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^ Just get lots of different bikes that cover a wide variety of gear ratios innit ;-)

You said it!

Girl says no...

I prefer fixed...

[Off on one…] Skimming this thread (again) it strikes me that most people seem to stick to a set gear ratio. I think that is a shame, even if you're merely commuting - in which case I'm certainly not suggesting that you adjust your drivetrain - be that cog or chainring - on a daily basis, but don't deprive yourself of the privilege altogether. Fact is, no two rides are the same. Never ceasing changes, including wind and weather, let alone traffic and other external factors, as well as your physique and day-to-day form, will always influence your ride, so why not configure your bike accordingly?

It's tricky business of course. Essentially when riding fixed you're never in the right gear, thus whatever ratio you go for it will always be a compromise. I've been out of the game for a few years and only just recently got back into cycling. I absolutely love riding, but fine-tuning my bike playing around with different gear ratios, adjusting the seat post or maybe trying out a longer stem, is half the pleasure.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, just because you're riding fixed, don't think your bike is any less sophisticated than a multi-speed bike. In fact getting the configuration right is even more important. Needless to say you may not necessarily notice the difference on your hectic daily commute, but I can assure you, when racing or riding for fun even the slightest alteration will affect you performance and overall riding experience.[/Off on one…]

A "Miscellaneous & Meaningless" poll sub-forum perhaps???

ftfy

We need to get this thread back on track...

The saddle and frame look like somebody far to heavy has sat on them

Wasn't me...

Great potential in such a facility me thinks, but hey ho...

Girl says not to pull the trigger till after Christmas... hint hint! But thanks for your advice.

Wut?

Is there a way to include a poll in a post e.g. top porn/porn/not porn, when posting in the Bike porn thread, or is this facility available for new threads only?

Legal???
A legal requirement more likely...

Would be great to see both Wiggins and Cantador in the Giro. I'm sure a (not so) secret dream of claiming the Grand Tour Triple Crown is playing tricks in the back of the mind of both riders, let alone their team directors respectively. Should either triumph in Italy, expect any pre-season Tour de France strategies to be out the window…

"Apparently stopping at lights is girly"

Stopping is girly altogether… Personally I would never run a red light, but then again I'm quite comfortable regarding my sexuality.

Certainly wouldn't recommend a gear ratio much above 3 for training and everyday use, but ever so often refitting the Fiesta with a Ferrari engine, be that for fun or competition, feels great and won't do any damage to your knees, presuming for the sake of argument, that you have the physique to push those man size gears in the first place.

I had a dream last night that I changed my gear ratio to 48/17 and was immediately able to do supercoolwicked skidz. That was the entire dream.

It's bullshit though because i'm already riding 48/17 and I can do barely average skids on a wet day.

Doesn't skidding slow down or eventually bring your bike to a standstill; why would you want to do that?

@yetidamo
While a 45/18=2.8 gear ratio will most likely suit most riders/rides, getting it just right is not a "political" decision. Ideally you want an array of cogs and chain rings to choose from, which of course is rather expensive. Some bike shops however, will have a few spares, thus allowing you to try out various combos before you buy.

"I've seen this around..."

My sincere condolences...

Me like. Porn is that way>>>>>

In summary the question is 49/18 or 45/16 given that the cost of either option is likely to be similar. Any mechanical advantage/disadvantage for either ratio? I don't do wicked skidz. I don't much care for the aesthetics of the 49T ring if that makes a difference. For what it's worth I used to ride 53/16 when doing "big gear rides" when training for TTs, but I did have to avoid the steepest hills completely on that bike. Reckon either of the 2 gear options will be ideal for my all round riding I'm planning. Thanks!

In effect most average riders will experience no or very little difference between the said gear ratios in terms of speed and ability to climb; 45/16 obviously being slightly higher than 49/18. However, mechanically speaking the difference is rather significant; at least in principle. In short, while both ratios may feel virtually the same at top speed or climbing a hill, unless you have a very fine-tuned cadence and style of riding, a low/low ratio enables greater response in terms of acceleration/deceleration, whereas a high/high ratio provides greater momentum while cruising over a longer distance.

In other words, in addition to comparing the overall gear ratio you also need to consider chain speed. With a modest cadence of 100 r.p.m. a 45t chainring will engage 75 chain links per second in comparison to 82 with a 49t chain ring. It may not sound like much, but in reality it's two completely different setups.

To complicate things even further, you may also want to consider the length of your crank. There are many and conflicting theories on the subject, but as a rule of thumb choose a shorter crank for higher cadence (which is what most fixed gear riders prefer/strive for) and a longer crank for greater leverage. It's a complex science really, which eventually boils down to technique and personal preference.

Personally I can't spin to save my life, but spinning is definitely the way forward. For everyday road use, or even racing your fixed gear bike in an urban environment, you want a relatively low gear ratio, in fact as low as you can go without seriously compromising your top speed.

Learn to spin.

It's a lot like pedaling, but faster.

Hope this helps.

Terrible... RIP

^^^^^^Is that a crate of beer - in which case it's definitely porn?

Lynchman?

Old army nickname... Lynch - my family name - meaning hillside was taken when I joined LFGSS. I haven't killed anyone for years and I withstand my initial statement.

^No worries then, you'll fit right in. What brings you to London by the way; are you moving here or just visiting?

Sports "personality" of the year is such a strange award. If we really are considering personalities, then Mo surely is the clear winner - as he has managed to capture the hearts of the British Public through personality, and has made a funny gesture (mobot) nationally recognisable just like Usain bolt.

The award should probably be changed to "British sports person of the year" - in which case Wiggins, Hoy and previous winner Cavendish are very deserving.

Mark Cavendish though in particular is no way beats anyone personality wise, yet he won which is weird.

Who the fuck pissed in your pint?

I'm not suggesting that you you haven't got a valid point about the whole "personality" issue, but seriously... If someone has been urinating in your beer I want to know about it!

Guns are overrated and uncool. Also killing people is not nice...