Fixed gear - Gearing for hill

effillo

I am currently looking into the suitability of a fixed gear for my short 2 mile commute. Only problem being on the way home there are a couple of hills, one a few hundred metres in length around 5/6% and another 750m ish in length the same sort of gradient.

I have no experience of fixed gears on flats let alone inclines, the bikes I am looking at all seem to run 46/16.

I am pretty fit, don't struggle on hills or anything like that on the road bike. Is this gear likely to cause issues going uphill (guessing if I had to stop and start again on the slope it may be a definite problem). Not really sure how I could replicate it otherwise to test it out on a road bike gearing, ratios are not really my thing, I just ride to feel.

imposter2.0

Riding the same route in 50/17 or 52/18 should give you a reasonable approximation. Ultimately, the only person who can decide if it's suitable or not - is you. Single speed would be easier to live with on the descents, rather than fixed wheel.

amrushton

look at a gearing chart. i live in North Mcr and the grades can be steeper/longer and currently run 44x17 which I feel I'm pushing. A 48 x 19 gives a 66 inch gear which allows me to spin more so I may go to 46x18. I'm told that odd numbers of chainring/cassette gives a more even wear pattern eg 43x17 but that's going a bit too far. It's only 2 miles and a chainring or sprocket are easy to change. try 46x18 and see how it goes. Remember DO NOT try to freewheel if on fixed!

craker

There'll be cyclists out there who can push a 100" gear up that sort of thing, doesn't make it the right gearing for you. I struggled the first time I commuted on my 75" geared Langster, whether it's leg strength or technique that's improved I don't know but I don't think about it anymore. (Just checked Strava. The climb on my commute is 5.5%, 3/4 mile).

If this is the only route you plan to ride on the fixie, get something a bit easier. Downhill on that route has my legs going like a steam train so you may choose SS, it's not a big deal though.

964cup

I would definitely start single-speed before going fixed. You need to find a ratio you can live with. Bear in mind with fixed you not only need to be able to get the bike up the hill, you have to be able to pedal down the other side - so a very short gear might make going up straightforward, but going down quite challenging.

I'd start with 48x18; you shouldn't need anything shorter than that for those hills. Then try going to 48x17, which I find to be a nicely versatile gear - I've done a few long-ish (80-100k) rides on it, and use it for my everyday commute, which has a few 7-9% hills in it. The odd-gear thing is only really relevant if you're riding fixed *and* doing skids, at which point an odd combination gives you multiple skid patches.

I'd also have a good look at the quality of the road surface - fixed isn't a great combination with potholes and ruts - talent depending, I suppose, but I gave up riding fixed in North London because there are too many potholes; single-speed is a little less "pure", makes it a bit less of a workout and may reduce your bragging rights, but I'll trade all of that for not dislocating my shoulder a second time...

Cheeseface22

I think that's an okay gearing.

I commute on single speed (freewheel, not fixed) with th gearing 48-17 (74.61 gear inches) on 14.5miles each way with three big down and up hills. It's a workout but I got used to it now. I tried different gearing (52-19, 52-17, 42-17, 42-16), all between 70-80 gear inches, which is ball park for single speed gearing.

For a mere 2mile commute, 46-16 (76.20 gear inches) is okay if you think yu're fit and you can keep up with the cadence going down hill on the fixed. That's about 27mph at 120rpm. So in your case, you should think about whether you can keep up the cadence on downhill, rather than worrying about whether you can go up hill (I hear fixed gear is slightly easier to go up hill than equivalent freewheel as the fixed drivetrain "asists" your legs).

Have a look on BikeCalc.com to check your gearing and see what suits you.

effillo

Thanks all for the replies.

I would probably ride single spped as opposed to fixed to begin with so the downhill is not an issue at the moment.

Sounds like I should be ok so I think I will take the plunge and see how I get on. Ultimately if it's to much to begin with then I will just have to get some more.strength in the legs!!

simon_masterson

If riding fixed, IMO you are best to choose your gear either for the ups or the downs, and then adapt for the other. On SS, you only need to worry about the ups. Eg. I used to race spoco TTs on biggish gears (85-96") out of preference for not spinning out downhill. SS is an acceptable gateway drug, though by no means essential, and many road fixed wheels have flip flop hubs anyway. 72" is a good place to start if not crazy steep, if you get into it you could ride some medium gear events...