What's your favourite gear ratio?

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  • Some sport a massive gear grinding their knees down and can't handle it.
    That said, I'm joining the club with 46:15.

    I think 46:16 is spinny, after a while. :-)

    That plan lasted only a day. Now back to 46:16...
    Not that I gave up too quickly. It just won't work. Too big.
    Would like to give it a go with a slightly bigger chainring again, but trying to find that extra money is less convincing.

  • Hi everyone,

    I currently ride 48-17 on my Chinese track bike. That's pretty usable, not too spinny, not too hard for the knees. I certainly won't change that one.

    I have also used 52-17 on a converted road bike, the ratio is fairly good for city commuting.

  • since yesterday 48 - 16 (down from 18) and loving it!

  • I hope your not riding fixed or you never skid, as you will ruin your tyres very fast (probs your knees too, but thats another story)

  • I hope your not riding fixed or you never skid, as you will ruin your tyres very fast (probs your knees too, but thats another story)

    fixed with a brake, never skid, is that too bad? 48/18 was getting too easy :P

  • you only have one skid patch, it is more advisable to run 48 17 or 49 16 but if you honestly never skid then it doesn't matter.

  • I skid a sometimes on 50/17. Am I gonna ruin my knees?

  • 48/17 is brilliant for me, but I've just moved from Manchester to Bath and the hills are pretty punishing...

    I think I'm going to have to fit a brake.

  • 48/17 is brilliant for me, but I've just moved from Manchester to Bath and the hills are pretty punishing...

    I think I'm going to have to fit a brake.

    Bath is real good for riding I found, there are a few monster hills but most are rideable on 48x17. I found there is plenty of streets crossing hills so you can work out routes that don't involve massive descents or climbs all the time. A brake wouldn't be a bad shout thought if your riding up and down the hills regularly, if I lived there I would have one 100%.

  • I skid a sometimes on 50/17. Am I gonna ruin my knees?

    If you smoke is it certain you will get lung cancer?
    If you drink will you get liver failure?
    if you blowjob for crack will you get crabs in your beard?

    nothing is certain

  • 48/17 is brilliant for me, but I've just moved from Manchester to Bath and the hills are pretty punishing...

    I think I'm going to have to fit a brake.

    I miss you already.

  • 48/17 is brilliant for me, but I've just moved from Manchester to Bath and the hills are pretty punishing...

    I think I'm going to have to fit a brake.

    james dean wouldn't have rocked a brake :p

  • James Dean's dead because he didn't brake.

  • I'm currently running 46/16 and find it pretty tough on the hills. Thinking of going either 46/17 or 47/18. Anyone tried both and which one would they recomenned?

  • 47/18, loads of skid patches, and with 47 chainring whatever cog you fit you will still have loads of skid patches if you decide to gear up or down in the future.

  • sorry I meant to stay 46/17 or 46/18?

  • say*

  • Depends how hilly it is round you and whether you value skid patches. 46/17 is better than 46/18 if you skid.

  • I started on 46-16 and found it too big and moved down to 46-18 and loved it. IIRC it has the advantage of RPM = 5 x speed. So 20 mph = 100 RPM, 25 mph = 125 RPM etc. 46-18 = 67.5 GI and will get you up most hills too.

  • For Christ's sake...

    48/17.

    Be a winner, don't be a sinner.

  • Too spinney.

  • spin to win?

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What's your favourite gear ratio?

Posted by Avatar for smurfbike @smurfbike

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