Originally Posted by jock
OK track stars: got any tips on gear selection for track. New bike comes standard with 48x16, but how do you figure out what other ratios to buy?
Do I get a 14 and 15 straight up, plus a 17 for violently windy days? Invest in 49 and 50 rings as well to split the range of available ratios neatly?
you should get all of that
48x16 is a good gear to start, I have that or a 48x15.
Bigger gears are very hard to get started and are mostly for sprints. For good all around track use a 48x16 is good, just work on getting the spin going and you'll be fine. Smaller gears work better for quick accelarations which is important in most of the track racing you will do.
Guys like Brad and Mellish fly on those sorts of ratios.