Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - brakeless & your gear ratio

So I went brakeless about 2 weeks ago. Just a trial - they're available to go back on anytime I feel like it. But I don't yet feel like it. Now today I lowered my gear ratio dramatically. Its now 44x18. I think it's way safer this way. Yes, I'm slower but I'm also more in control of my bike (especially down hill). It also resolves any skidding issues I had. I can now do multiple powerslides and skid w/out even getting out of my seat. I can pretty much stop on a dime. My question is: What ratio do you other brakeless riders use? Do you agree going to a lower gear helps? Also: did any of you go back to a brake?

I also ride 44x18. Mostly for the hills around here though.

When I was riding brakeless I had a 46x19 ratio.. I didn't have any close calls, but then again I only rode that bike for a season before I got a new one. And really, the main reason I went brakeless was because there was some crazy clearance on the front tire (700c in a lazy 27" fork) and I couldn't get my sidepulls to work well. I was too lazy to get a good brake, so I just left it off.

With my new bike, I do have a front brake, but then again I commute more often on it, and ride 46x17. I would only dream of taking off the front brake when I visit the velodrome.. that ratio is a little too high for me to skid consistently. But then again I'm a pretty small guy.

40x15 and 44x16 here, both brakeless. the first bike because i was too lazy/cheap to buy a cable and lever and didn't happen to have one lying around. the second is because i don't wanna scuff up the paint on the rims...i am realizing more and more every day how dumb that might be but god damn they look good. never really had any issues...the type of bars you run will affect your control as well, as you know. i run a flat bar on my new bike and i feel pretty unsafe when it comes to needing to pull off a clutch skid or powerslide. with my chop and flops i felt pretty damn safe...good solid hand positions for those "oh ****" moments.

46/16 is as heavy as I feel safe with..but I much prefer 17 rear cog, and run that 95 percent of the time, anything lighter, and you can stop really quickly once you get used to it for a few months

Broke my break lever recently, so I'm riding 48/16 brakeless, which is tough, plan on getting a new lever, and switching to 46/17 for brakeless fun.

49/17

74 gear inches and happy

48/17

17 skid patches, 70.50 inches.

i ride 46/16 brakeless. i've got empty threads on the other side of my hub, thinking of getting an 18 tooth cog for my steep climbs on the way home from work. my roommate rides a 44/18 and it drives me crazy when i ride it. you can skid the rear tire if you take off too quickly.... i stop just fine with my gearing. i've had my fair share of close calls, but never because i couldn't stop in time.

48/17

17 skid patches, 70.50 inches.

skid patch ratios:

http://www.optionnz.com/users/afs/i1/FixedRatio.jpg

45x15 = 1 skidpatch? WTF???

http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com/rabbit.applet.html

48/17

17 skid patches, 70.50 inches.

my math might be off, but isn't it more like 74 ish gear inches?

i know my 49/17 is around 76 inches

44x15. I can stop just fine. I'll probably gear up to 44x17 though, I miss the spin.

skid patch ratios:

http://www.optionnz.com/users/afs/i1/FixedRatio.jpg

45x15 = 1 skidpatch? WTF???

just like 48x16, it's a 3:1 ratio. and 48x12 is a 4:1 ratio. i forget the proper mathematical term for expressing it, but the ratios can be reduced to an integer:1 ratio.

I failed math, so can someone explain to me Gear Inches? And whats good or bad? (high or low)

thanks

Also which is best...
48 x16
48 x 17
48 x 18

?

I really suck at math.

48/17

17 skid patches, 70.50 inches.

48/17 too... but its more like 75 gi

I failed math, so can someone explain to me Gear Inches? And whats good or bad? (high or low)

thanks

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_g.html#gearinch

lower the gear inches the "Easier"

i was always under the impression it was for every pedal rotation (full) you travel so many inches.

48/18

i didn't want the heavier 48/17, but i didn't wanna spin like mad on a 19 cog. feels fine to me.

just like 48x16, it's a 3:1 ratio. and 48x12 is a 4:1 ratio. i forget the proper mathematical term for expressing it, but the ratios can be reduced to an integer:1 ratio.

The number of skid patches is equal to the number of teeth on the cog divided by the greatest common factor between the chainring and cog.

Since 15 divides 45, the greatest common factor is 15 and you are left with one skid patch.

The best gear combinations are ones that are relatively prime - their greatest common factor is 1.

40x14 13 skid patches
650c wheels
my math may be off but it should be close this time

The number of skid patches is equal to the number of teeth on the cog divided by the greatest common factor between the chainring and cog.

Since 15 divides 45, the greatest common factor is 15 and you are left with one skid patch.

The best gear combinations are ones that are relatively prime - their greatest common factor is 1.

Soo...

48 17 > 48 18?
Or
48 17 < 48 18?

40x14 13 skid patches
650c wheels
my math may be off but it should be close this time

7 skid patches, right? the greatest common factor of 40 and 14 is 2, 14/2=7. am i right? i think i'm grasping the math now...i've read about this a few times, but it's always big proofs and such, and it loses me by the end. this explanation is one of the simplest i've heard.

Wait, a greater number of skid patches is better right?

48x18, but as soon as I buy a lockring wrench I'm dropping to 17 for more skid patches, since i have like, none now.

Yes, more skid patches is better...

Yes, 40x14 gives 7 skid patches...

And as far as number of skid patches---48x17 gives 17 skid patches and is therefore better than 48x18 which gives 3, however 48x17 is a higher gearing so take that into consideration as well when determining which is best for your situation.

wait so you're saying if i take out a cog's tooth i'm gonna have to pedal a little harder?

48x18 but im getting faster and getting more conjones in traffic so im getting a brake setup for christmas.

yeah, it increases the ratio, upping the gear inches. 48x18 is about 7 inches, 48x17 is about 74 or 75, can't remember exactly off the top of my head.

what are skid patches?

the number of spots on your tire that will be in contact with the ground when your feet are in skidding position. since the gear ratios mean that the wheel will turn more times than the cranks. let's say, 48x16=3:1, 3 turns of the wheel for every turn of the cranks, lining up one spot on the tire every time you skid, wearing that one spot down. 49x16 is a 3.1:1 gear ratio, lining up more spots around the tire every time you skid since the wheel is not turning evenly with the cranks. not gonna go into the math since i suck at it myself, but that ratio gives you 16 skid patches. the tire contacts the ground in 16 places when the cranks are in skidding position, but another ratio will affect the crank to tire relationship in a way that creates its own number of skid patches.

more skid patches=longer tire life, as wear is spread more evenly.

i was joking. 48x18 is 70.2 or something, 48x17 is like 74.2. I'll take the 17 skid patches vs. 3 and mash a bit more if need be, but i really don't expect it to change my riding much.

If i build up a new rear like i was planing over the winter, i'm gonna do a fixed/fixed phil with a 14t on the other side (90 inches!)

90 inches? So long ACL! You were nice while you lasted.

I'm running (this week) 48x15 which is 82.something" and 5 skid patches. The other three weeks out of the month I run 48x17. I swap cogs for one week out of the month for a little extra workout. I would rather go 48x16, but one skid patch is lame. I'm a lot slower on the 15t cog. Not that I couldn't go faster, but I don't have the control to feel safe hauling ass with that gear so I ride slower.

49x17. Brakeless for over a year. It's a good ratio. You can get used to any ratio within reason over time running brakeless, as long as you have a good pedal setup and good bike fit. Sloppy fit or cheapo/worn out straps+clips and you run a stupid risk.

You can get used to any ratio within reason over time running brakeless, as long as you have a good pedal setup and good bike fit. Sloppy fit or cheapo/worn out straps+clips and you run a stupid risk.I ride w/clipless pedals so i'm good that way, but my frame is a little big for me. Its an IRO 62cm, which is like a normal 59cm - but it still feels too large. So, I'm looking.

yeah, it's definitely harder to skid a frame that's too big for you... i've found that out riding taller friends' bikes. mostly though, saddle height and fore/aft position is everything. well, this is for sit down skids; that's the only thing i mess around with in traffic. you should never be more than a few inches from your seat whilst skidding to stop.

48-17. love it

48/18

i didn't want the heavier 48/17, but i didn't wanna spin like mad on a 19 cog. feels fine to me.

Come on, I'm running 48/19 on my track bike and it's not that bad in the city.

Although I already ordered a 18t cog to replace the old one sometime soon.

48.17 is nice

48-17 + Sidi Dominators in Newport News, loved it for 3 months until I moved to Harrisonburg(very hilly). Didn't really like it for the next 4 months until i got a brake and mks pedals. New chain ring comes in today, so i will be riding 42-17 or 42-16. Probably gonna take the brake off. AHHHHHHHHH I LOVE PACKAGES IN THE MAIL!

i was always under the impression it was for every pedal rotation (full) you travel so many inches.

Nah, that is called development. Gear inches are the size of the wheel you would need on an ordinary.

Soo...

48 17 > 48 18?
Or
48 17 < 48 18?

48x17 > 48x18 for both skid patches and gear inches.

Since 17 is prime, as long as your chainring is not a multiple of 17 (like 34 or 51) you will have 17 skid patches.

46/17

46/17, which is still too tall for the hill i have to deal with

47/16

48x15

I rode 49x19 brakeless for a bit, wasn't too fun as I got tired of having to be out of my seat all the time to skip/skid and my commute to class was too stressful.

right now i have 46x19(winter time) and since once again I am lazy I threw my brake on..

i probably will go 49x18 come spring time

49:14

60/12