42x17 is a very useful gear also; it is 67", I believe. I've sure put on a lot of winter training miles with that combo. Gets me over modest hills okay, yet it is high enough to roll on the flats pretty well too. Limiting on the downhills of course, but overall, it suited me fine for many years, and still does. I would advise new riders to go with either the 63" or 67" gears to find out if they like fixed gear road riding.
Bill Bryant Santa Cruz, CA
on 3/17/03 3:58 PM, Jamie Swan at jswan@optonline.net wrote:
> In this recent thread regarding stopping fixed gear bikes several people
> have mentioned their choice of gearing for road use. It sounds like
> everyone is using a higher gear then me. I started using a fixed wheel
> for road riding in about 1973. The old timers that coached us advocated
> a 63" gear (42x18). I've stuck with that through my 14 year racing
> career and the 16 years since. What do you guys ride?
>
> Jamie Swan - Northport, N.Y.