The build up of my single speed bike pictured below (build in progress, yes I'm removing the inner ring and adding bar tape) coincided with a nasty bit of cold, windy weather in the metro D.C. area.

During test rides on my geared road bike I determined that 52 x 18 would be a nice choice for my daily commute. Mostly flat, then uphill the final 3/4 mile.

The last couple of days have featured the kind of wind that hits you at times like a brick wall and literally stops you dead on the bike. Though I had easily made the hills during my test runs I was really struggling the past couple of days on the new single speed.

I mentioned this to my wife and told her I might gear down. She said "this wind is unusual, it will stop soon." Last night before going to bed it hit me: even on the flats with minimal wind the setup just did not feel like 52 x 18. I went downstairs to look at my spare cogs and sure enough there was the the 18t lying on the floor staring back at me.

The combo I actually put on the bike was 52 x 16. Of course now I'm thinking HTFU, don't put on the 18t, but I wonder how my knees will feel on the uphills over the long haul.

cheers