50/14 #alldayerryday Recon a 52 on the front would be good for keirins if we ever run em’ again at #chandlerchewsdays. CQ are munchers!
I like experimenting, but generally keep coming back to 48x14. A few extra inches are nice in motorpaced events, but usually CBF swapping cogs/rings between races. Everyone’s different, just do what works for you.
I wish I had a bike with obscenely long track ends so that I could run a shitload of chain and whack on whatever gear I feel like whenever I want without having to compromise. Alas, it seems the only frames with this feature are top end carbon spaceships which I cannae afford. Just quietly, I don’t think my skill level would do a bike like that much justice either.
55x15, 19c tubs.
It looks cool.
What grade do you race?
Probably get flamed for saying this but it sounds like a lot of people use bigger gears than necessary.
I agree 100% if you are running much over 92gi and not serious a grader it’s over kill.
I usually ran 88, could step up to 90 some times more if fit. but not very often.
I always tell new roadies if Cav, Renshaw run 53/11 a lot why the fuck do they think they need a 53/11?
Yeah dunno!? I’m all ears, lets talk about it. #noflames
Street gearing: 49/16 > 81in
Track gearing: 50/14 >94in
I’m finding I’m big power/short periods kinda guy. Im racing A-Grade and getting some wins and regular places. 18 Lap points race with a bunch of fit guys who know they can’t sprint that go and blow the pace up causing the bunch to serge… I’m rat shit and will probs blow up on the second points. 12 Lap motor paced scratch race with the bike dropping us off at 45/50 SWEET lets rumble! Same for keirins.
I feel my strength outweighs my fitness. Make sense?
I can find myself just hanging on to the pace of the group at what feels a high cadence and heart rate. If I had a smaller gear I would get dropped for sure. I’m not grinding whilst in the wheel and I’ve got room to really stand on it and get it up just over 60kmh for say 1/3 to 1/2 a lap.
Had a look at my strava and over a few races my average cadence is around 90 (40kmh) with a max cadence around 135 (60kmh)
Is 135 a decent/acceptable cadence? Is there any point being able to spin at 150rpm if your power curve starts dropping off at 140? Talk to me people.
At club level I used 86-88 to win my way from E to A grade. Went to 90 or 92 for A grade (92 even for fast motorpace races). Used 96-98 at club nights for a few weeks in preparation for opens and state events. 94 for indoor and outdoor madisons (92 would have been better though). 96 for state IP which was too small (should have used 98). 96 seemed good for a state points race which had a very strong field of riders. All personal preference to some extent but leg speed is a radical thing and everyone should make the most of it.
EDIT: Should be mentioned I’m going off a traditional gear chart here like most track riders do meaning 50x14 is 96. This comes from the days of using 27"… I know it’s proper out dated but most guys down the track will be going of a chart like this. Really it doesn’t matter though, all you have to know is relatively how much harder on gear is compared to a different gear.
Its not uncommon for Good track riders to hit 200 cadence, Say your doing a bunch ride sitting on 35km/hr doug what cadence are you sitting on?
The strength outweighing fitness thing is definitely something that makes sense.
For keirens big gears are definitely good. 90rpm seems pretty low av cadence for a track race? I never have cadence sensor on track bikes so nothing to compare it to. Each to their own really.
I’m pretty weak so using anything too big (other than for IP) leaves me unable to go with attacks easily especially when racing some of the longer things over summer like 120 lap points/40 lap scratch.
Another edit:
In training maybe, pretty sure no one is hitting that while racing though
Yeah just training stuff,
This is mental.
old school dudes are still rocking 96 as a warm up gear and 100ish to race, but thats all they know? crank length is a factor too, I went to 170mm from 165mm and I went up from 50 to 51 and it felt the similar, I could spin a bit easier, but lost some of the acceleration when attacking. My advice, run the lowest gear that you think you can win on.
48x14, steel 83 colnago - racing A grade. Super noodly.
Really though it’s a bit too small. Should up it to a 50 front sometime soon.
Haven’t done enough track lately, really miss it. Road is so much easier being able to ride to/from races too.
and feel comfortable riding.
i’ve won a d motorpace before on 82, will not do again.
Interesting that old school guys are using big gears when they’re usually the guys on small gears telling everyone else to spin.
Agreed with using the smallest gear you can get away with/feel comfortable on.
I’d bet BB would have some interesting comments to add here… if he wasnt sitting on his last post!
Totally subjective obviously but I found this on a quick goggle…
Coming to a bike shop near you… dyno days for cyclists.
Totally! I feel I am like a 2J racing amongst a bunch of 20B’s with the odd 454 stroker stuck in there for good measure.
I’d like to be an N55 on the track, but I’m more like an Astron.