How-To/Mechanics: *COGS AND CHAIN WHEEL SET UP*

http://hikerd.googlepages.com/skidpatchcalc
44:16 is a terrible gear ratio if you're pulling skids a lot. 17 and 19t cogs are the most versatile for most chainrings. It gives you either 34 or 38 skid patches altogether around the whole wheel. I personally run a 44:17 ratio, gets me up most the tough hills in SF, lets me throw skids easily when I bomb hills, still allows me to go pretty fast on downhill and flat, etc. I used to retardedly run a 48:16 gear ratio, which only had one skid patch around the whole wheel. It ripped my first tire through after 3 weeks, then my second one in about 2... Now my tire still has a few months on it with the 44:17 ratio.

52:19

AeroAceV03: 44:20 only has 5 skid patches on each side of the tire... I think a lower cog will help you lift it up, I know I can sort of get my bike up with my 17t cog, but I'm still learning to wheelie... Look at that chart I linked to you though, but I suggest 19 if you don't want to lose your speed, but still skid a lot, 17 if you want to do wheelies and the like. But then again, I'm not so sure what a good gear ratio would be for wheelies...

so the more patches the better huh? i dont get how that works , i might go with a 17 since it gices me 17

the more patches the longer the tire last?

i might just get some risers or some other bars to help me lift my bike

man, whenever people blow like 2 g's on their bike and still end up with a 48x16 ratio, it puts a smile on my face.
here's a chart that tells you both skid patches AND gear inches:
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t216/familybrothers3/skidspots.jpg

meatroll, I dropped only 300 on my first bike with a 48:16 ratio :P. The current one, I got smart and did more research in what I should do with it... First bike was all generic crap (except the KMC chain, I guess), aluminum frame that cracked in a month of owning it, etc. Anyways, I didn't drop 1.3g on my current bike to end up with a 48:16 ratio ;).

AeroAceV03, Sheldon Browns site (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html#skid) has an explanation on skid patches and how to calculate it yourself. But yeah, the more skid patches, the better, for your tire anyway. Especially if you ride brakeless and half the time depend on skid stops. If you use both sides to skid, then you'll double the amount of skid patches you have, so if you have a 17t cog, you'll have 34 skid patches around the entire tire. Risers might help actually, but you can learn to do wheelies on drops, bull horns, straight bars, etc... Its more of a preference of what you like to use while riding in the majority of the time. You can always adapt to do other things with the bars, but keep to what you're comfortable with, and if it is risers, then all the power to you :).

i've ran 48x16 on my old kilo tt, 50x17 on my fuji track pro, 49x17 on my fuji track...daily ridden throughout d.c./md/va

current setup is 48x15

i rode 42x17 at one point and just spun out alot while riding...but it was a very relaxed gear ratio overall.

thanks t0dk0n and alex v,those links really helped me . Now i understand that whole concept. The forums was a good addition to velospace.

42:15=5 skid patches, 42:14=2 skid patches, you decide

yup ride 49/16...that gives you 16 skid patches and 82 inches per rev and keeps your legs in shape

I rode 48x16, then 48x18, then 47x18, now I'm at 46x18 wishing I was at 44x18. Spin to win.. high cadence riding is my favorite kind.

yeah a few inches per pedal revolution... just try it it's all just opinion

47/15

perfect "all around" set-up for me in the city with 43 hills.

i like odd number set-ups, more skid patches.

42/16 for neighbourhood cruising. fixed 4ever!

i'm at 48/17 now. a little rough to go up hilly seattle, but never worry to spin out going down hill. it's hard for me to skid or fish tail with this ratio also. smaller chainring or bigger cog? which combo is more manageable? thoughts?

Posted By: greg

I'd drop your chainring first. I've heard that each chainring tooth down is the same as 2 teeth or so in back. A drop down to 46 or 45 up front would be like adding 4-6 in the back. You will run out of options with larger cogs a lot faster than with smaller chainrings.

naw, it's vice versa. cog teeth make a much more dramatic difference.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t216/familybrothers3/skidspots.jpg
^ invaluable resource.

Er yeah, thanks for the reminder! Flip what I said around and you'll be good to go.

Friend of mine has an incredibly geeky (and yes, strangely cool) app on his iPhone that lets you calculate all sorts of stuff like this--number of skid patches, gear inches, etc. You just plug in wheel/tire size, crank length, cog, chainring and so on and so forth and then it shows you all your skid patches--even has a button you can punch if you're an ambidextrous skidder. Again, totally geeky but cool. I just selected a combo that Sheldon Brown suggested and am following his advice--fiddle with it till you find something you like. You can never go wrong following Sheldon's advice.

well i settled on a 38/17

[:

ill keep you guys posted on the pros and cons

for wheelies, make sure you are also running your rear wheel close as possible to your seat tube. It helps more than you would think.

48/16 commuter, and I haven't been on a bike in years, so once my legs get in proper shape a may go down to 15.

If I start skidding I'll get a 17 or 19 or something as it's really not practical with my current ratio.

Rollin 48x13 just scooped a 18 COG..... Anyone have any experience w/this ratio, 48x18?

id like try throwing a 13t with my 52t!

IF he wants to fuck around on his bike, he's allowed to fuck around on his bike. Chill out jackass.

I'm a commuter rider as well, not a trick rider.

44/17.