What's your favourite gear ratio?

stop riding massive gears!

I'm sure all the boutique riders would disagree but I have to say there is nothing wrong with S.E duder :P I have a Premium Ale myself.

Great BMX heritage and they used to build frames and forks for S&M Bikes back in the day. I love it to bits, can't really say a bad world about it.

Started on a 46:17 (factory stock) recently swapped for 48:16 as stock parts were wearing badly. One thing you have to watch with S.E's: Well built frames shitty component parts.. Rip as much of the stock shit off as you can.

You'll find 42:16 is sweet enough for riding around town, enough to get up to some good speed should you want to. Beware the transition from single to fixed, it's very different, you'll find it unusual at first, it will be natural to stop pedaling when your legs get tired Don't... unless you fancy doing your best Superman impression..

When you feel that ratio isn't pushing you hard enough try a 48:16. It requires a bit more 'pump' but once up to speed the results are worth it..

Clip-less pedals, on London roads. Have to say, you if are thinking off going this direction, especially on a fixed, you are a braver man than I. I've just taken mine off and gone back to straps.

After being knocked off by a van a couple of weeks ago. Going over the arse over apex is one thing, but when the whole bike comes with you because you can't get the old feet to disengage quick enough, that's something else entirely. Lucky escape during rush hour traffic. Not something I would want to repeat regularly.

Much respect all the nutty couriers and racing snakes that are running clip-less pedal's but they are not for me. I was always much more confident with me straps, least you can get your feet out quick.

Good luck, be safe :D

Why do you think SPD are not as safe as toe straps and clips? This is a genuine enquiry, cos I find that if I tighten the straps I can't get out quick, but if I don't I can't get the same power out of my (magnificent) leg muscles. Am I doing something wrong, or is there a set-up to toe clips that I haven't seen?

SPD's are better than straps. ATAC's are better than SPD's.

SPD's are better than straps. ATAC's are better than SPD's.

Do these use the same red plastic cleats as the Time iClicks or is it still the brass/alu thingys? Got a pair of them last week and they are already getting stupidly chewed up by fairly minor usage.

Brass cleats. They're designed to wear out faster than the pedals. So the pedals will still be good for years and years. I've been riding my cleats since about march I think and I think they need replacing now, not had an accidental unclipping yet though.

Why do you think SPD are not as safe as toe straps and clips? This is a genuine enquiry, cos I find that if I tighten the straps I can't get out quick, but if I don't I can't get the same power out of my (magnificent) leg muscles. Am I doing something wrong, or is there a set-up to toe clips that I haven't seen?

I wouldn't say that clip less pedals themselves are dangerous. It's more about the environment in which you use them.

I run CB Eggbeaters on my XC have done for years and they are great. I have the tension set quite high as I don't like my foot to float about too much. I swapped them recently on to my fixed for a bit, just to see how it felt as I'd been running DMRv12's and wanted a little bit extra drive up hills and speed on the flat.

Clipped in and moving at speed feels wonderful and you are certainly more efficient, Though what worries me is not my proficiency and confidence whilst clipped in, It's other road users that I might tangle with.

Nutty drivers in London take the piss and it would only add insult to injury if bike and I were sent flying. I can imagine some serious damage being done if I couldn't get me feet to disengage. So, that makes me feel wary of using them. Cross country is one thing, but London rush hour is something else entirely.

That's not to say all people will be endowed with the similar fear, I see couriers using SPD pedals all the time and the Lycra brigade with their colorful 'Look' pedals. Much respect to both parties, but I feel there is most definitely a time and a place.

I've put the Eggbeater's back on the XC bike now and running Sofus Fransico Titan straps, which as long as you haven't overtightened allows the foot to slide in/out quickly if need be. You also get a decent amount of drive upwards through the rotation. Good for hills! good for speed, feeling that they are a good middle ground and give me peice of mind. Apparently those straps were perfected in San Francisco, so go figure.

Largely, I think it more about personal preference more than anything, I certainly don't mean to knock SPD.

No knocking percieved, but I was curious - certain people (sounds detrimental but I'm just too old to remember who) sear that a horrible and violent death is waiting for anyone using clipless on a fix, regardless of experience, terrain, traffic conditions and assorted other options. Thanks for the replies.

Bolleaux. That should say SWEAR..............

Do these use the same red plastic cleats as the Time iClicks or is it still the brass/alu thingys? Got a pair of them last week and they are already getting stupidly chewed up by fairly minor usage.

did a bunch of research before buying new pedals for my roadie and this seems to be a very common problem with the time iclic pedals. Shame, cos the ease of entry looked nice.

I like to spin - I'm currently riding 48x22 ~ 59". A bit of a bu**er downhill but makes riding uphill and into a Hebridean headwind a possibility. Can still manage a 30- 50 km ride across the moors at between 25 and 30kph spinning at between 85 and 100rpm.

Will increase into the mid to high 60's in the summer as riding gets faster (I keep a election of cogs from 19-22)

Changed down to 48x22 in flat flat London after knackering my knee, but now I get overtaken by children. I'll pop my 19 back on methinx. 42x16 was almost perfect for the hills of Sheffield, could have gone up a tooth or two at the front.

Which reminds me, must go to the dentist...

47t 18 vs 48t 17 what u reckon?

chinny

Whats that like then? and what surroundings do you ride in mate?

Since being on 50x16 I've started to look like Chris Hoy, but I feel like Victoria Pendleton

Whats that like then? and what surroundings do you ride in mate?

48x17 For a hilly Leeds...

What ever Gi you want to run. If you are riding fixed (braklezz) on the road you are wise to keep it low.

Picking a 47 tooth chairing means any size sprocket you pick will not limit your skid patches, evening tire wear and stresses on wheel.

#thisispossiblymyonlyusefulpost,hasprobablyalreadybeenpostedbeforeandskiddingsucks

I run 40x16 with a 25mm tire and find this a comfortable gear for a long commute and general winter riding. I don't think I would want to run anything much bigger than about 70gi for general road riding, as I would end up pedalling squares on anything but the shortest of inclines and my knees would complain.

I converted to Keos a few years back and feel pretty safe on these, they feel as though they disengage with less effort and rotation than most other pedals. I've had a few tumbles in races and stuff and the bike has never stayed attached to my feet. As soon as your foot twists and it really only takes the lightest of rotation, your foot unclips instantly. I'd much rather be on these than clips and straps, probably because I just know that I would end up doing the straps so tight that my foot would never come out.

I have my spd-r tension set really tight for riding fixed to avoid coming unclipped at the wrong time, I do ride like a prick though trying to drift corners etc. Couple of scary experiences coming unclipped riding down big hills made me glad to have a brake... and led to me tightening them up.

Sheldon Brown's Gear Calculator is useful if you're weighing up different chainring/sprocket combinations, whether to go up/down 5% etc etc
That and a bunch of sprockets from a sale got me where I am today...
(pushes up spectacles)

Been thinking going down in gear to 65 ... but I know I can do 48/17 ... 74 ... with cleats and I should be able to grunt up anything

Do you choose a lower gear ratio to get you up the lumpier sections of your route and spin so fast down hills you feel like you're gonna fly, or put on a big fat chainring (which looks more impressive) and grind your way up hills like a boss?

Good question. I don't think it's been discussed here before.

I look like a bit of an idiot spinning like a maniac, ive been wondering it isnt worth it just for the hills

chillax your legs and they'll spin along just fine

i'm on silly low gearing since my knee started to play up, but not slower at all. quite the opposite, really like the nimble-ness (is that a word?) you get