First foray into SS

[The Hat]

Hi all,

Had my Kona Bandwagon for a month now and gotta say I loves it I do.
Just thinking about tinkering with it at mo.
What is considered a standard gear ratio to have. I know people may say it depends what your using it for but I'm after something that can do most things as I like to go out training on it and long rides.

 

[1gearnoidea]

42-16... Hav'nt failed on any climb and good for long miles too...and I live in a very hilly area

 

[4F]

48 x 18 in the flatlands of Suffolk

 

[GGJ]

48T-18 does me for around the West of Scotland, never had to get off and push yet

 

[totallyfixed]

50 x 18 for everything, but fully accept I am a bolt or two short of what is considered normal.

 

[4F]

50 x 18 for everything, but fully accept I am a bolt or two short of what is considered normal.

I can confirm this

 

[fossyant]

I can confirm this

Doubled

46 x 16 and on edge of Peaks. Can do a 1 in 10 OK (ish)

 

[JoeyB]

I have a 46 x 18t but I'm considering going to a 16t or 17t rear cog as I tend to spin out a little too easily.

 

[MossCommuter]

42 x 16 for me (flat commute) and you'll be wanting one of these: http://www.whiteind.com/free-wheels.html

 

[Pottsy]

38 x 15 for me, which is 69" on my tyres.

 

[Acesand8s]

Actually who told you it depends was right. If you think you are strong, you are probably not and trial and error comes at a price. As a semi pro cyclist i live in Colorado US and i use a 46-15. A ratio higher than 1:3.25 is almost always to big to be healthy. Your average rpm when you get home should be at least 75. Basically, it should be as high as it can with you still bein able to get up the biggest hill on your route without being over 1:3.25. Otherwise you will be recking your knees. Geared bikes let you do good "rolling sprints" which means 30-70k/h is easy enough, but a single gear lets you sprint from a stop, like 0-55k easily so being bigger than that is useless . Also a big ring and a small cog is lighter and more efficient. The cog being smaller than 14 could wear down pre maturely so 34:11 is not what you want, 42:14 would be a better choice. I like my gear, i can do 65k/h down a steep hill and even have gone 74 without taking my feet off. And i can do some hills when needed, in which sprinting is better than slowly cranking.

 

[MossCommuter]

For every rpm below 80, God kills a puppy. Fact

 

[totallyfixed]

For every rpm below 80, God kills a puppy. Fact

In which case I am wholly responsible for the mass slaughter of the canine variety. I can't be the only one who lives in a lumpy area.

 

[Acesand8s]

For every rpm below 80, God kills a puppy. Fact

I would say to put a number on it: no less than 60rpm except at a dead stop-go, and only do that low with low pressure for a limited time. On a single speed, 60 isnt too bad. Dont push it there all the time though, get a smaller gear if you are *living* in 45-75z