Nice one Dave. Yep I know the Sprocket Knuckle! Its pretty hilly here in SE Kent, I run a 48/17. Not too bad on the ups, I tend to attack the climbs hard and ease down the hills. I do run a front brake and Spuds. Theres nothing like riding fixed, personally I think it makes you a better and fitter rider. Everyone should try it and it's never too late, I'm 50 and still ride fixed no probs. Cycling is all about fun.
I rode 47/17 at first but now I’m 47/16. And when I finally upgrade my chainring I’ll go for 48t for 48/16 for a perfect 3 ratio fit for both street and track.
@@cordcordero5772 Running 50/17 right now and can skid with it it’s not that hard and that’s pretty close to a 3.0 ratio. Skidding has always been more about technique and timing than pure leg strength I’ve noticed
I'm 67 and I ride my Giant Omnium track bike around the Wirral on a 50 14 ratio (I think that's about 90 inch) as well as the joy of riding a fixie there's the added fun in catching passing and dropping all those girls with gears
51 18 for courier work then 51 15 for outside work rides! Harder gear is good for building those muscles (speaking from experience. i might be wrong tho) ✌🏿 Love the videos man!!
47-17 is such a great all rounder. I live up a hill but most of my riding happens on flat-ish, sometimes hilly but smaller gradients. I’ve had all kinds of ratios but this one certainly hits a sweetspot. I really don’t mind the higher rpms I have to endure while descending. I rather spin fast than grind up hills. I like 49-17 too but it makes me sweat too much when getting back from work.
I’m in Glasgow, ride a 47x17 for pretty much everything from short lanes rides to 100+ miles with loads of climbing, just seems to work. I also ride 47x17 for most of my fixed gravel riding, but will swap it out for a 19 if needed. I have a front brake, mainly for club rides and other bunch stuff. You didn’t mention skid patches, but that’s why I only run a 47 or 49 at the front.
Excellent information and scenarios David ...SS for 5 years. Crossing to the Dark Side ...48x17...retired last May , i hope ican Hang !!! Born in Brampton ,Ontario...1954 .
Commuter fixed gear running 50:18. Relatively flat commute here in Japan, but have to have brakes as the police are rather on top of brakeless fixies here. Have run 48:16 as it was a little harder, legs were stronger but it made headwinds really hard to deal with. Love my fixed gear.
hello Craig... also in old nippon, also riding fixed. recently up from 46-16 to 48-16, and just bought a 50, which I will fit tomorrow. pretty hilly here (the Bōsō) but, upping the ring by 2T made me work harder (a good thing, as you say, stronger legs) but also felt somehow more efficient. and I could still get up the hills I could get up on the smaller gear, and still not get up those that i couldn't. lol. nice to be able to work harder/go faster n the flat(ish) bits.... a winner all round. I second your final sentence.
I run 48/16 and my other fixed gear runs a 46/17 for climbing and has front brakes for descending so I can just feather the brakes and have a nice comfortable cadance on the eay down. The handle bars that I use for the 48/16 is a TT base bar with aero extentions and for the 46/17 I basically had it set up with wide risers.
Always happy to see the fixed gear content! I like 70-72 inches for a hilly part of Kent. Definitely be interested in a handlebar video, I'm considering picking up a Dolan pre cursa frameset to build up from my parts bin and I'd been thinking of trying out a flat bar on that.
Used to ride fixed years ago in the winter, which as many know was a common club cyclist thing. I think it was 68 inches as it was a training/winter bike (Peak District UK). On the brakes issue don't forget fixed plus front brake is legal requirement, don't expect law to help you if something goes wrong even if it's not your fault. Fixed gives lots of control when you get used to it, one time I turned up to a winter evening club social meeting during snowy weather and I was the only one on a bike.
47/17 is my jam. Running a Factory 5 Lattice with a EAI deluxe. Buttery smooth. Double skid patches. I've also got a 19T EAI on the same hub for those tougher climbs.
Dave- this vid is brilliant! Thanks so much😀 Great to hear about real life experience and gear selection. I’m used to riding on the track 49x14 but hoping to build up a street fixed. I’ve been wondering about what gear inch to start with - fantastic to hear your explanation related to selection and terrain. Massive thanks!!!
Always switching up the gearing on different bikes for different rides and to switch up working on cadence and strength. normally run 44x18 or 46x19 on my TRCX bike with 35mm cross tires, which is definitely too spinny on faster descents as I max out my cadence at probably upwards of 175 barely scraping to 28ish mph. On my track bike ill normally run 49x16 or 51x16. 53x16 for longer/flatter rides or if I've got the clamp on aero extensions on. I've found 49x16 to be a perfectly suitable daily gear on a stiff, light bike. light enough to average over 20 in the flats without spinning out or pushing too hard and easy enough to sprint up shorter/punchier climbs and spinning out on a descent is normally between 33/38mph.
48/15 for Durham NC in the states (lots of very long gradual uphills and long very gradual downhills but mostly flat), 46/17 for pulling dog and trailer on other fixed gear super easy for climbs (front brake equipped) bars are interesting, seems like nooone knows what they are doing with them.
It's pretty flat where I live. If I go for a 50-60-70km Spin I just endet up with 400m of elevation. So basically flat with just a few meters here and there. But Windy .. puh ! North coast in Germany 🤷🏼♂️ 20km/h wind speed is average here 😄 And I can ride 51×16 and Rear wheel slammed all the way in my dropouts ( just enough tiny bit clearance for removing the wheel 😅 ) . LOVE it ;)
You missed one vital point on gearing as well dude skid patches are massively important with regards to tyre wear. I ride 48 x 17 on my sprinter and 48 x 19 on my hill Climber. Bars video would be excellent btw ✌️
Currently I only have a Raleigh m80 mountain bike. I have all riding terrain here in Michigan. I love the fixie concept. but I think that a 3-7 speed is probably more my thing. Time will tell.
I got 42-17 … I am new to this world but biking around on it for a year now and am thinking to change the gear ratio and try something different! What do you suggest to give it a try?! 🤓🤔😎👍
You didn't mention if your gearing would be different if you were doing much more city riding (or if your location was super windy)? I ran a 40x16 for years - it meant I could get up any hill around here, and it was also reasonable with stop/start stuff when riding in the city. When I switched it to a TT bike I ran a 54x15 - I wasn't super fast, my PR was a 25:42, and that felt super grindy back into a headwind. :) I always have a front brake, so it means I can gear down if I want and then use the brake on descents.
I am using 46x19 for hilly Athens, starts and stop continuously, if not you are dead I can hold 25km/h all day, light hills I don't even feel them 46x18 is good also
when i have to take off a sprocket I try to loosen the lock nut and then do some rolling braking to break the sprocket free, before risking my knuckles. also good if you don't own a chainwhip.
Ya that is definitely an option as well , I just thought it may be a little more simple to change and cheaper to switch out the cog than than the chainring, Im new to all this still, my current setup is a blast on flats and especially downhills easily 30mph+ but the big inclines here have me dying of exhaustion by the time I get to the top 😂 and brake sliding is extremely tough so I will eventually go down on my chainring for that reason alone
nice one dave..its good to hear you talk about the different bikes, keep it up! 47x17 for hills? mate im on 32x50!! yep to a follow up video on the bars and other bits on the fixie please - i dont know if i could ever get my head around no brakes - dont you end up popping the rear tyre easily on a fixie? single speed sounds so much easier -at least you can freewheel then? btw, paint job does look great from here :) cheers
Thank you. It’s a bit of a grind on the up hill but it gives me a nice gearing fir the way down. I’m liking 47-18 at the moment. I’ve not pooped a tyre yet, you do have to keep an eye on the rear but if you run a good tyre they last for ages. I’ve always wanted to build a single speed gravel bike.
@@DaveNoakes hey dave...sounds like a single speed gravel build coming up soon then? if you could explain/show how you ride that thing around town/gravel and manage the braking etc that'll be good - the fixie riders i see in LDN just sprint, do skids and hurl abuse!!...there must be more to it than that? Single speed i can kinda understand but fixie for gravel? be good to find out how :)
Used to run 48-18 here in Yorkshire but just switched to 48-17 because of the skid patches, seems about right for my hills. Also run a HG sprocket and hub so no more lock rings.
I just bought a nice bike but it feels kind of hard to pedal. It came with 48/15 ratio. It kind of feels hard to pedal. Any advice. I will really appreciate it.
I’d try a smaller front chainring or larger back. A 48-18 or 48 -19 would be better if you’re finding your current gearing hard. If you size down the front chainring that also makes it easier.
I am currently building a single speed to see if i enjoy that type of riding so I'm doing it on the cheap with second hand mediocre compants I'm stuck using what i can get but the hope is 46-48 18 cos my housing estate is at the top of a couple steep hills and I'm not looking to murder my self on the home stretch after a day of working on my feet
@@DaveNoakes thankfully i work in a second hand bike shop atm so as well a as the frame and wheel set ive been able to find good quality second hand mediocre components Segino cranks Tektro brakes Sella saddle Fyxation pursuit bars The list goes on basically filling my locker and ill build it out once I'm finnished hopefully get it done by the end of march
So Dave I don't know about fixed bikes. Is it like when we were kids and you had those bikes that when you stopped pedalling the bike would lock up and skid. So you ride that bike in Devon with those hills ive just seen last week. Your a nutter or just fearless😱
Hi Dave. Another excellent vid. I’m after some advice please. I’m wanting to buy a gravel biking. I have Mtb’s and a casati road bike so I’m well into cycling. I have £2500 as my max budget I like quality bikes and yes £2500 isn’t going to buy the best of everything but your advice would be appreciated greatly. Chris g. 👍
48-15... Auckland is rolling hilly... similar to around Plymouth. I do prefer the flatter routes I can ride though. My fave loop has a bit of a combination but the flat sections a long.
Im currently stripping down a bike to rebuild with different parts and sell but have been thinking of making it single speed before I rebuild it just to see what it's like living were I am. I think it will be horrible in the peak District though 😂😂😂
I don't know why people always unscrew the sprocket when the wheel is off. This is stupid. I usually loosen the lockring while the wheel is still ON the bike. Then I move my rear wheel against a wall, stand on the pedals and give an inpulse backwards. A little bit is enough to loosen it already. Then I remove the wheel and unscrew lockring and sprocket by hand.
