Back to the OP - 44:16 is very common in off-the-shelf single speed / fixie. I rode this for a while, liked it fine. Sheldon Brown likes using a 17T rear cog if you ride fixie and skid brake - not a concern for you. It doesn't matter that much - anything is going to be a compromise in going with a single gearing. If I were to build one right now, I'd probably go 48:17. Choose something low enough so that you can get up the biggest hill you need to.