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How-To/Mechanics: best cog/chainring combo

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  1.  
    • CommentAuthorzmill12
    • CommentTimeApr 26th 2009
     
    does anyone have an opinion on the best and most comfortable cog/chainring ratio? i'm building my own and i just want to see what anyone thinks on what i should get for them. thanks!
  2.  
    Phil Wood 17t and a Sugino Zen 49t.
  3.  
    Yes. Because if you ran something like a dura ace 17 and a Campy 49 it would not feel near as good.
    • CommentAuthorf.iction
    • CommentTimeApr 26th 2009
     
    Well... I think a lot of pro's ride something like 53x13, and they've been riding their whole lives, so they probably know what they're doing. You should probably start there and adjust accordingly.
    • CommentAuthorShellac
    • CommentTimeApr 26th 2009
     
    Yeah, 53-13 would be really good for learning around town..

    I'm a pussy and use 53-19.
  7.  
    What is your riding experience? What are you going to be using the bike for? You didn't even really specify that it's a fixed gear.... but that's surely a safe bet.

    And yes, everyone on here has an opinion.
  8.  
    54-19! that's what I use and it serves my needs just fine. I've been able to get up to 35mph (downhill), but cruising at 12mph is really doable as well. also not too bad on hills either. it's a time trial chainring though, so I had to fork over $65 for it!

    Basically
    A larger chainring is more efficient (don't have to deal with as much friction), which also means longer life. bigger chainrings are obviously heavier than smaller ones though, and more expensive. Just make sure it will fit on your bike before you buy one! esp if you have a conversion with wide chainstays.
    • CommentAuthorthe rabbi
    • CommentTimeApr 27th 2009
     
    honestly, don't listen to anyone around here. they're all from different parts of the country and are all riding at different levels.

    talk to people around your area. they'll be able to help you out the most when it comes to picking a good gear ration to start out with.

    and do not listen to this person:
    Posted By: f.ictionWell... I think a lot of pro's ride something like 53x13, and they've been riding their whole lives, so they probably know what they're doing. You should probably start there and adjust accordingly.


    gear ratios all depend on your riding ability, your previous leg strength, and your location.
    • CommentAuthorAaron C
    • CommentTimeApr 27th 2009
     
    Posted By: the rabbianddo notlisten to this person:
    Posted By: f.ictionWell... I think a lot of pro's ride something like 53x13, and they've been riding their whole lives, so they probably know what they're doing. You should probably start there and adjust accordingly.


    nah man. 53x13 is for wimps. go for the old fixed gear modification of a bmx cassette and rock 53x9 like you got a pair. up hill. in the wind.
    • CommentAuthorgiosSR215
    • CommentTimeApr 27th 2009
     
    Posted By: ShellacYeah, 53-13 would be really good for learning around town..

    I'm a pussy and use 53-19.


    I really hope you are kidding. If you are learning on that ratio please ride a brake. It will be impossible to stop if you are booking it on that ratio and aren't used to riding fixed.
    • CommentAuthorthe rabbi
    • CommentTimeApr 27th 2009
     
    Posted By: giosSR215
    Posted By: ShellacYeah, 53-13 would be really good for learning around town..

    I'm a pussy and use 53-19.


    I really hope you are kidding. If you are learning on that ratio please ride a brake. It will be impossible to stop if you are booking it on that ratio and aren't used to riding fixed.
    even if you're used to riding fixed, that gear would be really hard to stop.
    • CommentAuthorgiosSR215
    • CommentTimeApr 27th 2009
     
    Well that's what I'm saying haha. And that's why I said I really hope he is kidding.

    I can't even stop that shit without fearing for my life and I rode 48 X 12 for the longest time when I first started and then realized the skid patches were horrible on that ration haha.

    I would follow rabbi's advice and talk to some of the people around your town to find out what they are riding and what they were comfortable riding when they first started.
  14.  
    NO ONE can tell someone else what gear to ride in. You are going to have to figure that out on your own. You need to find the ratio that gives you the most efficient cadence, and only you can figure that out.
  15.  
    the best thing to do is start small and work up if you have no idea what to use start with a 45 up front and 17 or 18 in the back
  16.  
    I started at 52 14 and it was immpossible to stop myself. Im at 48 17 now and it's the perfect gear. It all depends on you as a rider and where you live and what you use the bike for.
    • CommentAuthorAlM
    • CommentTimeApr 27th 2009
     
    lol what, 53x19 hard?

    I ride 48x17, equivalent would be 51x18, 54x19, 45x15, 43x14

    53x19 sounds just about the perfect ratio to me, just really big.
    50x18
    47x17
    44x16
    • CommentAuthorstalag13
    • CommentTimeMay 2nd 2009
     
    Posted By: hardsole5280Yes. Because if you ran something like a dura ace 17 and a Campy 49 it would not feel near as good.


    Seeing as how 17t Dura Ace cogs don't exist, it would probably feel pretty shitty.
  19.  
    Someone is being anal....

    He was noting the absurdity of naming a brand... but I'm sure you got that.
    • CommentAuthoro_O
    • CommentTimeMay 3rd 2009
     
    Profile bmx cranks!
    run 38x13
    • CommentAuthorOtto Rax
    • CommentTimeMay 3rd 2009
     
    depends on your topography for your usual riding area and your personal ability. the ratio i run where i live might be a tooth or two different up front if i lived on the other side of the city
  22.  
    yeah I kinda agree with the rabbi. talk to guys in your area. HOWEVER, make sure you ask them how long they've been riding AND what they started out with.
    • CommentAuthorLEONARDO M
    • CommentTimeMay 5th 2009 edited
     
    40x16
    thats what i run on
    • CommentAuthorheadydude
    • CommentTimeMay 5th 2009
     
    MId forties -----> mid teens. cant go wrong baby.
    • CommentAuthordeermatt
    • CommentTimeMay 10th 2009
     
    Posted By: hardsole5280Yes. Because if you ran something like a dura ace 17 and a Campy 49 it would not feel near as good.


    That might be hard, since dura ace doesnt make a 17t cog and never has..
  26.  
    7 or 8 posts up.
    • CommentAuthorhenrydec1
    • CommentTimeMay 12th 2009
     
    50x17.
    PRIME
  28.  
    Sugino Zen, with Izumi V, with EAI superstar. End of discussion.
  29.  
    The idea that anyone on this forum needs a 100 dollar chain ring or a 60+ dollar cog is making me crack up.
    • CommentAuthorwes m.
    • CommentTimeJun 7th 2009 edited
     
    Most people use gearing that puts their gear inches from the mid 60s to the high 70s. I use 46x17 with a 28c tire which puts me at 72.4 inches. Use this to find out if a gear ratio you are considering makes sense:

    http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/

    Go with something midrange, lets say low 70s. Then adjust accordingly after having tested your new gearing.
    • CommentAuthoreaglerock
    • CommentTimeJun 7th 2009
     
    Being a not-fixed-speed guy, I've stayed out of all the "what gearing are you using?" discussions. But since he's mentioned Sheldon Brown's essay on gearing, wes has raised a point that's long baffled me: Why do people keep using the confusing gear inch measurement system, when they could be using the more rational gain ratio system? It includes the crank length and tire width into the calculation, and generates shorter numbers that mean the same thing on all bikes.

    Hell, Sheldon's even got an online calculator, as wes mentioned.

    Is it just force of habit, or is there some advantage to gear inches that I don't understand?
    • CommentAuthorwes m.
    • CommentTimeJun 7th 2009
     
    I dont use it because when I figure out that I have a .3 gain ratio difference between gears my first thought is "how many gear inches is that?". A discussion on why certain things have become standards and norms in cycling could go on forever. Frankly, I still get annoyed when Im watching the tour de france and they are talking about kilometers and I have to do mental math. I dont dispute that gain ratios provide a more complete measure, I just dont have a feel for what those numbers equate to in pedal power quite yet.
    • CommentAuthorleeloo
    • CommentTimeOct 12th 2009
     
    could anyone recommend something similar to a 48/18, i've got that right now but i'm upgrading my crankset and i can only get a 49t. should it just go up one as well and have a 49/19. i've heard that a change up front is much more drastic than going from a 16 to a 17, so i'm wondering which direction to go with on the cog to keep the same sort of resistance the same, i ride a 48/16 and a 48/18 very happily but i'm so horrible at this kind of thing.
  34.  
    Going up one teeth on the chainring will not kill you
    • CommentAuthorSkidMark
    • CommentTimeOct 12th 2009
     
    No, changing up/down one tooth with the cog is a bigger numerical change in gear inches, so therefore more noticeable.

    Do 49 x 19 and end up with 19 skid patches instead of 3 (if you like to skid a lot)
  36.  
    There are several very handy tooth combination charts and calculators around for just this kind of problem. I bet forum search will turn up some.
    • CommentAuthorSL wheeler
    • CommentTimeOct 12th 2009 edited
     
    i rock 46 x 14 without problems, but thats just me.
    • CommentAuthorfilthpunx
    • CommentTimeOct 12th 2009
     
    Posted By: suicide_doorsThere are several very handy tooth combination charts and calculators around for just this kind of problem. I bet forum search will turn up some.





    http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com/rabbit.applet.html
    • CommentAuthorsoulbyte
    • CommentTimeOct 12th 2009
     
    I just started about a month ago. I run a 46x17. Really easy to start and skid. I've been riding city with moderate hills. Some of my friends are running larger chain rings. I notice that i tend to pass them up on hills but I usually top out earlier during sprints.

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