As a note before the question, you all can be expecting a fun/ghetto/beater cyclo build in the near future.

I'm in the process of getting all of the various parts and pieces I need to start my build and I'm totally lost on the gearing I want to run. This bike will be used on some light trails and hopefully some CX comps in the fall so I'm thinking I'm going to need to gear it considerably lower than would be best suited for street riding.

I run 48x17 on my other ride and push it no problem all day long, but I'm thinking about running 39x16 or 39x17 on the CX build. Whats you all's take? Too deep? Way off base? The reason for the 39t, which I know is lower than most would choose, is because I already have it.

Like I said before when the parts roll in I'll start the build thread

on my crosscheck I was rolling 40x16 (and for awhile 40x18) - it depends on how much non-paved action you're looking for.

Around here there's about a million miles of train corridors, so I'd go hit up the hardpack along the tracks and it's my own private bike path.

Depending on how hilly or muddy the courses are, 39 x 16 or 17 sounds pretty good. I'm rocking a 42 x 17 right now for training, but I'll probably change it around a bit depending on courses.

How big is the SS field in georgia, anyways? In Oregon it was frickin' HUGE, but it doesn't seem to be that big on the beast coast.

At least for MTB races it's tiny. But comapared to oregon all the feild in general is tiny. No clue about cx but I would assume its similiar.

I was just about to create a thread asking the same thing. I'm currently building a SS CX bike out of an older Nishiki touring bike. I'm thinking of running 39x16 or 39x17 too, although it is very flat in Sac. I'll post a few pictures when done.

Depending on the course, I used 43 x 17, 44 x 16 and 45x 21.

S/F,
CEYA!

to be totally honest I'm not sure how big the SS/fixed field is-- hopefully it'll be one deeper this season. I think I'm going to start with a 16t cog and 17t freewheel simply because I have both on hand.

now all I need is for the parts to come rolling in

If you're in competition, FG CX is extremely hard... mostly due to the "remount-to-crotch" maneuver. Good luck! (wear bike shorts)

i rolled at around 65 gear inches for racing. for trail riding i'd run it a little bit lower if you'd like to stay on the bike more. remember that tire size is gonna throw things off a bit. i ride a cross check so the scope of tire sizes that i ride on ranges from a 32 to a 45 (and then the coresponding gear inches too) .

so would the tire size (I'm thinking Im going to be running 30's because of clearence issues) really make a noticable difference? can anyone give me the link to sheldons gear calculator, I want to play around with that to look at the differences.

I'm expecting the comps to be more difficult than usual, but I'm really looking forward to it.

thanks again for the replies

I just put together one that has about a 3 to 1 ratio, its not fixed though, I have an white industries hub so I havent decided what to use for the fixed side yet.

When my crosscheck was fixed I had a 32/16. I raced cross and had it off road alot so the 2 to 1 was just right. I'm also a big fu(king baby.