So I'm happily running 53/19 on my Panic (no pics yet) that is my daily commuter and fun ride bike. I don't think twice about putting in 40-50mile rides on, have a 20mile RT for work and screw around in general on this bike. I'm also a bg fella and I'm pushing 265 at 6'2". I spin out at anywhere from 60 uphill to 95-100 on the flats. I was told by my LBS that given my size and what I'm putting down daily thru the pedals, that loosing the inner ring would be a bad idea since its lending a hand to keep my 53 from folding. Other than that I think its a nice looking commuter conversion. Running an ENO hub laced to Sun 27" Touring box section eyleted rims with DT 14g spokes. I had a tendency to break spokes on this and my MTB before the hand laced wheels...

Anyway, the question is would stepping down to a 44/15 (or whatever gives me 75 inches) increase my spin? I really like the combo I'm running now but I'm worried that a 1/8" 53 would still have a tendency to fold on me. For a guess-timate of 'power output' I can do 10 miles in about 27 minutes with some hills.

Long post but want to do this the right way and not strand myself with a folded ring 5 miles from work at 430 am...

Thanks ahead of time...

44/16 would get you pretty close to where you're at right now. it might give you some added stability in keeping your cr from folding, but i don't really know. 44t rings can fold too. check out sugino messenger rings, they're pretty beefy.

some other important factors in keeping your chainring from folding are a good chainline, perfectly aligned chainring, and a stiff bb area (the frame has a lot to do with this, i'm not familiar with the panic brand). good luck man!

I am in the same boat Brother! I have decided to go with a Sugino RD Crankset and a 48t. Messenger Ring with a few options to play with in the back 14t., 16t. and 18t. Check out the Bareknucklebrigade.com and look for the Calculator. It was pretty helpful. The specific link was located in the Gear Ratio Question on Page2.

Take Care,

PF

I'm worried that a 1/8" 53 would still have a tendency to fold on me
don't worry
cheers imho