my current gear ratio is at 44/16. it rides pretty good, mostly flats around my area.

if i change the rear cog with 18t, will this make peddaling easier or harder? assuming keeping the front gear at 44.

44/18 is easier to pedal backward.

How much do you weigh?

185lbs. frame is 56cm.

What did you eat for lunch?

super burrito w/ shrimp

if a 44/16 is too hard for you on flat ground, i might suggest selling your bike for a segway.

Do you prefer orange juice or apple juice?

Leaded or unleaded?

blondes or brunettes?

ACTUAL HELPFUL INFORMATION:

Try a 17t instead, nice middle ground and it'll give you more skid spots so you won't wear out your rear tire as quickly if you skid a lot. Surly's 17t cog is pretty much bulletproof and not terribly expensive.

^ Dude, come on!

16t, build up, change to 49t

just to try and help, i'm running a 46/16 right now and looking to change. i know i need to build up a bit but too many hills and i'm dying. no worries on the flats. i was thinking of doing a 17. gonna make a decision tonight and purchase tomorrow. to answer your question, i would think with a 44/18 you would have one helluva spin (high cadence). if you do a search there are some gear calculators (can't remember where they are right now) but it'll give you an idea. the bigger you go in the front or the smaller in the rear will make pedaling harder. hope some of that rambling helped.

Ride a 47t ring with a 19t cog and 28mm tires, learn to spin, and stop skidding.

i run 45 / 17 and find it great for the hills, and in descents it forces me to spin like crazy, which i like.

i was told spinning vs mashing is good for the knees...

that 45/17 sounds good. i was told to try and be around 70 gear inches. with m 170 cranks, that would be 71.5 may just pull the trigger on that tomorrow