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I canny ride off road on 32:16. I’m currently riding 36:22 but I do spin out on descents. Being that my bike is rigid though I’m not too fussed about getting max speed on the descents anyway.
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Easy answer - experiment
Haldon Forest is pretty steep in places, so I certainly couldn't manage 32x16 around there; definitely not on a 29er . You might weigh 60kg and be an XC machine though :-)
Maybe start around 50gi and see what works for you.
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start at 32:18 and see what it's like
if your bike is heavy or it's really hilly, you can try 32:20
I ride 32:18 for loaded bikepacking and unloaded trailcentre fun, find it the perfect compromise on my decidedly notlight bike
M_V
BareNecessities
platypus
@Lucerne
I'm hoping to try out SS trail riding at Haldon Forest over Christmas:
https://www.moredirt.com/trail/South-West/Challenge-Trail---Haldon-Forest/1335/
and have all the bits together to build up 2 bikes for me and son- one 29er and other 26", both steel hard tails with solid forks.
Question: what would be suitable novice MTB gear ratios for Devon hilly terrain? (we're both daily road cyclists). I was thinking 32/16 but some of the bikes on here appear to have smaller chainrings?
I have 16t sprockets for both but yet to get the chainrings.