Gear Ratio for Track

spin to win!

(5.40 in)

YouTube- Standing Start - UK

Wicked. Just watching it for the 3rd time now.

Sweet!

I thought Bryan was a 49x15 man?

No, Mike was talking about me.

I'll get my coat.

dredging this thread, but what would be good for me?
Im 16, 6 foot 4 and gonna start sprint training at HH more regularly as the inter schools is coming up soon
Right now I ride 53/16 but Im finding it way too light.
The chaps there said I should change to something heavier so its now at 53/14 and feels really good but thats just on the lap around my area.
what do you sprinters ride?

First off, if you are 16 are you not restricted to the maximum gear you can run?

Im 16, 6 foot 4 and gonna start sprint training at HH more regularly as the inter schools is coming up soon

dredging this thread, but what would be good for me?
Im 16, 6 foot 4 and gonna start sprint training at HH more regularly as the inter schools is coming up soon
Right now I ride 53/16 but Im finding it way too light.
The chaps there said I should change to something heavier so its now at 53/14 and feels really good but thats just on the lap around my area.
what do you sprinters ride?

You need to start looking at the imperial gear chart. By the way, your 53/14 is 102" and is bigger than Chris Hoy has used in a keirin race. Fair enough if you're doing 10s flying 200s and riding at over 40mph but it sounds like you need to learn to increase your max cadence as most people use 90-92" as race gear for sprinting at Herne Hill.

99 gear inches actually with my tyre set up

wel im gonna try it this sunday and see how it goes and it was only my first session a couple weeks back. got 13.9 first run...is that good? (53/16)

@andyp - according to my teacher at school no

and yeh, ive got dutch blood and rowed for 4 years so reasonably strong for my age

but also, do need to improve max cadence massively

My 48/14 can get me upto 50(ish)km on a kilo but spins out a bit at top speeds, should I go to 13 cog or 50 chainring?

@V-L where are you at school/collage? Do you have a cycle team?

EDIT: just thought that makes me sound like a pedo, I'm also at
College and wished we had a cycle team

half bras, half rus, with mix of dutch blood. and 6'4. if i didn't see you, would guess you are sewed up from couple of different men.

This will be good.

@V-L where are you at school/collage? Do you have a cycle team?

I am at St Pauls School, and yes we are forming a track team to go alongside the road team, skinsuits and all haha. Where are you at?

half bras, half rus, with mix of dutch blood. and 6'4. if i didn't see you, would guess you are sewed up from couple of different men.

haha I do feel like it sometimes

Oh and apologies in advance if this may sound like im being arrogant, I just wanted to give all the facts about myself in an effort to get the best advice!

Im gonna make a training bike/commuter with a low GI in order to start improving my max cadence for summer

Pm'd you V-L

99 gear inches actually with my tyre set up

wel im gonna try it this sunday and see how it goes and it was only my first session a couple weeks back. got 13.9 first run...is that good? (53/16)

@andyp - according to my teacher at school no

and yeh, ive got dutch blood and rowed for 4 years so reasonably strong for my age

Track gearing is still quoted as if riding a 27" wheel - your actual tyre set up is irrelevant.

You definitely need to be pedalling faster, particularly if you want to match sprint. Spinning away on a commuter gear is all well and good, but you still need race-pace / high power efforts in a gear more suited to racing. Be *subtle *with under and over-gearing in training.

200m in 13.9s in 53/16 is averaging 124rpm. Try 48/16, and target the same sort of time, which is still less than 140rpm.

well i used sheldons thing and set it for 700c/23c
but nvm
and yeh for my commuter gear im thinking 48/17? rode that a lot when i was younger and found it to be really good balance between spin and effort

You might fond it too spin-y I commute on 48/14 and when I swap to 18 it is almost a joke, if your used to 99inches you might find 17 to big, maybe 16?

First off, if you are 16 are you not restricted to the maximum gear you can run?

If i've read the BC rules correctly, you can't go bigger than 6.93m rollout if your 16th birthday was/ is in 2012. 53x16 is 7.1m rollout. Or you've received dispensation for competing against riders older than you.

What's the top speed your hitting in a sprint ? I suspect that will tell us if you need a bigger gear or learn how to spin faster. I'm guessing the latter myself.

If i've read the BC rules correctly, you can't go bigger than 6.93m rollout if your 16th birthday was/ is in 2012. 53x16 is 7.1m rollout. Or you've received dispensation for competing against riders older than you.

What's the top speed your hitting in a sprint ? I suspect that will tell us if you need a bigger gear or learn how to spin faster. I'm guessing the latter myself.

Yes, I will be competing against older riders (only person in my year at my school who rides track)
The checking top speed is a great idea, will attach my cateye and do some testing on sunday

my best sprint time was like 13.5 or something for 200 (53/16) so 33.139 average mph so about 140 rpm?

Yes, I will be competing against older riders (only person in my year at my school who rides track)
The checking top speed is a great idea, will attach my cateye and do some testing on sunday

If you're riding under British Cycling regs, I'd check that you have dispensation with the organiser of any races that you do. You're not automatically given it.

They're not likely to measure roll out in track leagues, but will do it for any national classed meets

oh ok, thanks for the advice, will ask more of the right questions to my teacher next time