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What size cog should I get?

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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

What size cog should I get?

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Old 12-31-10 | 05:19 PM
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What size cog should I get?

I知 currently 42/16, and when I知 just going straight I feel like I知 pedaling 10000 times. When I知 not even going that fast! I figured it壇 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.
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Old 12-31-10 | 05:22 PM
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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.
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Old 12-31-10 | 05:24 PM
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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.
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Old 12-31-10 | 05:25 PM
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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
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Old 12-31-10 | 05:26 PM
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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.
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Old 12-31-10 | 05:34 PM
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So the less amount of teeth a cog has, the less I'll be pedaling? D:
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Old 12-31-10 | 05:38 PM
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Originally Posted by pandita
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"
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Old 12-31-10 | 05:39 PM
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i encourage you to keep spinning.
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Old 12-31-10 | 05:39 PM
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https://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.
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Old 12-31-10 | 05:46 PM
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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.
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Old 12-31-10 | 05:48 PM
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If you think its worth the time and money.
Originally Posted by xkillemallx16
i encourage you to keep spinning.
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Old 12-31-10 | 06:23 PM
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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.
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Old 12-31-10 | 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by xkillemallx16
i encourage you to keep spinning.
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.
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Old 12-31-10 | 10:40 PM
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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.
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Old 12-31-10 | 11:22 PM
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Originally Posted by peach-picker
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.
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Old 12-31-10 | 11:41 PM
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44/17
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Old 01-01-11 | 01:53 AM
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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.
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Old 01-01-11 | 02:14 AM
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Originally Posted by peach-picker
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.
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 ?

Last edited by Sixty Fiver; 01-01-11 at 02:32 AM.
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Old 01-01-11 | 02:31 AM
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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.
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Old 01-01-11 | 02:34 AM
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Old 01-01-11 | 03:14 AM
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I'm more hardcore because my ratio is lower.

(That's how the game is supposed to work.)
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Old 01-02-11 | 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Sixty Fiver
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 ?

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
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Old 01-02-11 | 01:38 PM
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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.

Last edited by NateRod; 01-02-11 at 01:42 PM.
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Old 01-02-11 | 01:41 PM
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for how long? 100ft?
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Old 01-02-11 | 03:16 PM
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Originally Posted by peach-picker
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
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.
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