What's your favourite gear ratio?

"53t Chainring>52t Chainring"

Well yes, but that's hardly the point here.

'FixedGears' on Android does equivalent ratios, and skid patches, and speed at cadence, and it's free...

Thanks for all the feedback and advice - I have checked out 'FixedGears' and I must admit I don't think it is as easy to use or intuitive as 'Singlespeed Gear Ratio App', all the parameters have to be set on different screens for instance, and when I tried out a test ratio for alternate gearing it gave me 64.5 gear inches for a 39/16 set up and under nearest alternative configurations quoted 66.7 for the same set-up, so either the programming has an error in it or I made a mistake, which would reinforce my first point about ease of use (you may want to try this at home!). However I do think it would be useful to add more tyre options and skid patches to 'Singlespeed Gear Ratio App' so I'll do that as soon as possible as an upgrade, but overall still think my app is distinctive in its speed and ease of use so happy it has a sufficient USP even without the cats.
That's enough apps (ed)....

For the record my favourite ratio for round here (West Wales, a hilly bit) is now 39/16 otherwise I have to get off and push on the nearest really steep bit, which I hate - makes the bike (old Raleigh Winner) most comfortable going up a slight incline.

Like I said, it's very individual, and needless to say I would never recommend a gear you can't push. I withstand that a gear ratio around 2.75 - 3.0 will suit most people for most type of rides.

If I were being pedantic, I'd say 2.5 - 2.75.

An ~80" gear shouldn't be given such a generalist stamp of approval really.

If I were being pedantic, I'd say 2.5 - 2.75.

An ~80" gear shouldn't be given such a generalist stamp of approval really.

I agree, unless your from cambridge where it is truely flat but even then crosswinds are an issue. I rode 81GI for a short while daily and I found myself having to find the flattest route possible as any regular inclines with leave me with a slight knee pain towards the end of the week, never good even slight! If your riding everyday mid 70GI(or lower depending on geography) is ideal as you can still shift when you need to but you won't have double knee replacements a few years down the line. 80+ is for the track or racing, not for commuting.

Once again it seems we have managed to resolved the eternal question of the perfect gear ratio... The progress we've made is remarkable ;-)

I like ice cream but I don't think it's very useful on my bike.

Yeah, very true. Thanks for the input everyone.

Just changed chainring from 48 to 49t. No particular reason. What that's done though is put my gear up to 81", which is good for almost everything in London. However, I run an S3X, so I have a lower gear of about 60" for starting off and manoeuvring, which saves my knees a bit. There's also a 50", which is useful when I'm camping, because for carrying a load up a hill I like something a bit more twiddly.

Just changed chainring from 48 to 49t.

Heh, I did this a little while ago too.

For good reason tho. 49/18x668mm < 72". MG ftw

Just changed from 46x16 to 48x16, seems nice at the moment

Did my morning ride with a 53/14 setup... A right bitch in traffic, but ever so often it's just nice cruising effortlessly at 30 m.p.h.

Just changed from 46x16 to 48x16, seems nice at the moment

It's good unless you skid.... Went through a brand new tyre in a week, if you don't then your fine!

^This

48:19 - carrying heavy load
48:17 - chaingang training sessions
48: 18 - most of the time

It's good unless you skid.... Went through a brand new tyre in a week, if you don't then your fine!

No skidding for me!

No skidding for me!

It's fine then, It has one skid patch or something like that so if your brakeless it really isn't the one!

Don't make the mistake of associating brakeless riding with skidding. No skidding* for me, and I ride brakeless.

*Needless to say skid patches is something I take into consideration.

How the fuck do you slow down on 53x14, unless you're on a runway?

How the fuck do you slow down on 53x14, unless you're on a runway?

I don't!

At this particular occasion about 95 percent of my ride was completely secluded from traffic. I use a 49/17 gear ratio, or there about, for most rides.

cruising effortlessly at 30 m.p.h.

Is this possible? You may have missed your calling as World and Olympic TT champion.

Effortlessly might be pushing it, but actually I'm not as far off the pace as you might think...

Have a go at the forum BAR next year then :) You'll need a brake though...

Don't make the mistake of associating brakeless riding with skidding. No skidding* for me, and I ride brakeless.

*Needless to say skid patches is something I take into consideration.

Where do you ride most of the time?

47/15 :fast

47/17 :lazy

42/15 :pub