Unfortunately I have drawn a rather big blank, despite reading through reams and reams of sheldon browns thoughts, and searching many many forums I cant find a rough guide to gear ratios, not how to calculate them but rough recommendations for terrain. I know that everyone is different but i'm just looking for a rough recommendation of what might be good. Cause atm i wouldn't know the difference between a ratio of 3 and a ratio of 6 (though i am aware that its quite a big difference)

Please help

Yikes dude, looks like you're thinking too hard.

Just start with what everyone else in your area is riding and gear up or down to suit.

Track racers usually use gears in the 88-92 range. A sigle speed bike, beach cruiser etc, is in the 60-70 inch range.

I just recently started to ride the track again and an 81 inch gear feels quite big. I have not been able to spin in out. For the street, 81 would be way too big for me, I'd start with something ion the low 70s.

thanks San, EyeRobot i would love to but unfortunately I have never seen anyone riding a fixie around me, not even a single speed. Thus the reason for being so confused

69 gear inches or 72 gear inches are really good for starting.

42:16 gives 69GI (that is 42 teeth on the front and 16 on the back, just for reference)

44:16 gives 72.3GI

I run 42:17 for the commute and 45:15/16 on the road.

These are with 700x23c tyres.

I run a 45:17 or 45:16 and thats sufficient enough for me. The 45/17 is around 70 gear inches and I find it a lot easier to slow down, skid, ect with that. Plenty of speed for me even on the flats since I'm not looking to be speed racer or anything. When I first got a fixie it was 48:16 and that was FAST but scary as hell trying to stop it. Start low and build up.

take a gear bike, go to the biggest hill you'll have to ride, check on which gear you can climb it!

I have a 48:18 about 70 GI and I live on an island that is nothing but mountains... big ones...

it's a little (no its REALLY) rough going up some of the steeper hills (ive had to walk more than a few of the big ones), but for the most part its all good..

and its nice to not have your legs spinning out of control on the downhills and I can skid no problem..

I really do wish I had a 17t cog tho, it will be harder on the hills, but then Ill have 17 skid patches instead of 3.. heh

get a 19t instead.

i run 44/16 in hilly ass seattle and i'm thinking of dropping down to 44/18 or 42/17 or something like that.

good idea.. I could definately get up the hills faster.. Im just scared of the down hills and the insanely fast peddling, it would be cool if the roads were smooth here, but even when they arent full of a trillion potholes, they are really really rough and bumpy..