Experiences moving to a lower gearing ...

[mangid]

I'm probably over thinking things, but here goes ...

I've ridden 48x18 (fixed) for years, and the cruise at 100RPM and 20mph feels just great, but, some mornings I'm feeling a tad ponderous, and do wonder if I should move to a lower gear. I know, it's straight forward enough to change. However, given the length of time I've been riding the one gear, and my average fixed mileage a week of 300+ I do wonder if it's that straight forward (told you I was over thinking things).

On my road bike I definitely spin a lower gear (I think that's right) but the feel on the road bike is completely different to fixed and I don't have to worry about silly cadences down hill. 30 downhill is currently 150ish, if I went to something like 44x18 that would become 160ish, and faster would be even worse.

So, anybody else made the change after many years/miles of legs and mind becoming accustomed to a particular rhythm?

 

[Milkfloat]

How about 'just' trying to change your cadence, I know that could be difficult after all this time, but it is free to try.

 

[bonker]

Give it a whirl, you can always change back. I recently went from 19 on the back to 18, my legs struggled to notice the difference but I could see the positive effect on my speed right away. I would definitely look at changing the rear sprocket rather than the chainring. Try a bit at a time and see how it goes, that way you could stick with the same chain length and switch it around if it's not working.

When I couldn't commute I took to finding hills to ride fixed at the weekend. You'd be amazed what's possible on a fixed and I'm an old git.

 

[Pennine-Paul]

I normally ride 45/15 as it's pancake flat where I live,I tried going down to 42/16 but found I couldn't maintain a decent speed without spinning like crazy.

Even when I lived up in the hills i was running 48/17, so Iv'e only gone up a little now I'm on the Cheshire Plain,It's what suits me anyway.

 

[Sharky]

Have you tried riding a SS(freewheel) with a slightly lower gear? I persevered with a fixed for a long time, but riding the Kent's North Down's roads, it is just too hilly for me. Surprisingly, the so called "flywheel" effect is still present when using a SS and the comfort on the real fast descents is really appreciated. Now riding a 44x17 freewheel.

But still ride fixed for time trials, with a much bigger gear, but TT roads are generally quite flat apart from the occasional bridge.

 

[rogerzilla]

I still like 52 x 20 (almost the same as 48 x 18, just a bit smoother) but I used more like 67" for winter commuting (41 x 15 on 26" x 1.35) and never noticed. When you have to grind into a 30mph headwind first thing of a morning, every little helps. In general, use the smallest gear that will get you down the biggest hill without the need for drag-braking; people who run a rear brake can get away with this sort of abuse by alternating front and rear brakes, but a dragging front brake only can pop a tyre off.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I'm probably over thinking things, but here goes ...

I've ridden 48x18 (fixed) for years, and the cruise at 100RPM and 20mph feels just great, but, some mornings I'm feeling a tad ponderous, and do wonder if I should move to a lower gear. I know, it's straight forward enough to change. However, given the length of time I've been riding the one gear, and my average fixed mileage a week of 300+ I do wonder if it's that straight forward (told you I was over thinking things).

On my road bike I definitely spin a lower gear (I think that's right) but the feel on the road bike is completely different to fixed and I don't have to worry about silly cadences down hill. 30 downhill is currently 150ish, if I went to something like 44x18 that would become 160ish, and faster would be even worse.

So, anybody else made the change after many years/miles of legs and mind becoming accustomed to a particular rhythm?

Go for the middle ground and use a 46 X 18. I'm using 44 X 18 and it suits me and the rolling Warwickshire countryside I usually ride on, but I do have to spin on the descents.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Come to the conclusion I grind too much :-) 48x16 and it’s a lumpy commute .

 

[colly]

48 x 18 for me at the moment which I put on after a spell away from riding. The 48 x 16 I had on before was just a tad too much effort.