Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Bike messengers: What gear ratios do you use?

Sheldon Brown recommends 70 gear inches for most people. I use 75 on a 54x19.

What does everybody here use out of curiousity?

How about you San Francisco guys? 42x19:lol:?

what's a bike messenger?

not a messanger, but i find 70 great for the hills/wind around iowa

76ish is great for hill less sac/davis

i keep it around 73-76 it seems

46x16 works nicely except on the really steep hills. I ride around those. :D

im thinking bout dropping down to 65ish for the winter.

seattle or nyc?

oh wait i'm not a messenger disregard my comment

46x16 works nicely except on the really steep hills. I ride around those. :D
+1
I always go around them rather than go up a really steep hill at a crawling, slower-than-walking pace.
Then a pedestrian will walk by staring and giving me a condescending look.
So I salute him with my finger.
Then he gets up in my face real close.
So I smash his face in with my u-lock.

But that's another story.

A lot of messengers ride geared bikes.

42x16. it's perfect with all the snow around here.

78.8 (48x16)

I've been working out since I was 18 (33 now), and I'm getting to the point where I can't get myself to go to the gym, even though we have a free fitness center at work with everything you could imagine (we're spoiled). The problem is, it's boring as hell. So, I got an idea...

Instead of getting weak and fat this winter (like last winter when I gained 20lbs), I bought a SS road bike and put a larger-than-normal gear ratio on it. I ride for enjoyment, but I also ride to keep my legs strong. I spin all summer long on my geared XC trail bike, so I have the endurance and flexibility thing taken care of, so the big gear on the road bike is about building/maintaining strength. As my legs get stronger, I plan to replace the 48T 'ring with a 50T, for 82.1 gear inches. If I can go bigger next year, I'll do that, too. If not, then I'll keep the 50. I live in a very hilly city, so I don't want to over-do it.

So, basically, the bike is a gym replacement. Sure beats the hell out of doing leg presses in a hot gym all winter.

55 GI. I deliver packages to myself.

what's a bike messenger?

RU serious?
http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/coverv/15/200615.jpg

seattle or nyc?

I live in Seattle and ride 74 GI. Seems to treat me pretty well going up most of the hills, and I don't find myself spinning out on the downhills.

Not a messenger...but I've found 48/16 (70gi) to be quite comfortable for the area I live/ride in. The bike I'm currently building will be a little more relaxed. I'm thinking 48/20 (63gi).

I usually ride a geared bike but when it rains I ride 48-17 in san diego. but I only do messengering as a fill in for friends sometimes.

Not a messenger...but I've found 48/16 (70gi) to be quite comfortable for the area I live/ride in. The bike I'm currently building will be a little more relaxed. I'm thinking 48/20 (63gi).

48/16 is closer to 80GI, which is also what im on now, mainly cuz it was the only extra cog i had

im also switching over to 48/20 for the winter.

46/17 in both fixed bikes in the summer and 46/18 in the winter

48/16 is closer to 80GI

My error...I meant 48/18. 48/16 was no good for my aging knees.

I am also not a messenger but I run 48/18 fixed and I ran 48/16 free until I switched to a more cruiser type free setup and now I'm rocking 48/19.

You leave for a few years, you come back, post topics and responses are all the same.

And bicycles still have two wheels. Weird, right?

I prefer the 4/20 ratio it keeps me flying high.