What if you can't spin?

doe's it sir??
really want it sir??

Does it face away from you with its handlebars turned back towards you and look at you with big doe eyes, all vulnerable and yet fuckable, sir?

Does its front brake squeal when you're going too fast and try to stop, sir?

could i have a go sir?

Could you give me a backy, sir?

Can I grease your bottom bracket sir?

Stop it now, sir!

Does it like you to strip the threads and then have a go at the hole with an oversize puller, sir?

is that an oversize bar sir?

Does the bike like you to try to squeeze the oversize bar into a standard clamp, sir? Does she like it installed dry, sir?

or do you have to grease her up, sir?

Okay, I think we've finally managed to derail this tedious thread. Another victory for double entendre :)

Got my first fixed today, and after a long days ride (including up and down hills) i found that my 46x17 was way too low, i've always prefered riding in a generally higher gear , the problems not that i cant spin, its just that i dont like it, it just feels uncomfortable and unnatural to me. what gear should i go for if i dont mind staying in a slightly higher gear than most, even up hill?

46x17 is not too low, get used to it for a few days, try riding up a hill.
do you fancy having some knees when you're older?

Does it face away from you with its handlebars turned back towards you and look at you with big doe eyes, all vulnerable and yet fuckable, sir?

Does its front brake squeal when you're going too fast and try to stop, sir?

this...

just fucking killed me. Adieau.

I'm running a 48x17 (only setup i've tried) and have just ordered a 18. will 4" less make a big difference? Not to be smutty though!

dogsballs, at the moment this 48x17 is really good, and I can go up gentle inclines without standing, but I think that if I have to head up Pentonville Road, I'd probably walk up.......til I've lost some weight, and increased my leg strength. But its flat speed I'm after. Anyway, hills are for mountain goats http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/cgi-bin/pod/PhotoOfTheDay.cgi?day=21&month=4&year=05

I cannot believed you walk up Pentonville Road on 48x17, I have 48x16 and occasionally I have to cycle up that hill, but it's not steep enough to get off the bike, but I still managed to get up to the top without stopping and getting off.

edited; you got asthma, that make sense, didn't read the whole thing properly, my apologise.

Mercian ...48 x 17t (700c) = 74 gear inches
Dahon....53 x 16t (20inch) = 66 gear inches
Bareknuckle = 46 x 19t (700c) = 64 gear inches

That's my road bike, commuter bike and 'brakeless' beater based on the theory that I am happy to 'spin' down to the local shops but I ain't riding 100km Paris Chartres spinning all the way...

I wouldn't put Pentonville Road in the hill bracket??... I'd give it a mild incline rating (gets you breathless but can be done on a few ales) Hills are those you put your full body weight on the pedal and it doesn't go forward. but they don't have glaciers cause then they would be mountains

Mine's a Kestrel Super.

46x17 is not too low, get used to it for a few days, try riding up a hill.
do you fancy having some knees when you're older?

I'd go as far as to say a few weeks (pref months), or a thousand miles min which ever is greater minimum to become accustomed, but each to their own.

I wouldn't put Pentonville Road in the hill bracket??... I'd give it a mild incline rating (gets you breathless but can be done on a few ales) Hills are those you put your full body weight on the pedal and it doesn't go forward. but they don't have glaciers cause then they would be mountains

it's a hill to the hundred of other cyclist who commute up and down that hill everyday.

it's always fun overtaking them on their big heavy hybrid and bouncy brompton without even looking sweaty and exhausted.

it's always fun overtaking them on their big heavy hybrid and bouncy brompton without even looking sweaty and exhausted.

Oooh, get you!

I'm running a 48x17 (only setup i've tried) and have just ordered a 18. will 4" less make a big difference? Not to be smutty though!

Yes you will notice it. Maybe not so much on flats but certainly going up and down steep hills. And Pentonville Road is not a Hill.

If it was, it would be called Pentonville Hill, which actually makes it sound quite nice

should they use a high gear and basically never have a good top speed?

High gear = High Top Speed.

I have lung problems too, attributed to a fire I was in as a kid.

I never used to even be able to walk with people as a group, just around town as I would get out of breath.

I never admitted it at school, but I was supposed to have an inhaler. But I was like fuck that! Im no fucking disabled (no offence) and did my best to harden the fuck up. so I had a hard time at school with all the running with no concessions.

Was pretty powerful yet I always came last in all track running, but always finished everything by pacing myself well.

Actually came 44th out of 200 boys in a 10k cross country race, which blew my mind.

Was always dead proud of that.

Ive only really come to terms with the fact that I do have fucked up lungs/asthma, and that I almost killed myself doing that run.

But HTFU is not the LFGSS motto for nothing, its a pretty good philosophy.

I run 52-19 on a 27" wheeled fixie.

Its kills my lungs to ride with fast people, but I never mention it.

But I can always hack it against other bike commuters, even on my bmx, which at 43-16 with 20" wheels, you REALLY do have to spin to keep up with a geared road bike.