As much as I want to push bigger gears, I've found that a 63" (42x18) gear works great for my rail trail fixed with 32 mm Pasella tires. I've got a Jack Taylor path with ASC presently at 48x17 giving me 76", 68" and 57" gears, and just converted a Raleigh Pro with light wheels presently at 44x17 or 70" that I'll do a long ride with this weekend to see if I can push it. Just a wimp that needs to spin rather than grind. Tire and wheel weight seem to make a pretty noticeable difference, but I'm still new to having a light set of wheels. I'm not sure how it'll help on a long uphill. There's no hill too steep to walk (but I'll probably just about kill myself to avoid it!), then I'll put on a lower gear.
Dan Artley
Parkton, Maryland
>>> "Mick Butler" pariscyclesuk@hotmail.com> 03/23/2004 5:28:30 AM >>
The general rule in Britain for a normally" powered" man, would be a
recommended fixed gear of about 65 in. and for a woman 60in.
Obviously crank lengths have an important bearing. A gear of 65" with
6.5"
cranks is precisely the same proportion of leverage-to-gear as 70" with
7"
cranks.
If you live in a hilly area drop it down to 62" or in the flatlands up
it to
68". I have been riding fixed wheel since the 60's. If you want to
avoid
knee problems in later life stick to these ratios. The old timers new a
thing or to. That's why people like Titch Morris are still pedaling around on fixed wheel cycles at the age of 92. And there are plenty more like him out and about in the UK. Be very careful and don't go down the macho road "wind milling" huge gears, not unless you want a pair of titanium knee joints to match your Speedwell or Teledyne. The ultimate is a racing tricycle on a fixed or a track tandem on a steeply banked track. Best wishes and be lucky. Michael Butler Huntingdon UK.