What size cog should I get?
 

I’m currently 42/16, and when I’m just going straight I feel like I’m pedaling 10000 times. When I’m not even going that fast! I figured it’d just be cheaper to get a larger cog than getting a whole new crankset.(flip flop)

SO WHAT SIZE SHOULD I GET?

Also, if I get a bigger cog, would I need to add/remove a link every time I flip my wheel around, or can I just pull the wheel further back due to the horizontal dropouts?

Thanks.

A smaller cog will let you go faster with less pedal revolutions. Depending on how much room you have in your dropouts you will be able to just pull your wheel further back. If I remember right the axle moves forward 1/4 inch for every additional tooth.

you probably mean a smaller cog...
if you ride relatively flat places all the time
42/14 gets you close to 80 gear inches which would probably be good.

Actually, you would need a smaller cog. Lowering the ratio between 42/xx will make the ratio more difficult and it won't feel like you are pedaling 10000 times.

But you might want to change the chainring to be honest. That is probably easier. 46/16 would probably be a good ratio for you. Also you would need a new chain in you get a new chainring

spinning is good. but...

lower cog = less spinning. 42/15 is higher than 42/17. if you want a bigger ratio, get a smaller cog.

if you change the cogs bigger/smaller you can just slide the wheel farther back/forward in the dropout,yes.

i would say stay at 42/16, its a great ratio; try to aim for 65-75gi though, i wouldnt go higher. it depends on how hilly your area is. from what youre saying you dont have many hills. try out a bunch, cogs are cheap.

So the less amount of teeth a cog has, the less I'll be pedaling? D:

Not necessarily. The less teeth a cog has in relation to the chainrings tooth count, the higher the ratio will be. The more gear inches there will be. And the harder it will be to pedal. But you still might be able to "spin out"

i encourage you to keep spinning.

http://www.wabicycles.com/fixedcogs.html To the right of the website i posyed has a good little chart you probably wants something around the high 70's.Currently your at 71.

I see, thanks for that chart.
So if I do get anything, I should get a 15T cog?
I'm sorry for all these questions, this is my first fixed gear.

If you think its worth the time and money.

Try a 15 tooth cog.

That said, with 25mm tires, 42 x 16 is 18.5 mph. About 20 with a 15 tooth cog. how fast exactly are you going?

I think a lot of beginning cyclist push way too big of gears because a lot of resistance feels like it should be faster or more efficient. It isn't. On flats a cadence of around 80-100 rpms is about right. Obviously you will be outside of that range much more often on a fixed gear than on a geared bike.

Me too. But get a 15, and see if that feels any better to you. Gearing is very personal, but many folks have found that 70 gear inches is a good place to start. FWIW, I like 42x16 for my commuting/rainbike set up. In the summer, when I'm more likely to be able to get out in the country for some long rides, I'll go to 75 or 80 gear inches.

who wants to spin at low speeds? not me! build those leg muscles! i run 48x17 (76.24 gi) and 48x16 (81 gi) with no problems, i can do 30 mph without spinning.

i would have to say, spinning is better for your leg muscles than 'mashing', however, since you live in fresno, im pretty sure 48x17 is fine for you.

im slightly doubting your 30mph without spinning claim though.

44/17

I'm running 41/15 it doesn't feel like i'm pedaling a million times and I can get up to a good speed before I even get that feeling, riding with no brakes gets a little scary though.

No... you can't.

81 GI @ 30mph = 120 rpm

Wanna know how fast you have to spin those gams to get a 48:17 up to 30 mph ?

46/16 is 76 gear inches which is a pretty fine all around gear unless you live where it is absolutely flat and the wind never blows.

My fixed road bike now runs a 72/80 and I run the 72 most of the time... used to run a straight 76 when I was a messenger and used the same gear on the road for 40km time trials.

Get a 15 tooth cog and work on your spin.. that will give you 74 gear inches.

pwned

I'm more hardcore because my ratio is lower.

(That's how the game is supposed to work.)

yes... i can!

ran through a school radar at 30 mph on 48 x 16 and 27 mph on 48 x 17 recently, i have also looked inside peoples cars speedometers while riding next to them and seen between 25-27 mph

when I ride at night, I'm always head to head with the moon. Like, literally, the moon never passes me.

Do you know how fast the moon spins around earth?! I must be the fastest mother****er ever.

for how long? 100ft?

It's not physically possible for you to be going 30 mph on 48x16 without pedaling at 120 rpm, which, to most people, is spinning. Give up.