What gear ratios are you running?.....

[Sharky]

Dont think you can get a 12t fixed sprocket. I have used 50x13 for a 10 mile tt, but was too high for me. My fastest had been on 50x15.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

What kinda rpms are you guys w/ 48:16 running? I just don't see how anyone can do 100+ for more than a few secs. Makes my quads burn just thinking about it.

Even riding with gears I'm spinning 80-100 rpm a lot of the time. On the fixed I spend a lot of time around 100 rpm and often top 150rpm on descents, it's only on climbs that the rpm drops right off. Currently using 46x18 on the fixed, my favourite is 44x18.

 

[Emile Flournoy]

Even riding with gears I'm spinning 80-100 rpm a lot of the time. On the fixed I spend a lot of time around 100 rpm and often top 150rpm on descents, it's only on climbs that the rpm drops right off. Currently using 46x18 on the fixed, my favourite is 44x18.

150???? Jeez whats keeping your patellas attached? Just joking but jeez thats F-A-S-T!!! Another reason why I don't believe in fixed and totally and solely believe in freewheeling.

 

[Emile Flournoy]

Dont think you can get a 12t fixed sprocket. I have used 50x13 for a 10 mile tt, but was too high for me. My fastest had been on 50x15.

12T freewheel, I guess I should've clarified.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KXC9P32/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Deleted member 1258]

150???? Jeez whats keeping your patellas attached? Just joking but jeez thats F-A-S-T!!! Another reason why I don't believe in fixed and totally and solely believe in freewheeling.

There are people about who can spin a lot faster than that.

 

[Emile Flournoy]

Thanks Whorty I appreciate your input. I guess it boils down to cadence preference. I don't like or simply can't go more than 100rpm for more than a few minutes. How you guys can spin for 100+ rpms using a 180mm crank arms for loooong distances amazes me. I can climb just about any hill...for a few seconds but cycling for more than a mile or so at 80+rpm sets my quads on fire. I have (0) zero slow twitch fibers.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Usually ratio somewhere around 3:1

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Thanks Whorty I appreciate your input. I guess it boils down to cadence preference. I don't like or simply can't go more than 100rpm for more than a few minutes. How you guys can spin for 100+ rpms using a 180mm crank arms for loooong distances amazes me. I can climb just about any hill...for a few seconds but cycling for more than a mile or so at 80+rpm sets my quads on fire. I have (0) zero slow twitch fibers.

My fixed is on 165 cranks, my geared bike is on 170 cranks.

 

[Sharky]

12T freewheel, I guess I should've clarified.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KXC9P32/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have a feeling the BMX and standard road hubs have different thread sizes and I suspect the ones on the link are BMX freewheels and are smaller in diameter.

There are more educated experts on cycle chat that can confirm this, but please check before you order.

 

[Emile Flournoy]

Usually ratio somewhere around 3:1

I assume YOUR ratio is 3:1. Thats what came on my bike and here in the flatlands its way to slow.

 

[Whorty]

I assume YOUR ratio is 3:1. Thats what came on my bike and here in the flatlands its way to slow.

Given your idea of the right gearing is different to everyone on here, why not tweak yours to your own preferred gear inch / ratio and let us know how it goes. Check out the online gear ratio calculators - they will indicate the kinds of speeds you can expect at certain gear inches and certain cadences.

For example: 52/12 at cadence of 50 is speed of 17.19 mph

For me : 42/16 at my preferred cadence of 85 is 17.75 mph

I know what I'd prefer over distances longer than a couple of miles. And I know I can ride that for 100 miles.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Indeed, I have a relatively high cadence on the flat so the ratio is just fine. Mostly my terrain is rolling with steep bits and I wouldn't want a higher ratio for it.

 

[Emile Flournoy]

100 freakin' miles??? Holy smokes that's fantasy world for me. I avg 18mph w/ 48:16 and I'd guess-tomate my rpm is 65 on avg but no more than 75.

 

[Sharky]

100 freakin' miles??? Holy smokes that's fantasy world for me. I avg 18mph w/ 48:16 and I'd guess-tomate my rpm is 65 on avg but no more than 75.

Caution, the following might freak you out - competition records for 100 miles

100 Miles, Bicycle
2017 A Duggleby Vive le Velo 03:16:51
2017 D Grieves GS Metro 03:20:37
2015 C Taylor South Pennine RC 03:21:31
2003 K Dawson Life Repair CRT 03:22:45
2003 M Hutchinson Team MDT-Giant 03:23:33
1996 A Wilkinson Port Sunlight Wheelers 03:27:39
1983 I S Cammish GS Strada 03:31:53
1981 I S Cammish GS Strada 03:38:39
1981 I S Cammish GS Strada 03:41:32
1980 I S Cammish Edgware RC 03:41:41
1979 P W Griffiths GS Strada 03:41:43
1978 P W Griffiths GS Strada 03:45:28
1976 P W Griffiths GS Strada 03:46:22
1969 A Taylor Oldbury & District CC 03:46:37
1969 P D Smith Clifton CC 03:50:20
1968 M C Roach Hounslow & District Wheelers 03:51:41
1962 R F Colden Camberley Wheelers 03:54:23
1956 R C Booty Ericsson Wheelers 03:58:28
1956 R C Booty Ericsson Wheelers 04:01:52
1955 R C Booty Ericsson Wheelers 04:04:30
1953 V A Gibbons Brentwood RC 04:06:31
1952 K H Joy Medway Wheelers 04:06:52
1950 L V Willmott Midland C & AC 04:12:22
1950 V A Gibbons Brentwood RC 04:12:49
1950 K H Joy Medway Wheelers 04:14:30
1947 R Firth Altrincham Ravens CC 04:17:02
1946 A C Harding Middlesex RC 04:17:46
1946 A E G Derbyshire Calleva RC 04:20:23
1938 H Earnshaw Monkton CC 04:20:48

 

[Emile Flournoy]

^ Proof of what having a high percentage of slow twitch fibers in your legs can do. You can just keep going and going....but at a MUCH lower level of force than someone like who can produce HIGH levels of force but only for a very short amount of time. You either have either or your don't and its pointless to try make your body do a particular thing it wasn't designed to do.