gear ratios

[kill_switch]

i have an all rounder bike and was thinking of getting into trials but iv noticed that the trial bikes have very easy peddling gears.
what sort of ratios should you be riding.

thanks for the help
Brent

[Trialsguy]

Its all about preference, but i guess a common ratio would be 18t front with a 16t rear on 26" wheels.

I use an 18t front with a 13t rear on 26", probably not a very common choice though.

[donkay]

Holey moley Ben! you've got some seriously strong legs to go with that!

I've always thought that with 26" (stock) would be:
22t Front - 18t rear
18t Front - 15t rear
16t Front - 13t rear

and 20" (mod)
24t Front - 16t rear
18t Front -12t rear
or MY special setup ;) 16t Front - 10t rear

[Macbeth]

I have always run 22-18 or 16-13 on stock bikes depending on what bike I was riding - ie the Koxx can't take anyhing bigger than an 18 up from, designed for 18-15 gear that all the Euros love....

Generally if you gear it higher (harder) you gain power but lose precision and vice versa. I played with 22-19 and 22-17 for a while but always felt I was sacrificing something.....

Ben, have you always run big gears like that, or is that a recent thing? I seem to remember having had a short ride on a monty you had set up years ago and it felt pretty normal....???

[Trialsguy]

I have always run 22-18 or 16-13 on stock bikes depending on what bike I was riding - ie the Koxx can't take anyhing bigger than an 18 up from, designed for 18-15 gear that all the Euros love....

Generally if you gear it higher (harder) you gain power but lose precision and vice versa. I played with 22-19 and 22-17 for a while but always felt I was sacrificing something.....

Ben, have you always run big gears like that, or is that a recent thing? I seem to remember having had a short ride on a monty you had set up years ago and it felt pretty normal....???

Ive always run a harder gear than the norm, I dunno why, i wouldnt say i have strong legs, but i do feel i can gap further when there is little for your wheel to track on. ie rails and stuff. On my monty I ran 22 - 16, so it was pretty hard too. everyone gives me crap when they get on my bikes, but I like it... I have been thinking about giving 14t a go though. I do struggle back wheel hopping up steep faces with my ratio.

[donkay]

But yeah in the end, it's pretty much whatever suits you

I just reckon, a normal recommended ratio is suitable for everything

then there's the 1t lower ratio is better for natty

Then there's the 1t higher ratio which i reckon is better for urban, BUT uno, whatever rocks your boat :)

[?-uoſ-¿]

I used to run 22/15 but progressed to 18/16 (26inch wheels). It seems to be the best ratio for me so far. I can gap 6ft with this gear but only 5and a bit with the taller gears.

[Povi]

im getting my first trials bike soon YAY! :D:D
and im probably going to change the gear ratio right away, im not sure what it is but by the looks of it, it looks small.
could you reccomend a urban gear for a noob on a mod?

[Joel O]

i ran 18:12 on my mod, worked well, if you're going FFW it's a good starting point and just work from there.

[Povi]

yeah i am, i think its already a 18t FFW so ill just get a 12t cog.....

[Joel O]

try to get a trials specific cog, rather than a track cog, much wider base so they won't strip the threads on your hub, huxter has them, they're a bit more expensive than a track cog but will save you money in the long run.

[kieldp]

Hey povi,
I have 12t sprockets here for $19.80
email me at david@trialshive.com if you want one

[Povi]

Hey povi,
I have 12t sprockets here for $19.80
email me at david@trialshive.com if you want one

cheers mate ill keep that in mind

[kaotickelly]

If I'm not wrong the smaller the cogs, the more tension you put on the chain, then you need stronger chains. Also small cogs gives slightly more flex at the pedal... though some people may prefer the "sling shot" feel.

I've been running 22:20, but doesn't give enough movement, so I agree with Adam's 22:18. But for a beginner, I think the 22-20 is good because you can get on the rear wheel easer (maybe too easy :P)

[Endo]

If I'm not wrong the smaller the cogs, the more tension you put on the chain, then you need stronger chains.

I think you're wrong - it's the increase in gear ratio that will require stronger chains as the torque is increased. ie: 18:16 will yield less torque on the chain than a 20:13 ratio..

yeh?

[kaotickelly]

I think you're wrong - it's the increase in gear ratio that will require stronger chains as the torque is increased. ie: 18:16 will yield less torque on the chain than a 20:13 ratio..

yeh?

Yes, you're right about torque, but I'm talking about tension on the chains for a given ratio. For example, if we have identical cogs front and rear, a 22:22 setup will have less tension on the chain than a 18:18 set up (because smaller the cog, the more force (but less distance) is required to turn the wheel). Less tension means less flex, i.e. less of the mushy feel when you step onto the pedal.

Anyways... feels like a physics lesson here hehehe

[Endo]

aaah yeh! sorry, i stand (sit, kneel?) corrected...