Best Gear Combination for NYC
 

Hello. I live in NYC. Does anyone know the optimal gear combination for commuting in NYC? I also want to do some long distance traveling as well? What would be the best gear combination for that? Thanks!

NYC is pretty flat, so depending on your leg strength you could probably pull off a higher gear ratio. I have 48 up front with a 17 cog, 74 gear inches, and can push that comfortably.

I ride 48/16 in Colorado. If NY is as flat as I think, I bet you could get away with a bit taller gear than I ride.

I'm in NY and I ride 48x18. 17 would probably be fine as well.

Im In NYC and currently run 49x17. Works well for me

Thanks for all of your suggestions. How would a 46x16 fair up to all of your suggestions? or 46x15? or 46x14?

Get a road bike.

Track bikes are a novelty. They are good for single purposes (yes even bike messengers used them for single purposes). But, since you mention than you are new to cycling and that you want to commute and possibly do some long distance cycling, a road bike is a more appropriate choice.

Annnnnd...if you are getting a fixed gear to sort of fit in (nothing wrong with that) understand that fixed gears are on the way out. Road bikes are the new fixed gears. Even for commuting, school, urban riding, bar hopping, etc...

I shall sell my fixed gear novelties immediately and purchase a rather sensible road bike!

Anyone wanna buy a Madison?

what makes you think they are on the way out?

Sales are down, Puma makes one. Wal Mart sells them. Hipsters have moved onto photography and jobs. ;)

This happened to BMX in1988, it happens to every "fad". What remains after the flotsam has sloughed off is true. There will always be fixies, track bikes etc.

Uhh they've been doing this. However, For some, jobs mean walking to the nearest ATM to withdraw dough from their parent funded checking account.

To be honest, it's kinda dead for us but the general public are still just catching wind of it. Frankly, I'm gonna keep my fixed mainly because it's just a simple piece of machinery. oh yeah and cuz I can get it every color, with deep Vs, with matching bar grips and/or chain, etc..

Depending on where you are in NY, you may see a hill or two, but they are very rare... you'll mostly find those in the outer boroughs (brookly, queens, etc. and maybe in the parks). The bridges here are the only close enough thing to a hill that you may hit frequently.

I've ridden 46 x 16 and it works fine for this area. I've also ridden 48 x 17, 48 x 18 and they're also fine. Now I'm riding 48 x 19, the lowest gearing I've ever ridden, because I wanted to try how a faster cadence felt. I do like this low gearing. I feel like it's a bit more of a workout than my older gearings. But just a bit. To be honest, none of these combinations have felt HUGELY different from one to the other for me.

I think, as long as you stay somewhere between upper 60's and mid 70's (gear inches. Check out that rabbit gear app to see what chanring / cog combos fall in that range), you'll do alright almost anywhere. It's all up to you to fine tune it to your liking.

+1

Anyone want a neon yellow Pake' as well? The hipsters here are starting to sneer at anyone who doesn't ride a beat up, vintage roadie. Gotta get with the times.

Nice try Scrod....I think most of us here know that the Madison does not have multiple gears. What the hell do you think we are besides stupid??....messengers!

I live in NYC.
Get a road bike for commuting and long distance.

I see more n more hipsters riding old school road bikes in NYC. :lol:

I run 48x17.
I like it but I think my legs will be ready for 16 in a couple more months.

I'm doing just fine with 80 gear inches. But my legs are built for it. You are going to have to find out what you like on your own I bet. Using a gear inch calculator like above is a good guide.

Just remember that spinning can buck you out of the seat, so downhill get a brake. Also spinning will make your knees happier and the hills easier. That being said I went up from 44/15 to 49/16 and went faster. I'm not a cruise to the coffee shop kinda guy.

Geez, I can't beleive that so many people are so worried about what the the hipsters think. Some of you think they are the final word in bicycling (LOL). Think for yourself man. Thats what your brain is for. Ride the right bicycle for the task.

So true. As been said before the only people who actually notice or care what hipsters do are hipsters themselves

To answer the OP's question low to mid 70's and you should be straight. Unless you live way uptown.

I don't care what they think, I just want them to stop offering me trades for their beat fixie conversions when I sell my camera gear on CL.

Understanding Hipsters 101

http://www.cracked.com/blog/decipher...er-revolution/

I think you misunderstood. Scrod was sarcastically offering his Mady BECAUSE it doesnt have gears... and thus, will use the money from the sale to fund a "sensible" roadie.

EDIT: Oops, double post

arguably the funniest thing I have read in a long long time

I guess I better bore a hole in my head and let the sap run out!