Spring is here and I'm seeing multiplicity of wonderful things. More bikes on campus and even some bike racks that have been under snow for months and months.
The only thing that has got my goat... is.. Fixed Gear Bikes without breaks....AND 48X16 gear ratio.
Dumb
Dumb
Dumb
Ok, lets say you figure how to stop that in the first day or two -GREAT! but unless you are taking the chain off and rotating the wheel you are skidding on the same patch of rubber. A 48 tooth chainring [front; attached to the crank arm] with a 16 tooth cog [back; on the rear wheel]. Don't ask me why but this is stock on may "track bikes" Worst yet, it gives you only one skid patch.
Look at this skid patch table
By just increasing the rear tooth count by ONE.... your rear tire would have 17 skid patches and last about 17 times longer!
And the difference between 48x16 vs. 48x17 in gear inches?
See Gear Inches Chart
It is 81.0 inches vs. 76.4... a bit different but not really for around town fixie fun. Oh, if you just have to have as near as possible to 80 inches... 50X17.. 79.4 gear inches with 17 skid patches.
Cool, eh?
In fact, if you look at that Skid Patch chart again you might notice that a 17tooth cog will have 17 skid patches on all but the 51 tooth chain ring. Yep, with the purchase of a 17 tooth cog your in for one of the greats joys of fixed gears - very low maintenance. Otherwise, have fun replacing those nicely colored 700x18 or 23 race tires!
So.. get out there with you new 17cog and ask around for a 51 tooth Chain Ring. Just about everyone has a 51tooth chain ring that they have been dying to put on their new bike.....and you now have a wonderful 17tooth cog... come on everyone has got ONE[skidpatch]! and on that very last note - Nekid group Ride! April 1st. 8am. Meet at Ibis Cafe on Church Street.
26 March 2008
Skid Patch, Fixed Gears and 17
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5 comments:
Yeah, but what about Sheldon's idea that even numbered combos, if you keep the chain in the same place, last much longer. Dumb, I know.
I usually run a 36 in the front. Can you put that on your skid chart?
Sure I'll put a 36 chainring on 'soon' but think on this. I've seen you with breaks and you don't skid for fun. Plus, you know what your doing and are not on a $$$bike or "now I'm a Logan messenger" [two wheeled skateboard]. Sorry, this was a rant from start to finish.
Uh I miss spoke... I have seen you skid for fun and it was fun. See you on the 5th!
47X16 & 45x16. Nice city gear inches and 8 skid patches for goofy foots. 16 if you're ambi.
There's now a web based calculator that will tell you the number of skid patches for any gear, regardless of your ambi-skidding ability. It'll also let you enter target speed and details about your bike to figure out your best fixed gear.
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