Quick gearing question?

[53 willys]

Hey guys had a quick gearing question and thought you guys might be able to give some advice..?
the guy I bought my bike from said it was set-up for indoor tracks....well what are some gearing preferences for outdoor??
do I want to change out the front or rear gear?

thanks for any tips or advice you have...
BTW if it matters most my riding will be done at RAD since I work swing shift on weekends....

[Lee_Geddings]

You can't go wrong with a 44/16. Some riders run a 45/16 since Rad has such a huge starting hill. I run a 39/14, which gives me a ratio right in the middle of the two. Again, a 44/16 should be pretty close to perfect for Rad and Tooele. When indoor comes around all you will need to do is change the front chainwheel/ring to a 43 or 42 depending on your spin. I hope this helps.

[b2]

here's a gear chart: http://www.truebmx.com/GearCharts/tabid/54/Default.aspx

I think you're on a cruiser, right? I have not frame of reference for that, but I run a 43/15 on my 20" which turns out to be 55.9.

oh, looking at that chart some more, I think I made a boo-boo in talking to some of the other older guys at the track Tuesday night. I was saying that I was initially running a 45/16 when I built up my bike and that was too big for me... had to have been a 45/15. So, I lied trying to say that 45/16 was harder/taller than 43/15. Sorry. I don't know gears. I put on what feels good and go with it. Sorry to those who I mislead.

Also, I don't change up my gears from indoor to outdoor.

[53 willys]

well I'm running a 41/18 right now and it feels like I'm running out of torque...I'm thinking this combo is kinda small.?
btw i am running 24" cruiser class

[JAlvey]

41-18 is probably the most common gear on the cruisers at Rad. Most people run the same gear everywhere as 'changing it will mess up your cadence coming out of the gate. A few people run 39-17 and one is on 42-17. Usually a ratio in the 54.5-55.5 range. If you feel like your 41-18 is to small, work on learning how to spin instead of just going to a bigger gear

A 55.9 is way too big, that gear would cause you to get beat by a bunch of old guys or maybe even crash a two motos in a row or something.

[53 willys]

thanks.....your right I probably just need tons more pratice...
I'm still learning lots of new stuff....thanks for the help all.


BTW I may get beat by some old guys anyways....

[Scott Mckay]

Justin, that was a good one on Brent.

[b2]

A 55.9 is way too big, that gear would cause you to get beat by a bunch of old guys or maybe even crash a two motos in a row or something.

OUCH! good jab, justin!

[JAlvey]

it's easy for me to talk crap on B2 since I never crash.

Now if you'll excuse me I need to go and clean the rest of the dirt out of my helmet from last night.....

[awsm4]

This is a very sensative subject for me right now...I happen to have a fairly quick 14 year old that runs much faster on harder gears...I know a lot of it is a training issue (cadence and muscle memory etc.) but some of it is also mental, for whatever reason if he doesn't feel the exertion of the pedaling in his legs he won't push as hard (does that make sense?) He is He** bent to learn to ride a smaller gear (gates are killing him right now) and has committed to running a 54.8, down from a 57.2, win or lose for now. I guess all I am getting at is pick a good average gear ratio to start on, train on that gear and that gear only and just stick with it...

just my .02

A

[b2]

it's easy for me to talk crap on B2 since I never crash.

Now if you'll excuse me I need to go and clean the rest of the dirt out of my helmet from last night.....

I was about to say something---what got you just before the last obstacle Thursday night anyway?!

[JAlvey]

My bars twisted to 45deg going through the third straight. I was fine until Melton pulled up along side me on the 4th straight and I started to focus on pumping instead of the bent bars. It doesn't work so well to pump with your grips straight and your wheel on a 45.

At least I didn't crash in the same spot in moto 2 though.....

[b2]

My bars twisted to 45deg going through the third straight. I was fine until Melton pulled up along side me on the 4th straight and I started to focus on pumping instead of the bent bars. It doesn't work so well to pump with your grips straight and your wheel on a 45.

At least I didn't crash in the same spot in moto 2 though.....

Yikes! That sounds like a crazy ride!

Well, I guess that first obstacle just had it out for me that night... and I sure had some nerves for last week's races! But I conquered my fears and didn't fall ALL NIGHT!!! (well, except that time i was trying to hop on my bike in front of the bleachers and missed a pedal and fell over... but that doesn't count!)

Good thing I'm not on a cruiser (yet?), or we'd run a serious risk of killing someone!