" Is it right that if your highest common factor is 1, then you have a skidpatch for every tooth on the cog?"
Originally Posted by bostontrevor
Yes, that's called relatively prime.
Then if you were saying I was right in that a highest common factor of 1 means a different skidpatch for every tooth on the cog, then it makes sense to me that a 16 tooth cog would have 16 skidpatches and an 18 tooth cog would have 18. So, the 18 would be better for your tires.
(I think this was discussed at length not long ago on the Fixed gear mailing list. Wished I would've paid more attention now, just like in my math classes!...)