bikeskatethrash

I'm runnint 45x16 and its starting to kill me on hills. I can get up them just fine, but im worried about my knees(im in austin, pretty hilly). Should i step up to a 17 or 18 tooth cog?

jim-bob

My knees are extra-pissed, so I'm running 38x18 this week.

rithem

It's a bit hilly round here and I enjoy the challenge of smoothing out a high cadence spin (fight the bounce!) so I prefer my 44X17 69-point somethin' inches, plus without breaks I have good control in traffic.

junioroverlord

I started running 42x14 and dropped down to a 41x14 and am so much happier for it. I'm slower but I'm starting to think that's a good thing. Ride what makes you happy, we all love you regardless.

travsi

that depends, if you want big change or a small change. when i tried going from a 16 to a 15 tooth cog i noticed quite a change and thats why i decided just go smaller steps using another chainring. why don't you just try a smaller chainring before you goto a bigger cog. downside is chainring = more money. and yea, austin is kind of hilly. do you ride with a brake?

habitus

and this phenomenon is something i've experienced recenty and i threw me off a little. i'm running my old conversion at 44X17 with 27" wheels (and 1 1/8" tires), which makes for 69.9 inches. i'm running my new ride at 47X18 with 700 wheels (and 23mm tires), which makes for 68.6 inches. if i had that ratio on my conversion, it'd be more inches (about 70.5). i wasn't really aware of this when i bought my chainring and cog, so i went from thinking that i'd be pushing a bigger gear to realizing that it's actually smaller.

bikeskatethrash

I'm looking for a decent amount of change, i want better standstill acceleration, and i want to go easy on my knees on the hills. Also, i can only go down maybe 1 tooth on my chainring(its144 bcd). I'm thinking maybe a 18? Oh yeah, no brakes.

travsi

you should just buy some cheap cogs that are stamped, not cnc machined. then you can find out what you want with out spending a bunch. i think you'll be surprised how much one cog tooth will change.

redfooj

46x17 does me well from stand-stills and on hills... however, these are all on short town rides... i havent tried long weekend recreational rides so im not sure how it'd fare there. all i know is i wont gear shorter.. the spinning on flats would bug me

neuron

52x17. i think i'm going to switch back to 52x15 for the springtime. i don't spin too often, except when i'm on my roadbike... and i haven't been on that for at least a month.

fixedfiend

your an animal. that 52 x 15 is like full on track racing. I hope your using brakes.

neuron

can't stop otherwise!

i tried 42x15, didn't like it -- didn't feel right.

i'll admit i'm a slug on the uphills, but nyc is pretty flat.

Ceya

you must not live uptown or the bronx..

S/F<
CEYA!

neuron

yup, i'm a downtown flatlander, going over the bridges into brooklyn.

i do like the hills in central park, and getting smoked by everyone else while i crawl up the hills ever so slowly. as for the bronx, it was a reason i skipped it at last year's TA century ride...

i'd recommend 46x15 or something for normal people, possibly. i'm a bit abnormal, putting it nicely.

bikeskatethrash

Thats probably a good idea, but no where to get them around here. I got a soma 17 tooth cog today, and there is very little noticable difference. Still mashing up the steep hills. I think im just gonna order an 18 tooth, and sell the 17. Thanks for the help.

dammitgravity

i started out on 46x16, which was pretty comfy. went to 46x15 about two months ago. it was tough at first (atl is hilly). i really really like it.

Gurgus

My Norco emancipated itself from the rule of deraillieur last friday. As a result, it has now become a single speed road conversion. The thing is, since it started life as a twelve speed, my best chainline is my 50t big ring and an 18t cog. It's also got a cassette on the rear end so I can't take it apart. I rode it today for the first time for a couple of hours. I like it, it's kinda like getting a train started, but once it starts rolling, it's fairly fast. Hills are kinda murder, but I'm ok in traffic. I know it's a big gear to be pushing for a first time single speed rider, the plan is to get a rear rim built with a flip-flop hub(ca$h permitting.)

My legs feel tired today. Tired, but happy.