Yes, more skid patches is better...

Yes, 40x14 gives 7 skid patches...

And as far as number of skid patches---48x17 gives 17 skid patches and is therefore better than 48x18 which gives 3, however 48x17 is a higher gearing so take that into consideration as well when determining which is best for your situation.

wait so you're saying if i take out a cog's tooth i'm gonna have to pedal a little harder?

48x18 but im getting faster and getting more conjones in traffic so im getting a brake setup for christmas.

yeah, it increases the ratio, upping the gear inches. 48x18 is about 7 inches, 48x17 is about 74 or 75, can't remember exactly off the top of my head.

what are skid patches?

the number of spots on your tire that will be in contact with the ground when your feet are in skidding position. since the gear ratios mean that the wheel will turn more times than the cranks. let's say, 48x16=3:1, 3 turns of the wheel for every turn of the cranks, lining up one spot on the tire every time you skid, wearing that one spot down. 49x16 is a 3.1:1 gear ratio, lining up more spots around the tire every time you skid since the wheel is not turning evenly with the cranks. not gonna go into the math since i suck at it myself, but that ratio gives you 16 skid patches. the tire contacts the ground in 16 places when the cranks are in skidding position, but another ratio will affect the crank to tire relationship in a way that creates its own number of skid patches.

more skid patches=longer tire life, as wear is spread more evenly.

i was joking. 48x18 is 70.2 or something, 48x17 is like 74.2. I'll take the 17 skid patches vs. 3 and mash a bit more if need be, but i really don't expect it to change my riding much.

If i build up a new rear like i was planing over the winter, i'm gonna do a fixed/fixed phil with a 14t on the other side (90 inches!)

90 inches? So long ACL! You were nice while you lasted.

I'm running (this week) 48x15 which is 82.something" and 5 skid patches. The other three weeks out of the month I run 48x17. I swap cogs for one week out of the month for a little extra workout. I would rather go 48x16, but one skid patch is lame. I'm a lot slower on the 15t cog. Not that I couldn't go faster, but I don't have the control to feel safe hauling ass with that gear so I ride slower.

49x17. Brakeless for over a year. It's a good ratio. You can get used to any ratio within reason over time running brakeless, as long as you have a good pedal setup and good bike fit. Sloppy fit or cheapo/worn out straps+clips and you run a stupid risk.

I ride w/clipless pedals so i'm good that way, but my frame is a little big for me. Its an IRO 62cm, which is like a normal 59cm - but it still feels too large. So, I'm looking.

yeah, it's definitely harder to skid a frame that's too big for you... i've found that out riding taller friends' bikes. mostly though, saddle height and fore/aft position is everything. well, this is for sit down skids; that's the only thing i mess around with in traffic. you should never be more than a few inches from your seat whilst skidding to stop.

48-17. love it

Come on, I'm running 48/19 on my track bike and it's not that bad in the city.

Although I already ordered a 18t cog to replace the old one sometime soon.

48.17 is nice

48-17 + Sidi Dominators in Newport News, loved it for 3 months until I moved to Harrisonburg(very hilly). Didn't really like it for the next 4 months until i got a brake and mks pedals. New chain ring comes in today, so i will be riding 42-17 or 42-16. Probably gonna take the brake off. AHHHHHHHHH I LOVE PACKAGES IN THE MAIL!

Nah, that is called development. Gear inches are the size of the wheel you would need on an ordinary.

48x17 > 48x18 for both skid patches and gear inches.

Since 17 is prime, as long as your chainring is not a multiple of 17 (like 34 or 51) you will have 17 skid patches.

46/17

46/17, which is still too tall for the hill i have to deal with

47/16

48x15

I rode 49x19 brakeless for a bit, wasn't too fun as I got tired of having to be out of my seat all the time to skip/skid and my commute to class was too stressful.

right now i have 46x19(winter time) and since once again I am lazy I threw my brake on..

i probably will go 49x18 come spring time

49:14

60/12