To the SS commuters
#1
Did I catch a niner?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: a van down by the river
Posts: 542
Bikes: Vassago Fisticuff/Surly Ogre/Surly Pugsley/Surly Pugsley 29+
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
To the SS commuters
What gearing do you run?
The terrain is mostly flat for this bike and I will only really use it in the winter, I will be able to swap cogs easily. And when I am not using it it will be used in the summer by my mother (I'm the best son). She never shifts and the der on this bike is pretty much crapped out.
42/16 seem ok?
The terrain is mostly flat for this bike and I will only really use it in the winter, I will be able to swap cogs easily. And when I am not using it it will be used in the summer by my mother (I'm the best son). She never shifts and the der on this bike is pretty much crapped out.
42/16 seem ok?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Indy
Posts: 127
Bikes: Trek Soho S (sold), Bridgestone 300 SS (stolen), 1988 Raleigh Technium The Chill
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I would say that a 42/16 would be fine. I rode a 44/17 on my soho s, but it was lighter.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 11,375
Bikes: '08 Surly Cross-Check, 2011 Redline Conquest Pro, 2012 Spesh FSR Comp EVO, 2015 Trek Domane 6.2 disc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
44/17 for me, and I've got a couple long, mid-grade (4 - 7%) climbs along with a short steep one.
__________________
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
"I feel like my world was classier before I found cyclocross."
- Mandi M.
#4
master of bottom licks
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lou-evil, Canned-Yucky USA
Posts: 2,210
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 111 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
For just relaxed commuting I think something in the order of about 66 gear inches works well (50/14 works well in my case).
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 922
Bikes: Wheeler Mtn bike, Strida 5.0, Tern Link Uno, FSIR Spin 2.0, Dahon Mu P8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 34 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I'm stuck with 60 gear inches cause that's what it came with and I got used to it. some hilly parts on my commute but totally doable.
#6
all-weather commuter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 315
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I use 42x18 (63gi) in the summer and 42x21 (54gi) in the winter, which is about as tall as I would want for 3-6% grades.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 73
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
46/16 on my Jamis Sputnik here in Boston. I tried 46/18 for a couple of weeks and loved it for hills and starting from dead stops. But I really didn't like spinning out on the flats and on any sort of decline.
#11
Half way there
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Durham, NC
Posts: 1,109
Bikes: 69 Hercules, 73 Raleigh Sports, 74 Raliegh Competition, 78 Nishiki Professional, 79 Nishiki International, 83 Colnago Super, 83 Viner Junior
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I'm running a 46-17. Terrain relatively flat but with some hills. Yeah, I have to stand on the pedals a bit going up and still spin out going down, but I find that it's a good compromise. I've been told that when I turn 60 later this year, I will need to install my 38T chain ring.
-Gary
-Gary
#12
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
46/18 on my fixed gear bike. And 44/18 on my singlespeed bike. I gear down in winter time, it all depends on how much snow we get.
#13
nashcommguy
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: nashville, tn
Posts: 2,499
Bikes: Commuters: Fuji Delray road, Fuji Discovery mtb...Touring: Softride Traveler...Road: C-dale SR300
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My combination is 48x16 fg. Not sure how to compute gear-inches. It's an old Fuji conversion w/a Sugino 103mm bb, Messenger cranks, Rocket Ring and a Vuelta wheelset. My favorite bike by far. Seatpost rack/trunkbag combo hauls empty containers and clothes on the homeward leg.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: N. Cali
Posts: 258
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I use 46x18 on my fg which is 67.4 gear inches. Mostly flat terrain, but often stiff head wind in the afternoon. Sometimes I go 46x17 in the winter because it is often relatively calm after dark.
#15
sniffin' glue
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Seattle
Posts: 3,177
Bikes: Surly crosscheck ssfg, Custom vintage french racing bike, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
42x17 (35c tires)
hills here, but it's a good flat-land cruising ratio too IMO, spin them legs!
hills here, but it's a good flat-land cruising ratio too IMO, spin them legs!
#16
Did I catch a niner?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: a van down by the river
Posts: 542
Bikes: Vassago Fisticuff/Surly Ogre/Surly Pugsley/Surly Pugsley 29+
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
This was for my mother and not so much me, we actually decided on leaving the original front chainring on which is a 36t and putting a 18t out back. I thought a 42x16 would have been fine only because she is a marathon runner. So with it a 36x18 that should do me just fine in the winter. The old der finally just froze (so much salt on it) so it was stuck in 36x16 and she said it was a bit tough on the hills, I left enough chain that I can do a 36x20 if she wants
I think the bike easily dropped 1.5lbs with removing the cassette, cables, der, and shift.
She took it for a ride like right away, I passed on the way back and she like it a lot , felt lighter then before and pretty easy on the hills.
Hooray for helping Mom!
I think the bike easily dropped 1.5lbs with removing the cassette, cables, der, and shift.
She took it for a ride like right away, I passed on the way back and she like it a lot , felt lighter then before and pretty easy on the hills.
Hooray for helping Mom!
Last edited by Mr Pink57; 07-28-11 at 05:45 PM.
#17
Sputnik - beep beep beep
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Louisville KY
Posts: 481
Bikes: '12 Jamis Coda Elite '09 Jamis Sputnik, '07 Jamis Eclipse, '13 Brompton M6R.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
46/16 on my Sputnik here in Louisville. I have to get out of the saddle at least twice for a normal commute, but after you've done it a few times it's no biggie. And I'm 66.
#20
Thunder Whisperer
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NE OK
Posts: 8,843
Bikes: '06 Kona Smoke
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 275 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
2 Posts
My combination is 48x16 fg. Not sure how to compute gear-inches. It's an old Fuji conversion w/a Sugino 103mm bb, Messenger cranks, Rocket Ring and a Vuelta wheelset. My favorite bike by far. Seatpost rack/trunkbag combo hauls empty containers and clothes on the homeward leg.
__________________
Community guidelines
Community guidelines
#22
Thunder Whisperer
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NE OK
Posts: 8,843
Bikes: '06 Kona Smoke
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 275 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
2 Posts
Hopefully the OP and mom are similar in proportions. Wouldn't want to see her blow out a knee on a poor fitting bike.
__________________
Community guidelines
Community guidelines
#25
nashcommguy
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: nashville, tn
Posts: 2,499
Bikes: Commuters: Fuji Delray road, Fuji Discovery mtb...Touring: Softride Traveler...Road: C-dale SR300
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Try Sheldon's Gear Calculator. Not only can you figure gear inches, but also ratios and it'll even tell you speed based upon your cadence.