Originally Posted by gregg
50/17 is a huge gear unless you are spinning at the track, drop the chainring down and try it again. The lower gear inch you run the easier it will be to spin, the less stress on your knees, easier to resist/skid/stop and the more fun you will have
BS. If you brought that to a track, they would laugh at you all day. It's not that tall, but it's not as easy as it could be.
Don't waste your time on things that aren't fun.