Originally Posted by
jromano
The Messenger is very nice out of the box, but the ratio is too high for my tastes. I'd have to get a smaller chainring.
Or you could get an 18T cog or freewheel.
This would get right at 70 gear inches and you don't have to get a new chain or anything. If you are running freewheel, the 3 skid patches with this gearing won't matter, and even if you are running fixed, you can always rotate the tire to even out the skid-wear.
Messenger - $350
New 18T freewheel - $25
Sell the stock 16T freewheel on the interwebs - $-5
Wheels trued at bike shop - $30ish
Total - $400ish