What's your favourite gear ratio?

I'm riding 32/13 at the moment, could probably stick a few more GI on there for a perfect ratio.

On 26" wheels I think 34/13 or 34/12 would be good starting places.

I've gone for 34/13. Ordered the 13 cog today. I worked it out on charlie the bike monger website for a same combo as a road bike version of 42/16 and the same equivalent for an mtb with slicks was 34/13. It gave it in inches but I cant remember what that was now. cheers

I ride 46/16 on 26 inch rims about 16 miles a day.

I ride 46/16 on 26 inch rims about 16 miles a day.

46/16 is 75" and the 34/13 is 68" so you gaining 7 inches per revolution. How do you find it going up hills?

depends what you call a hill in London, I can do Brixton Hill from the police station to the prison no problem, I do that every day but thats not really a hill just a long dragging incline .

I've cycled up Roslyn Hill in Hampstead bottom right to the top no real problems
Strawberry Hill fine
Stanmore Hill I had to get off and push but I had cycled all the way from Euston by the time I had hit it
Highgate Hill I got 3/4 of the way.

Its not the hills that do me, its top end speed, I just can't go fast enough without pedalling like my life depended on it.

So much so I thinking of going 50/16 and worry about the hills when I have to.

49/17 all the way. Good for the flats, challenging up the hills (Gipsy Hill, Anerley Hill stiff but no problem).

Very, very low geared. My legs look like they're going Sonic speed and i'm cycling along at 6mph...

But I use it off-road so I need a pretty low gear.

I use mine offroad on 44x20 its a bit high so will go to a 22 sprocket to give a standard 2to1 like all those using 32x16

I use mine offroad on 44x20 its a bit high so will go to a 22 sprocket to give a standard 2to1 like all those using 32x16

32x16 seems to be standard MTB gearing setup.

Was on 42/18 now 46/19. Fine for me though at 30+ I have to concentrate otherwise I'm bouncing all over the place...

I've used 52/16 for about a year in London, now I'm going to change to 48/16.
Maybe I'll be able to skid with that ratio, thought I can't afford to change tyres every month...

24 -24 or 1 - 1 back in the day cyclo trials.

At the moment I'm enjoying 48x19 for traffic and commutes.

71 gear inches good for every thing except the steepest ups and downs (althought I did make it up Muswell hill - slowly at the top, ok walking pace, yea really wanted to get off but never would have gotten going again and when its that steep going down I no longer let it go - 175 rpm is the max these days).

Tried my new gearing out today on the flat. 34/13 or 68" and it was a good combo. Pity I fucked the chain up when I put it back together as it needed shortening. Ended up putting my spare one on when I got home. was lucky it didint break ha ha!!

I've been on 48/18 for past year or so, fine for getting around London, doing the occasional skid (mainly due to emergency stops) and getting up the "hill" of Roseberry Avenue on the way home

I love being in a spinny gear 46/19!

If i go much faster then 25mph i spin out, but thats not an issue since in traffic in london i rarely need or can go much faster then that, i like how it allows for great acceleration, and also allows me to slow down quickly.

I have flip flop so can run 46/18 or 46/19 that's either 67 or 63 inches. That's great for me cos i live in muswell hill, north london in general is well hilly. And also 46/17 used to mash up my knees toooo much

i once heard someone saying 66 ish is perfect for town and i think i'd agree. It means you don't whizz around to quick and enjoy the spinniness of riding, personally i ride cos i enjoy it and i enjoy it when i'm taking it steady. I do have a bit of a beer belly too i must add...

46........16 fixed 17 free......or
46........17 fixed 18 free

for general london riding, I am new to fixed but in average shape....ie I drink a lot but also get out and about..

Thanks

Was 48 x 18 then 48 x 19 now 43 x 16, which is nice

just gone from 46:20 to 46:16, 60 GI to 74ish, feels very strange to be back on a big gear again - not sure how i'm going to fair on the hills but i'm interested to see the speed i can get on the flat, i can still hit about 30mph on the flat with 60 GI so it's going to feel very weird not spinning like a nutter!

48x16 all the way, good commute gearing and i can get up and over most of london's cols with that...

48/15 round Manchester, good for belting it down the straights and not too bad on the slight slopes. I feel it gives me a nice amount of control in the congested areas of the city. After a month of riding fixed I became pretty confident at skid stopping so no problems there either.

I'm 5"11 and weigh 11st if that makes a difference.

49/18

48/16

Just swapped to 74" from 97" to get back some leg speed - I'm faster on the big gear once wound up but finding my top rpm has dropped way off on my mtb (geared)

1/8

43/19