Ladies gear ratio

I realise that there are lots of threads about gear ratios but I thought it might be interesting to have a thread about the gear ratios used by the LFGSS ladies. I have to put my hands up and admit that I'm just about to start building my first ss, so I don't have any thoughts to offer at the minute but would be interested to hear what other ladies use.

Cheers

Around 70GI is probably most useful if you're doing a mixture of flat stuff and low hills, but I prefer 66GI (44/16) for my particular commute, easier to spin up.

I'm not sure male/female is a huge factor in gearing, I guess a combination of fitness/cadence/strength to turn and resist the gear would probably be a bigger issue I'd have thought?

Although geared to the hilt I never both changing unless I encounter an actual hill.
Currently sticking on a ratio of 76, but it is building my thighs somewhat.

When I get the new one up and running I'm going to try and get used to one a notch down.

I'm not sure male/female is a huge factor in gearing, I guess a combination of fitness/cadence/strength to turn and resist the gear would probably be a bigger issue I'd have thought?

I guessed that would probably be the case, it was just the pump thread that got me wondering whether there might be a difference.

My fixed is 52/18 (75.9) and so far I've not had any hills I can't get up.... but it's quite hard work at times! Turning my legs into legs-of-steel which is pretty cool though....
However, it's sometimes a bit tricky to set off in traffic when on a hill etc. which atm isn't too much of a prob as I don't do much town riding, just a mega commute each day through countryside. However when I move to Cambridge this summer I'll mainly be doing town riding so I'm thinking of changing my gears to 52/19 (71.9) or maybe even 52/20 (68.3) so I can set off and stop easier and get skiddy wid it ;-) Can't do a skid stop with my current set-up - couldn't even think of riding without a front brake as I just don't have the leverage.

The other thing I find is that I think fixed gear helps you get up hills (something to do with the momentum of the back wheel maybe?) so I find I can get up steeper hills in my higher gear than I would even dream of if I was riding SS. So if you're going with SS maybe go for a lower gear? That way you should be able to get up any hills you come across and you can freewheel so you don't have to worry about how spinny your legs will be going down a hill!

How comes you're going SS and not fixed? I was unsure about fixed before I tried it but it honestly is the most fun I've ever had on a bike :-D

When I first went fixed I kept the same ratio I had been using SS (77GI) but it nearly killed me so I stuck another couple of teeth on the back and took it down to 69GI, which was perfect for me. Most of my male fixie friends seem to prefer the mid 70s though. *

Thanks for all the replies ladies, this all great info.

How comes you're going SS and not fixed? I was unsure about fixed before I tried it but it honestly is the most fun I've ever had on a bike :-D

A mixture of reasons. I'm only just getting back into cycling regularly after a serious accident. It's been a long journey and as yet I don't have the confidence to deal with riding fixed. The other factor is that I still have lingering problems in my foot, ankle, knee and hips that make we wonder if fixed might make things worse than they currently are.

Hmmm maybe - I got pains in my knee and then my ankle when I first rode fixed so just from personal experience I think it does put your joints under a bit more stress, though they've gone now. I'm sure if you build up to it you'll be able to manage it with time though.
Sorry to hear about your accident, it doesn't sound good. Great to hear you're getting back on your bike though, that takes a lot of courage.xx

hello, i haven't really properly introduced myself, I ride 42-16 singlespeed and 42-17 fixed, and ride daily. i was worried riding fixed again, as my legs aren't that great (i broke my right leg in 2 places last year skating, and lost confidence)

does it matter in the slightest if you can skid?
really.
skilled riding in traffic, stamina, and enjoyment must surely be far better reasons to bike in London surely.
have fun.

hello lovely *m.f, i guess skidding kind of proves total control in stopping and leg power (?) or are you going to convince me it's all about weight shift? :-p

I can't skid. Well, I've never bothered trying, but that still means I can't.

But the forum reluctantly accepted me :/

Regarding gearing, people* know I favour & recommend 65-70" for the summer, and 60-65" for the winter; for general riding and/or urban commuting. I think most people overgear - I've heard all the arguments about individual physiology - and wish them well if they hope to be riding into middle age and beyond.

My wife's SS is 42x17, for the sake of being on topic (65" in 700c).

aw, blushes. Hi Iona
When youve built up lots of strength in your legs from resistance braking, then skidding, hop stops and general chucking the bike around arent much further away.
Mtb, other riding all contributes to becoming a better bike handler, just getting a fixed bike and grasping at the ability to skid seems pretty lame to me.
if youre building up strength, just get used to the gear you have, slowing it and stopping it without resorting to the brake, theres spin rate too and other techniques,
that Im sure others would like to post up,
most of all, the continuous ride, from mounting to getting off, clipped or strapped in, watching, adjusting speed for conditions ahead, is pure enjoyment,-- youre making me want to go riding again and Ive covered a fair amount of ground today already....
have a good weekend

here is a calculator i found for ratio and GI that helped me work out mine http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com/rabbit.applet.html )

Hmmm lots of talking about skidding... I had no idea there was any kind of cool factor involved in skidding... I read somewhere (probably an unreliable hipster blog) that it was a good thing to learn to skid stop if you don't run a back brake just in case your front brake fails... But maybe that's rubbish? I do feel a bit like I rely too much on my front brake in my current gear... hmmm :-/

When youve built up lots of strength in your legs from resistance braking, then skidding, hop stops and general chucking the bike around arent much further away.

it's not particularly leg "strength" you need, but the technique which comes from weight placement and timing.
Balance and control rather than strength.

My fixed is 52/18 (75.9)

Whoa! That's pretty high! I'm on 47/19 and that's still pretty high for certain hills. Was wiping me out on my commute. Also, I was unable to skid stop at that ratio until I went clipless. I still can't sustain a skid.

I don't know if anyone's told the newer people why to avoid the higher gear ratios; it's not just b/c it will be harder to stop and start, but b/c you risk doing damage to your knees (can develop bursitis or tendonitis) if you jump to a high ratio without building up the muscle for it first. My husband gave himself bursitis from too high a gear ratio on mostly flat NYC streets and was "grounded" for a month or two.

I can't skid, and I've never had any trouble stopping in a hurry.
I ride 44x17 (68GI I believe) which is great for me, spin to win - no stress on the knees.

Regarding gearing, people* know I favour & recommend 65-70" for the summer, and 60-65" for the winter; for general riding and/or urban commuting. I think most people overgear - I've heard all the arguments about individual physiology - and wish them well if they hope to be riding into middle age and beyond.

Personally I totally agree, most people do overgear, especially considering mostly they are urban cycling which requires a fair amount of stop/start riding.

Tom! How have you been? Haven't seen your new hair in person yet...hugs

48/15 over here. Sheldon Brown's ghost informs me that this is 86.4 inches. It's the stock arrangement and I'm lazy and skint, so it stays.

48/15 over here. Sheldon Brown's ghost informs me that this is 86.4 inches. It's the stock arrangement and I'm lazy and skint, so it stays.

Phew, godzilla legs...

I don't really have a choice :P Well, much of one. Gear down or get strong. Seems easy to me.

gear down or watch your knees crumble?

I took that view of the stock 48/15 on the Fuji too. Then I rode Barmouth-Trawsfynydd with a rucksack load of walking kit, which cured me.