mihlbach

There is no best gear..it depends on you, your prefenrences, your physical attributes/abilities, and where you are riding. I ride 76ish, but I didn't start with that. For me, 70ish was the best starting gear, then I got stronger was able to push a bigger gear up my hills so I moved to 76ish. To start out, take a geared bike out on the route you would expect to be riding fg or ss. Ride in one gear and if you are planning on going fixed, try to pedal down the hills, don't coast. You want to develop a feel for just how fast you will be pedalling when going down hills. Figure out which gear works best for you; i.e. one that is comfy on flats, can get you up the hills, and that you can almost keep up with pedalling down hills. Next, consider that a fg or ss has a more efficient drive train, so add a few more gear inches to what worked out best for you on the geared bike. Thats the best way I can think of to figure out a starter gear for yourself. After some time, you may find that you want to go higher, but gearing too high initially is worse than gearing too low.

EDIT: Reread your original post and didn't realize you were not necessarily looking for a gear for yourself. I'd try to go with 70ish gear inches. Thats low enough for non-serious riders, and serious riders will want to find their own gear any way...so 70ish is probably a good generic starting place. But still...go out on a geared bike and try to figure out a good all around gear for your area.

Ken Cox

People who manufacture complete fixed gear bikes tend towards 48X16, which comes out to 78.8 gear inches with a 700X23 tire.

Go here:

https://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

Make sure to enter your tire size, crank length, and select gear inches.

I ride 77.4 inches and commute 14 miles a day, urban/suburban, with about 800' dynamic gain and loss (hills).

I get 77.4 gear inches with 53X18 on a 700X23 tire.

I have comfortably ridden 81.9 gear inches, which gives me lots of speed, but at the expense of braking and control and precision at slow speeds.

Best all around includes strong braking (I don't skid), and for that I would give up a little speed.

47X17 with a 700X23 tire equals 72.7 gear inches.

72-73 gear inches.

https://sheldonbrown.com/gears/

mihlbach

That has always seemed excessive to me.....I mean, I understand that 78.8 inches may be OK for a serious cyclist and/or veteran fixie cyclist. But really, a gear like that on something like a Pista is just way to high for a newb wanting to ride fixed on the road. I suspect the high gears are a marketing ploy...the higher gear makes the bike seem more "high performance". Personally, I think these entry level fixies should be sold with gearing in the lower 70s.

Ken Cox

I tend to agree.
When I got my Pista, I put a 17 tooth cog on the other side and flipped it over for about 72 gear inches, and rode it that way for quite a while.
Then I started experimenting with all different chainring and cog combinations for gear inches from 68 to 82.
All things considered, 72 seems about right.
I've gotten strong enough, though, that I can handle 77 without thinking about it.
In a couple of years, as I get older, I'll probably go back down to 72 inches.
Something about 47X17 appeals to me.
Prime numbers.

pigmode

Isn't the Pista designed for, and setup with base gearing for the track?

45x17 here. I'm weak and need to spin.

recursive

I just put a 48x13 on my Raleigh Rush Hour. It's good for going down hills.

BuddyMike

This has probably already been posted here, but just so some of you can have something to put on the background of your computer.

bicycle

40 x 14 FTW

mihlbach

But how may of them ever see a track? Its basically used for street riding, but marketed as a track bike. The gearing has more to do with marketing than actually building a functionally logical bike for the was it is actually ridden 99.9% of the time. Doesn't the pista also come with a free/fixed flip flop hub, but with no drilling for a rear brake? That seems totally illogical.

noisebeam

I think 48x16 is about perfect for an off the shelf gearing (prehaps 48x17 or 49x16 would be better). Wouldn't it be expected that folks buying a fixed gear have some level of fitness and experience riding a bike? Why would anyone be getting a FG as a first bike?
Al

dustinlikewhat

I like to run a 107 X 13.

pigmode

You're right, as the 07 Pista description explains all. "...and an expression of personal style"

vinnydelnegro

40 X 13. smaller chainring, smaller cog, less chain = lighter, faster, healthier, better looking (rider, not the bike), more ladies, more child payments. in other words, it'll change your life.

jeac

yeah it all depends on you for what will be the best gear. If you're gonna have a 52 up front then go with like a 18 for the back.

I currently ride 46/16. I've thought about putting a 15 on there, but have been too lazy.