Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Ratios?

i was going to run a 42x16 on the fixie i'm building. but it turns out that the chainring is a 40. what is a good cog choice for sf and portland. i was thinking maybe a 15.

2 on the front is the same as 1 on the back. You want the same as 42:16 then run 40:15. If it were me I might just run with 40:16, lots of hills.

I was thinking of upping my rear cog to an 18t. It's really really hard climbing hills on my current ratio.

48:15 is just ****ing nuts. Why don't you do that so my knees won't hurt so much in sympathy pain? Your pushing 86 gear inches, 18 will be 72, 72 will be your friend.

48:15 is just ****ing nuts. Why don't you do that so my knees won't hurt so much in sympathy pain? Your pushing 86 gear inches, 18 will be 72, 72 will be your friend.

The Sheldon Brown website says I'm pushing 78", anyway, it's hard but fun.

I run a 42-14. I always thougt it was 3-1. Hmm who knows. My ratio lets me get everywhere, although on the steeper hills, its murder.

Don't let these bullies drive you into taking more on that you need. You have major hills to deal with, and you only have one set of knees!!

I ride either 43/16, 40/15. or 48/16 all are ok, although I like the 43/16 the best, gives me the most balanced ride. This means I use the 43 for commuting, but if I feel like going for a long fast ride, I go for the 48. My cadence gets too crazy at high speeds with the 40 or 43.

Phil

I ride either 43/16, 40/15. or 48/16 all are ok, although I like the 43/16 the best, gives me the most balanced ride. This means I use the 43 for commuting, but if I feel like going for a long fast ride, I go for the 48. My cadence gets too crazy at high speeds with the 40 or 43.

Phil

My four fixies range from a 42x16t (71"), 44x16t (74"), 52x18t (78"), to a 52x16t (88".)
I started riding fixies using a 42x18t (63") but that's just too light to climb with.
I find it easier to climb in a higher gear and just tough it out. With the 52x16t bike I
have a top end of 40 mph. :D I just bought a 15t and have a 19t, so I'm working on two more fixies.

I'm riding 44x16 on my fixed gear and 52x18 on my single speed, both of which I think of as good "urban" gears--I can accelerate quickly from a dead stop, sprint, skid and keep up with traffic. Denver is mostly pretty flat, though, in spite of neighborhood names like Capitol Hill, Park Hill, Hilltop and Highlands. I have tried 42x14 and 44x14 but didn't stick with them. Mid to upper 70s gear inches seem best for me.

I run 42x16 on my all around perfect bike. The gear works for everything, except for really going fast. When I want to do that I get on my Pinarello funny bike with 52/16 and just crank it out until my muscles want to scream and die. It's fun and fast and on the open back roads north of Houston I've got no hills to deal with, only 5 stops on my 30 mile loop.
I love both bikes, I love both ratios, I'd actually like to build up a bike in the classic english cruiser style with 42x17 or 18 for just tooling around, upright, not too quick, nice and proper.
Oh, and I went 42x16 on recommendations from this board and I think they were really right on track. Good starter gear no matter what.

I run a 42-14. I always thougt it was 3-1. Hmm who knows. My ratio lets me get everywhere, although on the steeper hills, its murder.

Thats what I thought too; 3 in the front is worth 1 in the back???

Anyway I run a 46-15 and I'm thinkin of going to a 44. I stay away from the big hills around here. But I think I need less gear inches to help me stop better.

Despite a few nasty hills around here, I run 50-18. I started with 48-18, but wanted to keep up with bastard cars on the fast lane

I was running a 42x14 for a while here in not so hilly Hackensack, NJ but then tried out a 48x14 and Damn that hurt when I was going for a neighbourhood ride with my kids back home in mountainous Long pond, PA. I am currently running a knee friendly 44x14.

I am running a 42 x 15 in Portland and it serves me well for all but the most severe climbs, of which there are very few.

Keeps me in pace with the traffic, yet still low enough to let me start out from a stop with no problem.

Let me know when you get to town.

-Pete

i ride on a 52 x 16.. i don't really have any problem with it, but i'm thinking about stepping down to a 49 or 46 chainring

thanks everyone.
i ended up just ripping the chainring off my old bmx. so now i'm riding a 44x17. it's nice for sf. i've been riding to work and it's real pleasant.

Cool.

I am still puttering, thinking of a 44:16 from my current 48:16. I don't like the 48 so much because my pick up is usually got up and left by the time I get going. How do you like the 44?

I rode 66 inches (44x18) for my first year+ in Portland, inlcuding climbs up into the hills and some riding in the mountains. I am just beginning to use 70 inches (44x17) to get more speed on flats, but the climbing is harder and I'm not yet sure whether I can handle moutnain-sized climbs. If you plan to stay out of the hills in Portland, then 65-70 inches would be fine to start with. If you will be climbing into the hills, I'd keep it at 66 inches or less. Riding the hills over 70 inches would be very very hard.

I rode 66 inches (44x18) for my first year+ in Portland, inlcuding climbs up into the hills and some riding in the mountains. I am just beginning to use 70 inches (44x17) to get more speed on flats, but the climbing is harder and I'm not yet sure whether I can handle moutnain-sized climbs. If you plan to stay out of the hills in Portland, then 65-70 inches would be fine to start with. If you will be climbing into the hills, I'd keep it at 66 inches or less. Riding the hills over 70 inches would be very very hard.

i need a gear big enough to stand and climb with for a particular route and use a bike to match the ride at hand. i managed lots of short climbs for 67 miles last season in hillsborough, north carolina. i used my van dessel and ran a 44x16t that day. i have climbed shorter rides using as high as a 52x16t though.

the 44x17 works well in sf. i can stand on the hills and grind up them. i figure i'll be fine in portland because sf is straight loco with regard to hills. i'm wondering about buying some new tires to get more traction in rain. is this necessary in pdx?

the 44x17 works well in sf. i can stand on the hills and grind up them. i figure i'll be fine in portland because sf is straight loco with regard to hills. i'm wondering about buying some new tires to get more traction in rain. is this necessary in pdx?

I just use whatever durable tires I have for my fixie. i like Armadillos on my commuter.