Gear inch/ratio question

I'm on 44:17, it's great for me, with 165 cranks, for a 12 mile each way commute

am going to try 42;17 though, see if I can notice the difference!

I'm on 53/19 which works out as 73.3 GI and it's killing me with the wind this week. Might put on a 20t rear sprocket or some outriggers and a sail. Road sailing ftw.

For the sake of starting a new thread would 48/17 be a good gear 72 inch and 17 skid patches i think
seems OK?
How is it on the hills?

Yeah that should be fine, generally 70 is good for London, you can get up all the hills and the descents aren't too spinny.

Cheers
I dont live in london
I'm in cornwall its a bit hilly down here
i think il manage though im never in a hurry

Personally I'd rather struggle up hills then spin out on the way down, but thats just me. I'd say 72" sounds good for cornwall. Its not so much hills, but stop/start city cycling that warrants a lower gear (IMHO).

I ride 48:16 and its rubbish in town, as I cant pull away from lights quickly or accelerate out of trouble. On open country roads, with rolling hills, its fanatastic though.

potetskrel?

47:18 ftw

Cheers for that
so maybe drop a tooth to 16?

then something spinny for a polo gear?

Cheers for that
so maybe drop a tooth to 16?

then something spinny for a polo gear?

I'd give 48:17 a try first. But to be honest its down to your preferred cadence.
I'm converting the bike to 41:23 for a mountian climb I'm doing in a few months, should be interesting.

This thread has got me thinking about changing by ratio. I used 42:16 for nearly my whole time on fixed, since 2004 but changed to 44:16 toward the end of last year. I did enjoy my original ratio which I found pretty good for all occassions even long distances such as London to Brighton. But thought I'd like a bit more top speed and perhaps a faster cruising speed.

But over the past few months my experience has been just general hard work especially going from a standing start and in a headwind. My overall average speed is not much higher if at all. So I'm thinking of dropping down a notch. I've gone from a 71 gear up to a 74 so perhaps 73 would be just right. So my question is this: 43:16 or 46:17? I don't skid by the way.

With the first option I'd just have to get a new chainring. But with the second I'd have to get both. Any thoughts??

I know there's not too much in it, but an important decision factor - Can your drop-outs handle 46:17 with the original chain?

47:18 ftw

My perfect ratio.

This is a very useful calculator aplet: http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com/
It factors in crank length and rolling diameter.

I work on metres gain: For general riding I aim at 6m, which on my Langster = 16/46 with 700 x 23mm tyres and 172.5mm cranks.

I started off much lower and have built up to what appears to be, for me, a nice comfortable gearing.

Toodle pip

fabulous application
thanks for the link

My perfect ratio.

Yeah, i think it's mine too. Ambidexrious skidders get around 32 skid spots, and it's perfect for London. Not too spinny, but not too hard on the knees.

Actually, just had a look. It's 36 patches ambidextrious, and 18 if your a 1 footed skidder. So for me, that's more skid patches than i have spokes!

ha cheers guys, i just came on here to ask about whether 47/18 was a good ratio,
trawled through the first page looking for anyone who had talked about it and i find it right at the end.
nice one, think I'll give it a try.
do you reckon it'll be alright in a really flat area (cambridge)
cheers.

Yes.

concise, like it.

I've got 47x18 on the Condor right now.
Any ratio I've ever used becomes certified as a "Fucking Awesome Ratio Mate!" ratio and becomes safe to use anywhere in the world.

47:18 is the best fucking ratio ever!

EVER!

+1 I love it.

No, 46:17 is the best ratio ever... and now shut up..

Actually I'm using 48:17 atm because of a shit worn out chainring I had to replace... shit.

It's ok.. I used to run 46x17 too. :P

I love 47x16 or 78.6gi only found one hill I couldn't climb

16 skid spots, plus it's an odd ratio, longer chain ring and cog life :D

Cheers
I dont live in london
I'm in cornwall its a bit hilly down here
i think il manage though im** never in a hurry**

lucky for some