Author Topic: a suitable gear ratio for teethgrinder  (Read 2156 times)

vorsprung

  • Opposites Attract
    • Audaxing

Re: a suitable gear ratio for teethgrinder
« Reply #1 on: 22 May, 2009, 09:45:07 am »
Holy shamoly

63*13!!!!


rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: a suitable gear ratio for teethgrinder
« Reply #2 on: 22 May, 2009, 09:47:35 am »
At last night's TT there was talk of a nutter who uses 128" fixed.  Assuming they're using the slightly-inaccurate 27" wheel diameter, that's 62 x 13.  It must take a bit of winding up from a standing start. although riding fixed is actually easier with a big gear because everything happens in slow motion.

I'll be going to 48 x 14 (92" in old money) in a couple of weeks, and that's pretty headbanging.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Re: a suitable gear ratio for teethgrinder
« Reply #3 on: 22 May, 2009, 09:56:11 am »
I'll be going to 48 x 14 (92" in old money) in a couple of weeks, and that's pretty headbanging.
In the early 70s I came back off tour feeling strong so rode 48x14 for a local evening 10.  I was very much slower than my usual gear of 48x16 (81").  I was doing 25 or 26 minute rides, so have always been pretty slow anyway.

Re: a suitable gear ratio for teethgrinder
« Reply #4 on: 22 May, 2009, 10:21:11 am »
Holy shamoly

63*13!!!!

Which means he prefers to pedal at 75rpm in order to break the existing 49.7km record.
"Yes please" said Squirrel "biscuits are our favourite things."

francisbarton

  • Francis
  • I've only got one bike, and it's only got one gear
Re: a suitable gear ratio for teethgrinder
« Reply #5 on: 22 May, 2009, 10:35:23 am »
Article actually says "138 inches (67x13)"

My only nagging question after reading the article is: will he be at BikeRadar Live on 30-31 May?  I think we should be told.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: a suitable gear ratio for teethgrinder
« Reply #6 on: 22 May, 2009, 11:34:54 am »
I'll be going to 48 x 14 (92" in old money) in a couple of weeks, and that's pretty headbanging.
In the early 70s I came back off tour feeling strong so rode 48x14 for a local evening 10.  I was very much slower than my usual gear of 48x16 (81").  I was doing 25 or 26 minute rides, so have always been pretty slow anyway.

I'm about 30 seconds faster on the bigger gear because of the course profile - some bits are slightly downhill and I spin out an 84" gear.  The 92" is a bit big for the flat part, which is why I save it for later in the season, but it's good for 30mph if I get a tailwind or a helpful gradient.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.