What's your favourite gear ratio?

Any amount of force spread over fewer teeth should wear them down quicker than it would if you had more of them, shouldn't it?

That was my reasoning, which I'm sure I've read elsewhere.

With the same gearing one crank turn gets you the same distance in either gear, that means for a mile you have the same amount of chain sliding on and off each tooth, why would it wear faster?

Because the chain tension is higher with the small sprockets. That means the roller pressure on the sprocket teeth is correspondingly higher

39x14 might not look too weird...

Jes baby

my travels from the start have gone from
on road gearing
42/16 - 69GI
46/17 - 71GI
47/18 - 68GI
47/17 - 72GI

now finally settling with

52/19 - 72GI

FTFY.

pretty incremental

Not really.

I wonder if anyone can help me, or point me to where its already in the forums. Im planning on doing the coast to coast later this year and my buddy is trying to convince me to go fixed, I don't really fancy spinning like a loon down the hills then going over the bars when i try to stop so we have compromised and I'm going to go single speed. The question is whats the best gear setup considering theres some fairly hefty hills en route?

66"

Id say around 70. You still want to be able to achieve a reasonable pace on the flats id imagine. 46/17 is nice and still manageable for hills

well I'm sorting out an old beater of a road bike into a project so I'm going to fit it specifically for the run, i'll be looking at parts shortly so i'll trial 46/17 or there a bouts and let you know how i get on. I suspect my long weekend of cycling fun will vary wildly from wheezing up hills and watching my buddy on the fixie fly into bushes. At least there will be beer. :)

Sounds fun. I find 46 to be quite versatile as switching to either 16 or 18 on the back will make a noticeable but not mental difference to how it feels especially long distances.
I started out on 44/18 when I was first fixed and span like a maniac on downhills. I found 48/17 to be the golden combo in london as it's relatively flat. Running 50/17 now and it's a bit of a challenge although the top speeds are nice.

im running 49 / 19 and love it for my commute. i have an 18t on the other side that i swap sometimes if im going a bit further.

45/17 although I should probably drop down to 45/18 for the winter.

Currently running that, 45x18 is 66.8GI with 25c tyres.

Is that fixed with two brakes Ed?

I have an 18t but it's on the seta at the moment which I'm riding 49/18 on for quicker rides.

53/11

55/11 or go home.

55/11

Only one skid patch, sounds risky

78/3 ;-)

=26

50x14 (Track Beik)
52x17 (Got brakes)
47x17 (Daily rider)

considering going from 47/17 to 47/19
am i going to be spinning like a twat the whole time?

You'd need to define "spinning" and "the whole time"

It's about 66", so you'll be doing 100rpm at 20mph. Whether that's spinning, or accounts for the whole time, will depend on your preference and how fast you ride.

true.
well im in london.
so many flat with a few small hills here and there.
I think it should be cool.

considering going from 47/17 to 47/19
am i going to be spinning like a twat the whole time?

I'd go 47/18, really comfortable, not too spinny and good if it's a bit more hilly.

i was thinking that,
But was reading that to reduce drivetrain wear the best thing is to have prime numbers on chainring and sprocket.