What's your favourite gear ratio?

You're going to want a brake for the first few times you hit a steep hill, descending can quickly get away from you if you're not used to it

ftfy

So...err...fit a bullhorn that takes a brake more easily?

unless you have a really wide stem you should have enough space to mount a brake before the bar goes aero

I thought it was hilarious, I am still giggling.

Or fit a TT Lever. There's no excuse.

Yeah riding fixed for the first time in years and on a 700c instead of a bmx was crazy, spd with it probably isn't best to learn either but I like my spds. Couldn't get my footing right for stopping as mentioned above so I was slowing but it wasn't very effective and a long ride would probably have done my knees in too. The ebay seller for my 19t hasn't posted it yet so might not even be by the weekend.

The thing with my foot feeling like the cleats are being yanked on I need to put more weight on my back foot or what? Seen mention of "squeezing knees" and really can't tell what I should be looking to feel in my legs/feet as I stop.

19t is a pretty big jump, 46/18 give you the perfect ratios of 68GI (approx), 46/19 is almost exactly what I used for touring.

Just relaxed and resisted the pedals a bit.

I thought it was hilarious, I am still giggling.

Fit a brake. You would be a danger to yourself and other people without one. What would you think of someone driving a car with faulty brakes? Probably that they are a bit of a cunt.

What would I think of a novice fixie skidder crashing into someone because they don't have brakes and had some vain excuse about their handlebars?

Don't be a cunt!

Do you want to clarify that a bit? It's not quite clear what you think of riding brakeless on the public highway.

Fit a brake. You would be a danger to yourself and other people without one. What would you think of someone driving a car with faulty brakes? Probably that they are a bit of a cunt.

What would I think of a novice fixie skidder crashing into someone because they don't have brakes and had some vain excuse about their handlebars?

Don't be a cunt!

He won't crash tho as that would probably scuff/bend the handlebars.

im currently running 42/16 i believe. I thinking about getting a 15t cog for the rear as im not sure my frame clearances will allow a larger front ring. Otherwise I might got 44t on the front.

Which will make the biggest difference?

1t difference in cog is big.

1t difference in chainring is small.

If you want a small change, get 1t bigger/smaller chainring, if a bigger change, cog.

cool thanks.

Or just work it out using online calc or this which is good enough;

42/16 * 27 = 70.875
42/15 * 27 = 75.6
44/16 * 27 = 74.25

Going to 74 or 75 from 70 will be pretty noticeable. And while fine tuning is easier done via chain rings it can be more expensive and more difficult to find chain rings in un-common sizes, i.e. 43 to get an in between gear in examples above.

Not really, Gebhardt is a perfect example of being able to find a rare chainring sizes, that how I find the 45t which gave me a perfect 67GI (with 32mm) with the 18t cog.

I spent these past couple of days on 45/18 and 25c tyres, tempted to go for 45/19 and 35c tyres for this Sunday's ride.

I spent these past couple of days on 45/18 and 25c tyres, tempted to go for 45/19 and 35c tyres for this Sunday's ride.

I had plenty of joy with road racing on the 35c slick kojak.

Put the 19t on and 46/19 was nice just now. Only did a couple of miles and gearing was very easy so 12-15mph with 60-80 cadence instead of my usual freewheel and 20mph but I was getting the hang of stopping and didn't touch the brakes once. Was also easy enough a gear that I could yank up or push down on the pedals at lights to reposition for pulling away which was nice for pulling away with spds on.

Gone 49/20 for winter, will see how it goes but have a feeling I'll end up going back to a 19t.

Spin2win

Spin2win

Didn't you decide to gear up after looking at your PM data?

Yup, need to work on my cardio and pedalling if I have any hope of racing this year.

Edit: then again I've been threatening to race various disciplines for a few years now...

I've been threatening to race various disciplines for a few years now

Should probably start now, as you're not getting any younger.

Well yeah, but racing =/ riding

@IR, racing what?