Gear Ratio

[Jack101]

I'm thinking about building up a fixie (my winter project!) and I'm just wondering what sort of gearing people run on their fixies/single speeds for going about Edinburgh? Any help and advice would be amazing...

[martinfarrell]

Hi

I built a fixie about 2-3 years ago and initially had 42*18. This was fine on most roads, although I was spinning like a demon on descents. I switched to 46*18 and and found it a much better compromise for riding round Edinburgh

[Eric]

Hi Jack,
I was running around on 49x15 for a while but it does your knees in on Edinburgh's hills.  (Okay for time trialling though).  I'm now using 49x18 and this fine for most situations around town except for the Dundas Street/Mound climbs.  However, I took it on the 9.40 and I was only really comfortable going up the Liars,  the rest of the time I was spinning too fast.  Sprockets aren't too dear though. The Bicycle Repair Man usually has a range in stock.

Cheers

[GeoAngus]

Dear Drooper,

Its a FIXED. You want anything between a 63 and a 71 inch if youre getting some miles in. You can work out the gear ratio by dividing the number of teeth on the chainring by the number on the sprocket and multiplying by the circumference of the wheel. You can get tables online or make your own by using a spreadsheet.
Fixies will make your leggies go round ever so quickly, and are used by metropolitan ponces. Fixed wheels are used by real cyclists who laugh in the face of effette posuers while spinning in a furious maelstromn of RAW CYCLING KINESIS.

Reg.

[scottb]

I started off with a 63ish (39x17) and then went up to about 72(39x15).....(did the sums after George's dressing down - it's the memory that goes at my age, not the arithmetic!). My regular route goes over Clermiston - if it didn't then I might consider moving up to a bigger gear - although quite like being able to spin at 130+.    Cue Alastair for some good advice!

George - how many decade's is it since you rode a fixed?     Cue story from George about being 14 and coming second to Robert Miller......or something like that

[GeoAngus]

YOUR ARITHMETIC IS WAY OUT.
I was instrumental in securing Millars record-breaking ride in the Tour De Trossachs where he used me as a pacer, I was Millar's hour-man, but he only managed to take 26 minutes out of me due to his notoriously bad eyesight.

[Jack101]

Well thanks for everyone's help with this! Much food for thought...