What's your favourite gear ratio?

Thanks to Branwen, O'Shane and Condor I'm now on 47/20 - so much easier on the knees :)

I'm running a very similar 42/18 due to crappy knees. I might change to 42/17 if I can get a bit more training in but, frankly, if it's a toss-up between being friendly to my knees and impressing the MAMILs, then my knees win every time.

I'm currently on 48-17 but I'm probably going to swap to 48-19 as most of my riding at the moment seems to be either up hill or into wind or both.

I'm currently on 48-17 but I'm probably going to swap to 48-19 as most of my riding at the moment seems to be either up hill or into wind or both.

Pedal harder?

48x19 is a far more sensible ratio for brakeless tan 48x17.

Ill probably keep the 17 on the other side for <20 miles flattish/fast rides but use the 19 for commuting.

previous 48/16 and 48/18 - currently really enjoying 44/16

Will 51x19 on a 25c Vittoria give me the predicted 71'' or something bigger then?

It's 71.4 on my chart, but I think my chart actually underestimates the true rolling diameter, partly by not accounting for tread band thickness and partly by being optimised for 23c on 20mm overall width rims. Using a wider tyre will increase rolling diameter slightly more than twice the increase in sectional width whereas my chart just adds twice the sectional width to a constant base circle. Increasing rim width will reduce the rolling diameter slightly for any given tyre.

I know I usually have to fit 20mm tyres to make 49/18 squeek under the 18'10¼" rollout for medium gear events. This year I'm going for 48/18 and 25C.

49/18 + 20C is 71.4 on my chart and actually rolls out very close to that (i.e. about 2" short of 18'10¼"), 48/18 + 25C is 71.0 but allowing for the known errors I'm not expecting to be any shorter this year.

Ill probably keep the 17 on the other side for <20 miles flattish/fast rides but use the 19 for commuting.

I've just done this, much better seem to have more control.

WOW spin to win :O

Proud :)
Thanks, ma boy!

I'm running a very similar 42/18 due to crappy knees. I might change to 42/17 if I can get a bit more training in but, frankly, if it's a toss-up between being friendly to my knees and impressing the MAMILs, then my knees win every time.
For sure! Those MAMILs will be off their bikes or having join replacements while we're still peddling :)

But having had our joints replaced we'll comeback stronger and more powerful than ever before. Joint replacement FTW!

Londoner living in Calgary Canada at the moment and I run 48x18 on 700 x 23 wheels and its not a very flat city ,I do ok with it and some hills are retardly steep.

Keep up the great forums I love reading them

But having had our joints replaced we'll comeback stronger and more powerful than ever before. Joint replacement FTW!

Obi-Wan: He's more machine now than man. His mind is twisted and evil. 【HD】 - YouTube

Rep!

But having had our joints replaced we'll comeback stronger and more powerful than ever before. Joint replacement FTW!
Wait, you've already had most of your body replaced, haven't you? :(

Discount medical insurance I'm afraid... They've patched me back together and left the damn thing to revive. I wanna a new body, God damn it!

Put and add on Craigslist.

Wouldnt you spin out pretty quickly on that gear? Or is it ok?
Not at all. Feels very comfortable. Mind you, so far I have only tried it with panniers on and haven't had a steep descent...will post back once I've experimented with these factors!

Discount medical insurance I'm afraid... They've patched me back together and left the damn thing to revive. I wanna a new body, God damn it!
An ex of mine plans to be frozen when he dies so he can be brought back to life one day.

I think I'd rather come back as a cat.

So he can be a cunt to newbs on here in 2190?

Ha! Now there's a scary thought!

But no, the ex in question isn't a cyclist :)

"An ex of mine plans to be frozen when he dies so he can be brought back to life one day.

"...the ex in question isn't a cyclist :) "

Why did you break up?

...not that you owe us an explanation.

#badabuumtsssh!

Will changing from 42:16 to 48:16 or 17 be a real massive difference? I have a dodgy knee that will eventually require another surgery hence I never really wanted to up the ratio more than the pretty box standard 42:16. But I am thinking if I up it a bit, it should go well with the Physio advice as the higher ratio should be a togher ride and make the leg work harder. Or will it be too big of a jump?

Another inexperienced question...

Can someone explain what the link is between high gear ratios and bad knees? Coming from a geared road bike there is a lot of talk about knee pain but it is usually resolved by a correctly set up bike or an expensive bike fit. There is never any mention of the pain stemming from a high gear ratio.

Would a correctly set up bike not resolve the issue of knee pain on single speeds/fixies?