Track Cycling - You gear inches

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mezza
11-05-07, 04:52 PM
What gear do you guys typically use in races and what is your experience level?

I did a 20 lap race in 90 gear inches and I'm sure I would have been better off with about 95.
Although I'm a big rider, a lean 200lbs. Our local state champ uses 90gi on pretty much all his track races.

I'm gonna purchase a 14 tooth rear cog, with my 50 tooth chainwheel that'll put me on 96.4gi.

Yoshi
11-05-07, 05:33 PM
I typically ride an 84-86" gear. I just got some new chainrings and I'm thinking about getting a set of Miche Cogs so I'm going to experiement over the winter.
dutret
11-05-07, 05:44 PM
What gear do you guys typically use in races and what is your experience level?

I did a 20 lap race in 90 gear inches and I'm sure I would have been better off with about 95.
Although I'm a big rider, a lean 200lbs. Our local state champ uses 90gi on pretty much all his track races.

I'm gonna purchase a 14 tooth rear cog, with my 50 tooth chainwheel that'll put me on 96.4gi.

Unless you're at altitude on a smooth track or you're riding with the 1/2s don't gear up learn to spin.

CafeRacer
11-06-07, 01:02 AM
geaing is sorta dependant on your track and the event. If your racing mass start stuff you usualy want a gear that you can spin on around 100 -115 and then go higher for an attack. If your doing sprint events you usualy want a gear that you can spin around 160+ so if your going to race a 96" gear Youd better have enough squats in you to turn it over near 70KPH.


Keep the gears low and spin your nuts off. It will teach you to spin smoothly and effeciently. As you get stronger up the gearing
bitingduck
11-06-07, 03:34 AM
A 96" gear will probably make you effectively *slower* in a 20 lap race. It's way too big to accelerate (and decelerate) quickly, so when the jump goes, you'll be chasing. If you attack, then everyone else will probably have more acceleration than you and have no trouble staying on your wheel.

88 to 92 seems typical for a smooth 250 m track (even in the 1/2's), with some bigger gears in higher level races where higher speeds are sustained for longer, and the accelerations are smaller (because the speed is already high).