how many gear inches do you run?
07-13-07, 06:25 PM
#26
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Originally Posted by Ken Cox
I don't understand the "search" comments.
Any subject on any forum comes up again and again and again....and again.
If I have something new to say on the subject, I welcome the opportunity.
If I don't have anything to say...I don't say anything.
That said....
I have ridden almost every possible gear inch combination from 59" to 82".
I have a bike intended for 54" on order.
Hoodathunkit?
Most factory fixies, like a Bianchi Pista or the like, come with 78".
I think experienced riders, on the average, settle down to 72".
Surprisingly, the 59" I now ride gives me the best round-trip times of any gear combo I have yet ridden.
When I rode 82" I could get to work (7.5 miles) in 23 minutes (three major stoplights).
Coming home, though, gaining 800', took me almost twice as long, 45 minutes.
Twenty-three plus 45 equals 68 minutes for a 15 mile round-trip, losing 800 feet one way and gaining it back coming home.
At 59" I take 30 minutes to get to work and 35 minutes to get home, for a total of 65 minutes.
Three minutes faster at 59".
Part of this gain might come from a more constant average speed.
Some of it comes from the increased acceleration at 59", which gives me a lot more capability/options at intersections and traffic circles; not to mention the increased control over deceleration at 59", which lets me hold more speed, longer, as I approach an intersection or traffic circle.
One also has to factor in my age, 61 years next week.
A younger rider would probably have the energy/wattage to make better use of the 82" gear combo than I do.
But then again, a younger rider might have a higher spin rate at 59" than do I.
Hm.
Fun to think about.
Any subject on any forum comes up again and again and again....and again.
If I have something new to say on the subject, I welcome the opportunity.
If I don't have anything to say...I don't say anything.
That said....
I have ridden almost every possible gear inch combination from 59" to 82".
I have a bike intended for 54" on order.
Hoodathunkit?
Most factory fixies, like a Bianchi Pista or the like, come with 78".
I think experienced riders, on the average, settle down to 72".
Surprisingly, the 59" I now ride gives me the best round-trip times of any gear combo I have yet ridden.
When I rode 82" I could get to work (7.5 miles) in 23 minutes (three major stoplights).
Coming home, though, gaining 800', took me almost twice as long, 45 minutes.
Twenty-three plus 45 equals 68 minutes for a 15 mile round-trip, losing 800 feet one way and gaining it back coming home.
At 59" I take 30 minutes to get to work and 35 minutes to get home, for a total of 65 minutes.
Three minutes faster at 59".
Part of this gain might come from a more constant average speed.
Some of it comes from the increased acceleration at 59", which gives me a lot more capability/options at intersections and traffic circles; not to mention the increased control over deceleration at 59", which lets me hold more speed, longer, as I approach an intersection or traffic circle.
One also has to factor in my age, 61 years next week.
A younger rider would probably have the energy/wattage to make better use of the 82" gear combo than I do.
But then again, a younger rider might have a higher spin rate at 59" than do I.
Hm.
Fun to think about.
07-13-07, 06:27 PM
#27
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100.54???
Okay, 700c wheels (which are really 622), 51 tooth crainring, 14 tooth cog.
Okay, 700c wheels (which are really 622), 51 tooth crainring, 14 tooth cog.
07-13-07, 06:59 PM
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I just built a coaster brake 700c wheel to put on my commuter. Apparently, my new setup is 56 gear inches! It's hilarious to ride - I love it. I would estimate my average speed to be a little less than 15 miles an hour.
Last edited by hockeyteeth; 07-13-07 at 07:13 PM.
07-13-07, 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by hockeyteeth
I just built a coaster brake 700c wheel to put on my commuter. Apparently, my new setup is 56 gear inches! It's hilarious to ride - I love it. I would estimate my average speed to be 15 miles an hour.
07-13-07, 07:13 PM
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I think it's crazy-low. I don't make much sacrifice in speed running 69 gear inches, but at 56 I'm not sure I could get to 20mph.
07-13-07, 07:16 PM
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43 x 15 = 75" for summer
going back to 42 x 16 = 69" when I put the fenders back on in the fall.
going back to 42 x 16 = 69" when I put the fenders back on in the fall.
07-13-07, 07:19 PM
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Originally Posted by hockeyteeth
I think it's crazy-low. I don't make much sacrifice in speed running 69 gear inches, but at 56 I'm not sure I could get to 20mph.
07-13-07, 07:40 PM
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Originally Posted by faceD
are you riding fixed gear or single speed?
Why?
In any event, the appeal of single speed escapes me.
Someone on this forum said they could ride closer to a curb with a single speed, but, to me, losing all the capability of a fixed gear for the ability to ride closer to a curb doesn't seem like a good trade.
I see a lot of single speeds around town, recently.
I think if they rode fixed, they'd never go back.
=====
A world class human athelete can run a mile in four minutes, or 15 miles and hour.
At 59", I can maintain fifteen miles an hour uphill and against a wind....indefinitely.
What more could I possibly want?
I would like to ride on a track at 82" some time, just to see how fast I could go on a level, favorable surface.
07-13-07, 07:46 PM
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Originally Posted by mazdaspeed
Ah I see what you mean. I think 56 inches is pretty comfortable, granted my college is built on a hill lol. Maybe I'll get another bike and go with a higher gear
07-13-07, 08:52 PM
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48X15 on one side of the flip flop, or 86ish inches and 48X14 on the other or 90something.
07-13-07, 09:27 PM
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I'm a little confused here, I ride 42 x 15 which according to the fixed gear gallery resource chart is 75.6 but other people say it is less is there another chart I'm missing?
07-13-07, 11:59 PM
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Try the Rabbit Applet for gear inches and anything else having to do with gear ratios.
Pay attention to wheel and tire size when using it.
https://software.bareknucklebrigade.c...it.applet.html
Pay attention to wheel and tire size when using it.
https://software.bareknucklebrigade.c...it.applet.html
07-14-07, 01:28 AM
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I gear down in winter for better rear wheel braking.
I used the front brake two winters ago and had a fall that broke four ribs and punctured/collapsed my lung.
I used the front brake two winters ago and had a fall that broke four ribs and punctured/collapsed my lung.
07-14-07, 01:55 AM
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holy *****balls, did you stack or just loose control? by the way, you don't live so far from me but your winters are much worse.
07-14-07, 02:08 AM
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I rode over the crest of a steep hill onto a 1/4" sheet of clear ice deposited by freezing rain.
Confronted by a long downhill, I tried to brake by back pedaling, and my rear wheel spun backwards on the ice.
Unconsciously, I tapped my front brake and the wheel went out from underneath me in a flash.
When I hit the ground on my left side, I still had my hands on the handlebar and my feet clipped into the pedals.
I picked myself up, walked down to the edge of the ice, got on the bike and rode five miles to the nearest Emergency Room.
They put a tube in my chest to reinflate my lung, and had to retube me two more times over the next three weeks before the lung would stay inflated.
I lost a month of work.
Confronted by a long downhill, I tried to brake by back pedaling, and my rear wheel spun backwards on the ice.
Unconsciously, I tapped my front brake and the wheel went out from underneath me in a flash.
When I hit the ground on my left side, I still had my hands on the handlebar and my feet clipped into the pedals.
I picked myself up, walked down to the edge of the ice, got on the bike and rode five miles to the nearest Emergency Room.
They put a tube in my chest to reinflate my lung, and had to retube me two more times over the next three weeks before the lung would stay inflated.
I lost a month of work.
07-14-07, 03:04 AM
#45
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Originally Posted by Ken Cox
I rode over the crest of a steep hill onto a 1/4" sheet of clear ice deposited by freezing rain.
Confronted by a long downhill, I tried to brake by back pedaling, and my rear wheel spun backwards on the ice.
Unconsciously, I tapped my front brake and the wheel went out from underneath me in a flash.
When I hit the ground on my left side, I still had my hands on the handlebar and my feet clipped into the pedals.
I picked myself up, walked down to the edge of the ice, got on the bike and rode five miles to the nearest Emergency Room.
They put a tube in my chest to reinflate my lung, and had to retube me two more times over the next three weeks before the lung would stay inflated.
I lost a month of work.
Confronted by a long downhill, I tried to brake by back pedaling, and my rear wheel spun backwards on the ice.
Unconsciously, I tapped my front brake and the wheel went out from underneath me in a flash.
When I hit the ground on my left side, I still had my hands on the handlebar and my feet clipped into the pedals.
I picked myself up, walked down to the edge of the ice, got on the bike and rode five miles to the nearest Emergency Room.
They put a tube in my chest to reinflate my lung, and had to retube me two more times over the next three weeks before the lung would stay inflated.
I lost a month of work.
07-14-07, 05:16 AM
#46
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Rabbit says 75.6 gear inches for me. I recently went from 42-17 to 42-15. Now to get rid of the 'cross tires for some road tires. Too noisy and slow.
07-14-07, 06:01 AM
#47
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Originally Posted by Sizzle-Chest
81, but i've noticed some people downshift during the winter. find that helps? rabbit stuff is a great site.
SS allows for a few more gear inches all else being equal, that is its advantage, I typically ride around in my 52-14 or 52-13 on my geared roadie on flat road no wind, can't do that on my fixed gear
07-14-07, 12:31 PM
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Reading Ken Cox posts is like watching a powerpoint presentation.
single sentence.
one idea per sentence.
bullet-point style.
declarative statements.
Stop brain washing me Ken Cox!
single sentence.
one idea per sentence.
bullet-point style.
declarative statements.
Stop brain washing me Ken Cox!
07-14-07, 03:53 PM
#50
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49x16 = 80 gear inches.
Pure heaven when descending a nice hill.
Not so great in the wind/winter/carrying heavy loads/fatigued riding.
Pure heaven when descending a nice hill.
Not so great in the wind/winter/carrying heavy loads/fatigued riding.