My first road fixed gear (off list, won't be mentioned) is using 42x18 with 32mm tires. Its really hilly in my area and there are a few hills I just can't muscle up even in that, but I still get around. The Jack Taylor path racer that I'll be bringing to the Cirque has a 17 rear on the ASC hub. Its got the 12 splines and I can't seem to convince anyone to sell me any other cogs, so I've been getting different chainrings. Right now, I've got 42, 45 and 48 tooth chainrings for the TA Cyclotourist style crank, but I've got a 46 tooth Thetic Oval Chainring that'll be on it for the Cirque. A 46x17 was the combination for the curved seat time trial / hill climb frame shown in the '50's catalog on the Blackbird Jack Taylor site. That gives the bike 51", 66" and 73" gears, top gear being direct drive. Both bikes have road geometry with track ends, and brakes front and rear ( I try not to use 'em if I don't have to). Jan Heine's vintage bike quarterly's latest issue has a neat travelog "From San Francisco to Los Angeles in 1902", fixed of course. Even for strong riders, it apparently was a fact of life that some hills had to be walked.
Dan Artley in
Parkton, Maryland where the weather's finally getting good for riding, in the 60's already today
>>> Jamie Swan <jswan@optonline.net> 03/17/03 06:58PM >>>
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.