Road fixed / fixed road

I've been on the same gearing since the weather shifted here in my area of the woods (Greater Vancouver Regional District) Canada. Be it more hilly riding in the city, l can still feel the benefits of spinning a lighter gear ratio 45/19 in the cold and wind mostly brakeless. It allows me to warm up quickly and not stress about riding up hills and back down being able to govern my speed in the wet. I will go back to around 67 gi as soon as it starts to heat up.

All this gear chat has made me realise I have no idea what gear I’m currently running on my fixed bike.

71-72 for me. Its to get down the hills more than to get up.

I don’t even have a fixed gear bike

Lalalala

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Thankfully your commitment to Hard Day in January '25 will bring this into sharp focus.

True. Have everything I need to prepare my bike for it, bar the mudguards, so preparations are going well.

67

That's a cry for help right there.

I think we need to caveat the terrain we roll on. I live in a hilly part of East Sussex and use 70" so I can get down the hills. A local mate rides 74", but he's young and light and amazing on climbs.

I'm thinking of dropping to 66" to get a bit more speed back in the legs.

I notice an improvement in pedalling technique going from shorter to taller gears. Feels like I get smoother for some reason. Probably because it forces me to spin out and conditions my body and mind to be more efficient

cheers for the feedback all. on reflection I think I will not go as low as 63 but settle on 66. just 2 GI difference.

i live in the flattest, yet windiest part of the country. the winter fixed at least has drops on it so can hide a little bit from it. have a feeling 63 will just be too slow. even for my old legs

It never rains in East Anglia, it rains through East Anglia
I was told that when we moved up. I’d say it’s true.

I live in Hull (flat and sometimes windy) and find 66 pretty much perfect for riding around the city (or for a more relaxed winter ride with some rolling hills). Can do reasonable speeds without spinning out too often (30km/h is a comfortable cadence of about 94) and cadence does not fall too low when going more slowly into a headwind.

Is this in the bit near that pub I recognised from ages ago?
That hill isn't that bad.

I gear down by about a sprocket tooth in winter. Less to do with cadence lower speeds etc, but because I go fatter tyres.
Summer = 622 + 25mm
Winter = 622 + 35mm
Circumference diff is about 3 gear inches for me . I used to wonder why I felt extra sluggish in winter!

That’s the kiddy, if you take the turn before to the river that 21% back up. Not too bad, just unexpected. Gas Hill in the city is the killer (well for me anyway)
If you ever venture this way again you are very welcome to borrow one of my cries for help ;)

If I do I will!

68 here in South Wales and riding up in to the Valleys and Mid Wales . Use the same all year as it is a nice balance between average speed (usually 25KM ) climbing and descending.

68 here in South Wales and riding up in to the Valleys and Mid Wales . Use the same all year as it is a nice balance between average speed (usually 25KM ) climbing and descending.

(Soz, Didn't log in on works Computer)

I'm Cornwall and 68 is way too low round here. Or maybe I'm not Spinny enough

I'm on 63 GI in Edinburgh but I only use it for the pub and work. I do ride up and down cobbly streets often.

Maybe I am weak

That's interesting, I may do LEJOG Audax fixed in 2026 and was a little worried about shorter steeper hills at the beginning in Cornwall and Devon.

I'm was only riding fixed for pretty much 6 years. Doing audaxs down here including a SR series. Its doable once you're used to it. When things get steep its getting down the bloody things.

I only just checked this but turns out I've been riding 71 GI....maybe I need to take it down a notch.
Mind you, South Warwickshire is only ever rolling, and North Warks can get steep but I'm not a fan of the riding around there anyway.
Need to get the fixed out next week I reckon, it's been months.