Best all-around gearing?
 

I'm kinda new to the single speed/fixed gear genre, but I hear it's the in thing right now. Hoping to renovate some older bikes I've got lying around to sell - not having to attach deraillers and run cables sounds great. Most of them have a standard crank up front - like 52. What would be a good gear to run in back for all around riding - some hills, mostly level in town riding?

44 X 17

46*16

49*17 works wonders in boston

48 x 17 in flats for me

+1

Been rocking 48 x 15 for a while but my knees are tired.

There is some consensus around 69 gear inches.... I guess I'm one of the "low-gear" people, I ride around 65". Use this to figure it out with your existing chainrings: sheldonbrown.com/gears.

52/17 or 52/16

53x11.
53x12 if you have hills.

Unless of course you are weak! muahahahah!

44x14 = 3.14

start at
 

70 gear inches and adjust from there. I think that's a good starting point until you find your fitness level and what works for where you ride.

this might be the smartest thing said around here in a while

44 x 16 with 700x23 on my commuter FG.

46x17 = 2.71

48x15 for around town. 50x14 for track.... at least on Brian Piccolo.

was it just me... or was brians song totally homoerotic

it is sloppy... but its the first movie i cried watching. before bambi yo.

just by the by. there is an identical thread with more responses like one thread above this one.

....utilizing the "pi" ratio methodolgy of fixed gears......

+1, except keep the 11, even if you have hills. ;)

Thanks for all the responses - I can always count on the forum for answers. Or at least good discussion!

+1

70 inches is about where I like it. I ride 48X18 with a 16t cog on the other side of the hub if I want more speed.

5219

This thread is going to have 3000 different answers, none of which will help you. That said, 49x18!!!!

What ever lets you pedal at:
50rpm seated up the steepest long hills in your area
150rpm down those hills
and 100rpm for your cruising fast speed.

But if you are building up bikes out of scrap for resale, the best gearing is what ya got...

Al