Gearing up for winter

[simonp]

I've received in the post today a shiny new Phil Wood 17T 1/8" cog.

This will replace my 18T one so I will be going 46x17 for my commute.

46x18 is under geared for a flat 5 mile ride to work.

[MSeries]

Mmm, and I was thinking of gearing down to 46x18 or 47x19. Got a spare 0.125" 19T by any chance ?

[simonp]

No.  Got 16, 17, 18T stainless.  Got old spare 15 and 16T steel.

[Greenbank]

46x18 is under geared for a flat 5 mile ride to work.

BTDT. Then I realised I upping the gearing to mask the fact I couldn't spin freely enough. The solution is to lower the gearing (or just stay on 67"), not raise it.

I use 46x18 for my 8 mile pan flat commute along the Thames. It's fine. It's the same gear I use for riding up to Cambridge and back, and for riding across Wales and back (including all of those downhills).

[simonp]

46x18 is under geared for a flat 5 mile ride to work.

BTDT. Then I realised I upping the gearing to mask the fact I couldn't spin freely enough. The solution is to lower the gearing (or just stay on 67"), not raise it.

I use 46x18 for my 8 mile pan flat commute along the Thames. It's fine. It's the same gear I use for riding up to Cambridge and back, and for riding across Wales and back (including all of those downhills).

I find it a bit low for cruising at 30kph, which is what often happens on the way to work (plus 40kph+ sprints in places).  Averaged 28.8kph the other day.

[MSeries]

I'm looking to lower my gear to try to get my natural cadence up. I'm on 47x18 atm ~70"

[Greenbank]

I find it a bit low for cruising at 30kph, which is what often happens on the way to work (plus 40kph+ sprints in places).  Averaged 28.8kph the other day.

There may be an argument for it looking at those numbers. My average speed figure is roughly about 3% lower than that which is pretty much what you'd get in return for upping the gear. I don't know how much my average speed is dented by the 27 sets of traffic lights though, I'd love a clear run at it to see what I could get.

[simonp]

I commute after the main rush, and there are only about 7 sets of lights at junctions (3 on one roundabout, and it's very unlikely to hit all 3 on red).  Plus 6 ped crossings and a few zebra crossings.

Today was a lot slower - about 25.5kph.  No energy.

[Deano]

I use 40x17 for the flat ride to work (despite going along Eastmount Road, I wouldn't call it a hill).  It feels just about perfect, though I can't comment on average speeds since I took the computer off.

I used to use 40x18, but that was just a bit too spinny when I needed to get on the hurry-up.

[Karla]

I use 40x17 for the flat ride to work (despite going along Eastmount Road, I wouldn't call it a hill).  It feels just about perfect, though I can't comment on average speeds since I took the computer off.

I used to use 40x18, but that was just a bit too spinny when I needed to get on the hurry-up.

That's very low indeed!  It was low for my old town bike, and that's when I could freewheel 

[Deano]

I had to change it: I was chasing another cyclist along some of the flat Tees Valley roads a few months ago, and I could stay with him by spinning like a loon, but it was a challenge.

I haven't seen him since I geared up

[simonp]

I started on 42x16 then changed to 42x18 last winter, 46x18 since the summer.

42x18 was scary going downhill at 34mph - about 180rpm.

Had a bit more speed on the way home tonight.  Also had to brake and swerve to avoid running into the driver's window of a car pulling onto a roundabout as I accelerated across the roundabout.

[dave r]

My Pearson came with 48x18, I found that ok round town but a bit tall on the club runs. I changed the chain ring to a 46 to give 46x18, that was ok on the club runs but a bit spinny around town. I am now on 44x17 which feels about right.

[Chris N]

Oddly, I'm no slower on 43/18 than on 43/17.  It's just that little bit easier when it's windy, so I'm sticking with it over the winter.

42/20 on the Roadrat, soon to be 38 or 36/20.

[Frenchie]

I am on a 69'' gear on the Pompino; all year long, for my 135 Mi a week commute plus the WE ride in the winter. In the wind and towards the end of the week this is what I need; it is a bit short on a nice day.

On the Lansgter 72'' in the winter, 75'' in the summer.

On the fast "track" bike, in the mid to high 80s'' in the summer back to 72'' in the winter (medium gear racing; when I can).

In general 70-72'' is the perfect go-anywhere, all-year-long gear for me.

[Charlotte]

I'm with Frenchie - somewhere betwixt 69-72" lies fixed nibbāna for me.

My ratty town fixed is on medium gear, 48x18
My commuter (a little heavier) is on 48x19
My Mercian is on 48x19, 'cos I sometimes audax on it
My pimpy black track bike is on 48x17 (but it doesn't get ridden much out of town)

[border-rider]

63-65 in the winter, 67-70 in the summer for me, depending on which bike it is.

[Mr Larrington]

44x18 here, but that's partly because most Darksiders learn to spin from an early age...

[Crumbling Nick]

For the last 2 years I've switched from 46x18(67½") to 46x19(64") for the winter. Now that I've retired, "commuting" means riding across large chunks of Warwickshire, carrying clothes for a day of physical work outdoors. Winter loads are inevitably quite a bit heavier.

When I was working for a living, 7 flat miles away, 46x18 was undergeared for the daily commute, but also overgeared for weekend rides with the local CTC group.

I'm now back to 50x20, the commuting gear from nearly 30 years ago when the bike was new, on 27" wheels. It'll be interesting to see whether it's now low enough...

[GrahamG]

My Pearson came with 48x18, I found that ok round town but a bit tall on the club runs. I changed the chain ring to a 46 to give 46x18, that was ok on the club runs but a bit spinny around town. I am now on 44x17 which feels about right.

I'm much the same - find it a good compromise of low enough to haul my portly frame over hills and high enough not to get dropped easily if riding with others. If I manage to lose a stone or more then I'll probably end up going to a 72" gear to maintain that balance, or maybe just do more challenging rides

[simonp]

I've not got round to trying 46x17 yet as I've been too busy.  Commuted on the Audax bike today, as going directly to train station from work later.

I think I prefer fixed for riding in traffic now.

[vorsprung]

Single speed is on 17x42 now for the winter.  This is approx 66", I was previously on 70".  This is to save my knees a bit but mainly because the 16 tooth recycled spocket wore out

[simonp]

Finally got round to putting the 17T sprocket on in place of the 16T on the other side. Turned the wheel round and went out for a 49km ride at average of 26kph. Lovely. Didn't struggle with any of the climbs or the headwind on the way back.

Will be interesting to see how it feels commuting on that gear 5 days/week.

[CommuteTooFar]

Single speed is on 17x42 now for the winter.  This is approx 66", I was previously on 70".  This is to save my knees a bit but mainly because the 16 tooth recycled spocket wore out

What a wimp I am.  17 x 41.

[IanDG]

I'm sticking with 46 x 20