Originally Posted by PdxMark
I rode 66 inches (44x18) for my first year+ in Portland, inlcuding climbs up into the hills and some riding in the mountains. I am just beginning to use 70 inches (44x17) to get more speed on flats, but the climbing is harder and I'm not yet sure whether I can handle moutnain-sized climbs. If you plan to stay out of the hills in Portland, then 65-70 inches would be fine to start with. If you will be climbing into the hills, I'd keep it at 66 inches or less. Riding the hills over 70 inches would be very very hard.
i need a gear big enough to stand and climb with for a particular route and use a bike to match the ride at hand. i managed lots of short climbs for 67 miles last season in hillsborough, north carolina. i used my van dessel and ran a 44x16t that day. i have climbed shorter rides using as high as a 52x16t though.