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Best all-around gearing?

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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Best all-around gearing?

Old 09-12-06, 04:36 PM
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Best all-around gearing?

I'm kinda new to the single speed/fixed gear genre, but I hear it's the in thing right now. Hoping to renovate some older bikes I've got lying around to sell - not having to attach deraillers and run cables sounds great. Most of them have a standard crank up front - like 52. What would be a good gear to run in back for all around riding - some hills, mostly level in town riding?
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Old 09-12-06, 04:37 PM
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44 X 17
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Originally Posted by dutret
trackosaurusrex.com is just about the best thing ever!
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Old 09-12-06, 04:43 PM
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46*16
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Old 09-12-06, 04:59 PM
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49*17 works wonders in boston
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Old 09-12-06, 05:03 PM
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48 x 17 in flats for me
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Old 09-12-06, 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Cynikal
48 x 17 in flats for me
+1

Been rocking 48 x 15 for a while but my knees are tired.
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Old 09-12-06, 05:13 PM
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There is some consensus around 69 gear inches.... I guess I'm one of the "low-gear" people, I ride around 65". Use this to figure it out with your existing chainrings: sheldonbrown.com/gears.
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Old 09-12-06, 05:14 PM
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52/17 or 52/16
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Old 09-13-06, 10:33 AM
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53x11.
53x12 if you have hills.

Unless of course you are weak! muahahahah!
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Old 09-13-06, 11:07 AM
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44x14 = 3.14
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Old 09-13-06, 11:26 AM
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start at

70 gear inches and adjust from there. I think that's a good starting point until you find your fitness level and what works for where you ride.
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Old 09-13-06, 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted by E !
70 gear inches and adjust from there. I think that's a good starting point until you find your fitness level and what works for where you ride.
this might be the smartest thing said around here in a while
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Old 09-13-06, 01:24 PM
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44 x 16 with 700x23 on my commuter FG.
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Old 09-13-06, 02:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Erich Zann
44x14 = 3.14
46x17 = 2.71
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Old 09-13-06, 02:37 PM
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48x15 for around town. 50x14 for track.... at least on Brian Piccolo.
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Old 09-13-06, 02:41 PM
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like, really sloppy
 
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was it just me... or was brians song totally homoerotic
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Old 09-13-06, 02:50 PM
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it is sloppy... but its the first movie i cried watching. before bambi yo.

just by the by. there is an identical thread with more responses like one thread above this one.
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Old 09-13-06, 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Erich Zann
44x14 = 3.14
....utilizing the "pi" ratio methodolgy of fixed gears......
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Old 09-13-06, 03:18 PM
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Originally Posted by recursive
53x11.
53x12 if you have hills.

Unless of course you are weak! muahahahah!
+1, except keep the 11, even if you have hills.
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Old 09-26-06, 03:29 PM
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Thanks for all the responses - I can always count on the forum for answers. Or at least good discussion!
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Old 09-26-06, 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Learn_not2burn
46*16

+1
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Old 09-26-06, 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by E !
70 gear inches and adjust from there. I think that's a good starting point until you find your fitness level and what works for where you ride.
70 inches is about where I like it. I ride 48X18 with a 16t cog on the other side of the hub if I want more speed.
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Old 09-26-06, 03:56 PM
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5219
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Old 09-26-06, 04:03 PM
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This thread is going to have 3000 different answers, none of which will help you. That said, 49x18!!!!
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Old 09-26-06, 04:07 PM
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What ever lets you pedal at:
50rpm seated up the steepest long hills in your area
150rpm down those hills
and 100rpm for your cruising fast speed.

But if you are building up bikes out of scrap for resale, the best gearing is what ya got...

Al
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