Gear ratio for hill climbs

OS 65
OS 65 Posts: 415
edited August 2009 in Road general
Hi there

I'm hoping to use my fixed for some hill climb races but I'm struggling to figure out what gear ratio to use.

I realise you'll need different ratios for different hills.

Is it as simple as riding up the hill on a geared bike and then working out the best ratio from the gears used or will I need to add a coupe of inches for the best fixed ratio?

cheers

OS 65

Comments

  • Wooliferkins
    Wooliferkins Posts: 2,060
    You'll climb in a bigger gear on the fixed but it is a bit of trial and error.
    Neil
    Help I'm Being Oppressed
  • stickman
    stickman Posts: 791
    Maybe 38/18, that's what i've got for cyclocross to cope with plenty of uphill sections.
    Bikes, saddles and stuff

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/21720915@N03/
    More stuff:
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/65587945@N00/

    Gears - Obscuring the goodness of singlespeed
  • Johnny G
    Johnny G Posts: 348
    It's worth having a look at Jim Henderson's blog - this is the bike he won the 2003 National on with a 54-inch gear:

    http://website.lineone.net/~jim.henderson/cycling/bikes/antigra.html

    Don't know if you know the Cat & Fiddle near Macclesfield, but a couple of guys did it for last week's Macc Wheelers HC on fixed, one with a 58" gear, and the other on a Specialized Langster with a 71" gear. Both got up OK.

    The Cat however is a bit out-of-character for a hill climb, being a more moderate gradient but longer (6.5 miles). For a "traditional" steeper hill climb probably 50-odd on a fixed would be good. I reckon Stickman's combo sounds good.
  • OS 65
    OS 65 Posts: 415
    Many thanks for the advice.

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