I ride a 69 inch gear, 42x16 and when I have to ride to my parents house, I have to climb a nice 300' gain hill. It have to crank it over hard but i can make it home. I could probably gear higher but where I live its really hilly in parts. I love my fixie because its simple, nimble, and I don't have to worry about dinging the tubes (my other bike is a soda can thin Cannondale).