I'm running (this week) 48x15 which is 82.something" and 5 skid patches. The other three weeks out of the month I run 48x17. I swap cogs for one week out of the month for a little extra workout. I would rather go 48x16, but one skid patch is lame. I'm a lot slower on the 15t cog. Not that I couldn't go faster, but I don't have the control to feel safe hauling ass with that gear so I ride slower.