Author Topic: Gear Ratios when? (Read 425 times)

JD_76 · « **on:** August 12, 2009, 10:32 PM »

I have a basic understanding of gear ratios, but what I dont know is when to use what ratio in BMX racing.

If 44/16 was the standard, on a mostly downhill track would you go up at the front to 45/16 or stay with 44/16?

What would the preference be on a flat track?

Or is it more about feel and what your used to rather than the track conditions.

Does the steepness of the start hill make a difference?

Any advice would be great.

Help

magna13 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 12, 2009, 10:38 PM »

43/16 is a good all round ratio that most national riders i've spoke to use with 175mm arms

thats what im running now

moley · « **Reply #2 on:** August 12, 2009, 11:25 PM »

Quote from: magna13 on August 12, 2009, 10:38 PM

43/16 is a good all round ratio that most national riders i've spoke to use with 175mm arms thats what im running now

Yeah but your young and healthy!!

Us old fookers can't spin so quick. I'm more of a stomper!!

Hartlepool is Downhill on the berms!!

So you'll get a lot of speed out of them. Stick a 45t on it. The amount of pedalling you'll be doing, you might as well make sure your actually doing summat.

If you have a 43t your legs will be spinning faster then the Road Runner's!!

JT Smooth runs a 45t on every track!!

I ran close to a 45t gear ratio on my cruiser (used to be close to a 43t) at Manchester and it felt way better than spinning a lower gear!!

Just dont go too stupid. I ran a 47t at Bradford in my first race!!

When in doubt stick to 44t!!

OrgasmDonor · « **Reply #3 on:** August 13, 2009, 09:24 AM »

we were kids when we ropde 44/16 which is still the bog standard all round feel good gear but 45/16 is cool for heavier bods n longer legs, short straights n flat tracks usually dictate a smaller gear but no smaller than a 43/16 is required IMO, if ya running 185mm cranks n fit n tall a 46/16 could be the way to go, horses for courses, all my bikes run 45/16, coz im a lazy git n can't be arsed swappin stuff about, altho my elf has a 41/15 at mo, which equates to a 44/16, but im gonna change that soon to a 45/16. god i can waffle

JD_76 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2009, 09:57 AM »

Thanks Lads, its all good waffle bud

Im stuck between staying with 44/16 or changing up to 45/16 - my cranks are 180's - I think im going to try 45/16 for Hartlepool as Moley says its mostly downhill, will just get a slower start out of the gate.

I just dont have enough experiance to make the decision though, thanks for all the insight.

JD.

OrgasmDonor · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2009, 10:04 AM »

Hartlepool is THE 45/16 track, i run 180s too n it does me for all tracks with the exception of Lytham which is fookin hard work with a bigger gear as its soo fookin short, c-ya at the 'pool