Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - 58.1

This afternoon I changed my 17t cog for a 19t cog.

With a 42t chainring and 700X23 tires, that gives me 58.1 gear inches.

For those not familiar with gear inches, the phrase gear inches refers to the equivalent amount of effort a Penny Farthing Big Wheel would have if it had a Big Wheel diameter of however many inches.

My fixed gear bike at 58.1 gear inches requires as much effort to pedal as a Penny Farthing Big Wheel having a Big Wheel diameter of 58.1 inches.

Most factory fixed gear bikes come with a 16t cog and a 48t chainring, and, with the typical 700X23c tires, this comes out to 78.8 gear inches.

I have comfortably ridden as high as 82 gear inches, but at 82 gear inches I had no downhill control.

I rode at 72 gear inches for quite awhile, and consider this the all around best set up for my riding area.

However, since I like to experiment and learn, I have recently gone down to 64.9 gear inches, had a great time, and improved my spin dramatically.

So, today I went for a short ride at 58.1 gear inches and found it illuminating.

It makes my spin transparent.

Further, I find the amount of control and improved handling profound (back pedaling tightens a turn, forward pedaling widens a turn).

I think I could safely ride without a brake at 58.1 gear inches.

I suppose eventually I'll go back up to 72 gear inches, but I think I'll stay here awhile and see what else I can learn.

My 1x1 runs 52 inches in it's fixed configuration.

You can't get moving fast enough to worry about stopping.

wow, you'll have to learn to spin to get up to speed.

and i thought my ratio was pretty low (43x16, 70.9 gi)

Ordered a philwood cog and coming in on friday..i wonder how its feel..51/20 67gi comparing to 51/16 83.3gi...

i've ridden as high as 48x14 (about 90 gear inches), but i usually run 36x14. i can get just as fast as people who ride 48x16. spin is crucial.

This afternoon I changed my 17t cog for a 19t cog.

With a 42t chainring and 700X23 tires, that gives me 58.1 gear inches.


that's the same gearing I have!
I've been thinking about going up to a 46t chainring tho, I'm a little sick of spinning out. but damn is it nice on hills.

Spinning is underrated. Response time is faster, acceleration is quicker. Great for stop/start traffic. Good move to go for 42 x 19.

58.1.... sheesh, i don't know if i could go that low. just seems like it'd hinder your max speed without insane cadences. i don't think i could dip below 65 but if it works for you, good.

myself, i want legs of steel.

I'm at 76 gear inches and thinking about going higher. Of course most of my riding is open road and I go fast. Control (speed modulation with the cranks) is not important. If I need to stop...well, thats what a brake is for. If I were riding in a dense urban area, I'd definately gear down, at least some of the time. Frankly, for me, going brakeless doesn't make a lot of sense. Sure its fun sometimes, but I'd rather put all my energy into going forward and maintaining as much speed as I can most of the time...you can't do that brakeless.

I don't advocate riding brakeless.

I only noted that at 58.1 inches I can stop, even on my steepest downhill, without much skill or strength.

I rode to work tonight, 7.5 miles and THREE stoplights, in 30 minutes.

15 mph.

At my regular gearing, 72 gear inches, I do this in 23-26 minutes, depending on how many lights I hit.

19.5-17.3 mph.

72 gear inches corresponds to the highest gear in which I can come to a complete stop going downhill on my steepest hill, in my local riding area.

When I return to 72 gear inches, I expect to have gained spin and speed.

Let's see what happens.

The Felt TK2 I just ordered is 48x15. My current fixie is 42x15. I'm really considering stepping the felt down to a 48x17 or 48x16

I really like this idea. I'm running 74-ish inches. It's fun and fast, but I get the feeling that all that techy stuff would be alot easier with lower gearing.

I want a pista concept running 58.1 with risers and white rims, but I am too old and too stupid.