What's your favourite gear ratio?

Maybe I should really be running a 3/16" chain on the 3.2mm thick 12T Phil on my RollerFort. I'll ask Velodrome Shop for advice.

Took my commuter steed to my LBS for a service and to have a larger cog fitted.

As it turns out, the entire back wheel was ready to be replaced (can believe that - it's had 20 months of all-weather commuting), as was the chainring. Went for a smaller chainring and the same cog, so now running 42/16.

Haven't ridden it in anger yet - my SPD shoes are currently locked inside my cousin's house - but looking forward to the commute tomorrow to find out what it's like.

Just rode into work. That. Was. Fun. So much quicker off the line, nice and spinny. 10/10.

48/16 new setup

1 Attachment

One skid patch.

Not much skidding going on at that gear...

Oooops!
Sure these two could be involved in ratios of other gear.

This is the "What's your favourite gear ratio?" thread, not "What's your favourite gear?"

52/18

It looks to me like you could add a link and move the wheel back further so you can fit a full orca between the tyre and seat tube, looks like you'd only get a fat dolphin in at the mo.

I put my back out (weeks of agony, physio and heavy pain meds) in part because I was pushing 48x16 and skidding around like a moron. I ride 48x18 now, for which my back and knees are eternally grateful.

Having said that, I do miss being able to out-sprint pretty much anyone on the flat. 48x16 feels really good once you build up a head of steam (as long as you don't want to stop suddenly).

Your wallet will also be grateful. Skidding around like a moron on 48x16 will eat through your tyre in the shortest possible time.

If you don't know why this is, Google "skid patches" and read Sheldon on it.

48x18 is not much better. Only three patches.

Getting a 17t cog sounds like a fairly good investment

Or a 47t chain ring, allowing you to use your growing sprocket collection with impunity.

#numbertheory

That frame is pretty sh't. Been thinking about that upgrade for a while. What difference would this make to riding? That is a proper track frame without space for a fat dolphin between the tyre and seat tube.

Sarcasm detection fail.

Followed by ninja edit.

48/19 is better

Can do commuting and tnrc duties

Just put a 42/18.

Ridiculously fun as a singlespeed, not sure about fixed.

Only 3 patches.

singlespeed.

Gonna put a 17t fixed sprocket anyway, give me a nice 67GI.

anyone got a solution for those annoying 2 part miche sprockets ? I got a 17t miche for my philwood hubs, thread tpi is fine ect. but when i tighten my lockring it dont fit over the round teeth that locks the sprocket to the threaded adapter thingy bob haha.

I hope somebody understands what i mean, and would it be safe to use a flat washer? ah

I know what you mean, experienced this recently, even when the lockring was fully tightened the cog had a little play with the cog carrier... a washer might help but I ended up getting a new cog.

Would think a washer covering would be fine.
Or weld it together.

thanks for the info, ill try with a washer if that feels too sketchy, ill just get a new cog ah.

New cog.

I got a 17t miche for my philwood hubs, thread tpi is fine ect. but when i tighten my lockring it dont fit over the round teeth that locks the sprocket to the threaded adapter thingy bob

On balance, I'd rather have Phil sprockets on a Miche hub than the other way around :-)

I'm assuming that that you're using a Phil lock ring, and it's the stepped down diameter (made to clear the chain on a 12T sprocket) which isn't big enough to overlap the Miche sprocket splines. You could just flip the lock ring around so that the larger diameter tool interface part of the lock ring is pushed up against the sprocket and carrier.

If you don't want to risk the engraving on your Phil lock ring by flipping it over, you can use the Miche lock ring, it's 1.32" threaded like Phil. Long term, get Phil sprockets (and of course one of my tarty lock rings :-) )