 65 I think. Happy medium for the east west rides here and lets me get from the water to the 401 without crying.

48x16

78.8 gear inches

I use 48 x 17 here in Syracuse, NY. Somewhat hilly, but I manage just fine. 16 on the flip side but I never use that. I prefer the 17 rear cog for the 17 skid patches. I'm skid crazy since I don't have the option of running a front brake unless I want to mess up the non machined sidewall of my deepv's :(

76.23 GI

I've been running a 66 inch gear and wondering how all of you run such large gears. Playing around I've tried bigger gears up to about 80 inches but couldn't stand it on the street. Are you guys really fast or do you pedal really slowly?