is 38/16 too low
06-14-07 | 09:11 AM
#5
partly metal, partly real
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,597
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia.
Bikes: Hummer H2
Seems kinda low for my tastes, but i ride 47/16. One thing i noticed about my ratio is that things like doing hills or stop and go was a pain, but you get over that in a few weeks. Going for path rides or longer/higher avg speed rides is way easier, for obvious reasons. I've found that having more gear inches tends to help with things like riding green lights/moving with traffic across town with less effort, whereas fewer gear inches tends to burn me out faster (moreso even than dealing with stop and go).
Unless you live in the hills, you may want to step it up a bit, maybe keep a 14 in the back when you switch to fixed at first, then adjust after a few weeks if you run into problems... if you're riding a front brake, you'll hardly notice the difference after the first two or three days. In fact, you're probably going to feel like you need a bigger chainring.
Unless you live in the hills, you may want to step it up a bit, maybe keep a 14 in the back when you switch to fixed at first, then adjust after a few weeks if you run into problems... if you're riding a front brake, you'll hardly notice the difference after the first two or three days. In fact, you're probably going to feel like you need a bigger chainring.
06-14-07 | 04:10 PM
#8
39 x 16 here. It's pretty sweet.
06-14-07 | 04:44 PM
#9
Sir Fallalot
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,288
Likes: 17
I have a 29er SS mountain bike with 34 X 20. It took a bit of pedaling, but on tuesday I overtook a FG cyclist that was pacing me for a while (he had a Bianchi Pista) with much higher gearing, downtown. I still don't understand how that's possible... but there you go. Maybe because Helsinki is a bit hilly.
I took that bike because it's the only to currently have fenders, and I didn't want mud on my azz.
I took that bike because it's the only to currently have fenders, and I didn't want mud on my azz.
06-14-07 | 04:45 PM
#10
MTWThFMuter
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: SFOBayArea, CA
Bikes: schwinn, raleigh, 'dale, litespeed, bianchi, surly, novara, brompton
I find 44 x 16 fine for 15 mph headwinds or for climbing a 2% grade slope, for 0.85 miles (or both). If you've ever crossed the Dumbarton Bride by bike you know what I am talking about.
06-15-07 | 11:50 AM
#12
Ths Hipstr Kills Masheenz
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 4
From: seattle
Bikes: tirove
i'm at 48/17 freewheeling now and it's murder going up hills (southern orange county is pretty freaking hilly) so i'm switching to 42/16 fixed 42/17 free. that's going to take me from 75 gear inches down to 66.
if it's flat where you are i'm thinking you're going to want something a little harder... but you really should just try it yourself because everyone's different.
if it's flat where you are i'm thinking you're going to want something a little harder... but you really should just try it yourself because everyone's different.
