Hi everyone. New to your forum. Have been lurking for a few weeks and finally decided to join. Recently
bought 2004 Bianchi Pista. Lot of fun to ride. All stock except saddle and computer. Wife rides geared
for metric centuries etc. I rode up in Sonoma last week (only 25 miles) but that's enough on that bike
for now. Found I could go faster comfortable with smaller rear cog (stock is 16 t) any suggestions
on how much smaller? I don't mind walking hills that are to long or steep. (btw, front crank is 48, i
think) Thanks again. Rob

tough call...dont really know your terrain. i would suggest riding a gear that you can spin pretty comfortably on log stretches and still make your climbs. riding a fixed gear bike on rolling terrain is kinda like riding built in intervals. you will be amazed at the hills you will be able to climb eventually. find several climbs of different difficulty, and practice.

put your ass back in the saddle for power and sit for as long as you can. when you stand, work the bike hard, and try not to lose momentum...as i slow i guess i focus on the backside of the pedal stroke, pulling myself up the hill, anybody else think like that? do whatever you have to, dont stop. get to the top of the hill with your eyeballs hanging down around your waist, snot hanging off your chin, and barf in front of that woman walking her golden retriever...spin your legs out on the decent and repeat if neccessary!

cheers

oh yeah

not sure if you ride the fixie with your wife. i dont have much luck riding with gear heads, let alone women...dang did i just say that?

I ride my fixie and my girlfriend rides my bmx.. it goes allright for us.

dog day sounds like training ride to me...maybe read too much into it

Totally!

The thing about hill climbing fixed is that you must be committed. If you're going to do it, DO IT! A sprint is about the best way up a hill that I've found. My apartment sits at the top of a hill and I usually find myself banging up that mother at like 25 mph because otherwise I might not make it at all, certainly not in any kind of reasonable amount of time. I usually find that I make it to the top of most hills faster than the shifters and less bruised and battered. I get compliments on it actually, but only because they don't know the real secret of climbing. And when I get tired or when I'm really hammering, work on pulling as much as pushing.

48/16 already seems high for a street fixie.....already pushing 81+ inches. Are you sure you want something higher? Sonoma has lotsa rolling terrain if I'm not mistaken.

I have the same Bicycle and I use a 48/19T Cog. The 19T cog is great going up but may spin out going down steep hills but I do prefer the 19T for the rolling hills in my area. I would try a 48/18T if your a strong climber.

I am geared at 48/17 in philadelphia.... but its pretty flat here. i would think that you dont want to overdo it on the gear inches, your going to end up hurting your knees.

Thanks for the input. Appreciated. Ya, I guess my setup is about right. Have to balance top speed with hill climbing ability.