Gear ratio effect on stopping/skidding

Yeah but trying to continually skid/skip stop/whatever on that kind of GI is going to be really really harsh on your knees, you only get one set of knees!

A drop to 66-68GI will allow you to still hit close to 30mph relatively comfortably, but still give you so much more bike control than you have now, making stopping etc require far less effort.

Don't know whether u'd be able to hit 30mph (not comfortably anyway) on 66GI. That's about what i ride on my Charge, and i really like it. Great acceleration, much easier skids and skips, and def kinder on my knees. Having said that, i ride just under 70GI on my Mercian, and find it to be a great around-town GI. My Charge is for fucking about on. But if you're riding 'properly' (and i use the term very loosely) then 70 GI is fine for the streets.