Chainring or cog resize...
 

I've been riding my fixed bowery for a little over a year now and finally getting to changing the gear ratio. Currently its at the stock 46/17. I want something that kills it a little more, ie less spin downhill and more lets go win some alleycats. Should i go with a bigger chain ring and keep the 17t cog, something like 50/17 or should i lose some teeth off the back and keep that 46, something like 46/15. I live in Boise so I'm not worried about hills if that comes into play in the decision process at all. Thanks for any input

Get a 15t cog for the back. You shouldn't have to adjust the chain length and it's much cheaper than buying a chainring. 2 teeth on the back has more effect than the front.

http://n2.nabble.com/file/n4877/gearing_denny.jpg

As you can see. You have 46x17 which gives you 69 gear inches, having the 48x17 will give you 76 gear inches. But 46x15 gives you 82 gear inches.

Do you never leave downtown or what?

you seem to be unable to see that 46/17 is actually 73 inches not 69....


to the OP I have ridden 46/15 my legs are too old and my location too hilly for that to be a regular setup I ride the same as you presently though I'll probably be on 48/17 by next spring

if he's 27" wheels.. 700c wheels will be 80.x

It's much less expensive to switch cogs, but the difference in gearing is will be bigger. If course that may be a good thing too. You pay a lot less for cogs under 17t than you do for ones over 17t.