A question for geared folk

53/39 with a MTB cassette: 11-32. My solution for touring in the GA mountains was the big cassette rather than dealing with a compact or a triple. (Oh yeah, with old school Suntour barcon friction shifters. :-P) I've thought about a compact if I ever have to carry a crapload of weight, but I'd rather not. Common fixed ratios around here are 46x16 or so. And most of the fixie road riders stay downtown, away from the bigger hills. I get the impression that London's not very hilly. (At least by Atlanta standards...) I expect to spend some quality time with my big ring over the next two weeks.

October 2008 Super Record
October 2009 Electronic change self-adjusting Super Record

October 2010 Campagnolo is bought out by SkyNet

52/39 or 46/39 x 12/23.
Mix of 9spd Record ti, chorus and centaur parts though the ti cassette is basically dead.

Soon to be transferred to the crosscheck.

I run 32-44-53 x 25-12 8spd.

I feel faster on the geared atm but that's partly because I'm new and partl because I only have a 69" gear and can easily spin out on the flat. Winding up to 84" on geared is pretty easy. I'm also lucky enough to have pretty nippy acceleration and can flip through gears fairly smoothly.

What unerved you about fast freewheeling? I know 40mph can be a bit scary but I can't imagine that you'd be hitting that too often in the city.

I wasnt much faster than my BMX on it for some reason,got overtaken by mtb's and found fast freewheeling unerving.

That's why you were slower geared.

Geared is faster, much faster. But through multiple stop-starts in the city I personally find fixed feels faster... just less stopping as fixed helps teach you to read the road ahead a bit better (or else crash).

A slightly unconventional 50-39 x 11-23.

50x11 gives you slightly more than 53x12. I can't/don't want to push 53x11.

I'm planning on a trip to the alps next year. I'm holding off buying a compact because I really, really (some sick fantasy!) want to do it on a standard double with a 12/27 cassette - it's basically my training regime against the calendar!

Definitely much faster on the geared bike, although riding fixed on the hills really makes you attack them just to get up, so it that respect you're probably (forcibly!) pushing yourself harder.

Courant

Much faster on my geared bike, but much quicker on my fixed.

Also, I feel completely out of control free wheeling and have a weird feeling in my legs when I expect the peddles to continue rotating and they dont.

Peace

gulp

I have a lot to learn.

Also, I feel completely out of control free wheeling and have a weird feeling in my legs when I expect the peddles to continue rotating and they dont.

Ha ha.

When I took the bike out for my first non-carpark ride out to the local 10 TT course and thrashed it. When I got home I had to nip over to the shop for dinner/beer/breakfast components and was a complete mess on the touring bike. The cranks felt like greasy ferrets on crack.

Ha ha.

When I took the bike out for my first non-carpark ride out to the local 10 TT course and thrashed it. When I got home I had to nip over to the shop for dinner/beer/breakfast components and was a complete mess on the touring bike. The cranks felt like greasy ferrets on crack.

So true, LOL!

I've also got to the point where I'm reaching for my water bottles and adjusting bum on saddle position while still pedalling, which didn't happen before riding fixed.

Courant