Why Is This the Most Popular Fixed Gear Ratio?

What gear ratio are you running? It's the most popular question among fixed gear riders, but chances are, it's 48/17. 48/17 is by far the most popular fixed gear ratio. It can do most riding well: flat speed, climbing, descending, skidding, tricking, tracklocrossing. But how? And should you ride the most popular fixed gear ratio?

Wabi Cycles - The bike that's so good, it's the only bike I own:

Mildly ironic Reasonably Dangerous cycling shirts:

Maokong Mountain Climb:

Strava Climb Categorization:

Skid Patches Explained:

Fixie Famous Shoutout:
Julian Corona
Brandon Black
Brent David
Mario Perez
Tad Onchi

Single Speed Shoutout:
Jake Atherton
Richard Tucker
Donny Norlander
epilektric
Gary Nunokawa
Luther Grulke
Mark Younger
Martin Mohr
Michael Greif
Michael Rutchik
Nicodache

zachy (My 2nd Channel) - This Brakeless Ride Called Life:

Instagram:

Join the Reasonably Dangerous Strava club:

Catch my rides:

#fixedgear #gearratio

[suhdud]

Im running 49/15 and just set my PB solo ride on a 100km loop around my city at 2h52.
Yes, I am subtlety tooting my own horn because its a personal goal achievement, not a flex and having achieved that goal, I treated myself to a gorgeous Kappstein Pro-Line chainring.
High RPM and 47/17 is perfect for aerobic fitness.

[beckyb]

46/17 started riding fixed when I moved to CO., After many years off, due to a hip injury. Hills, no worries. Flats....groovie, and tracklocross. Oh yeah. ❤ I love the video. Thanks for the content you make.

[mannyorozco]

47/19 for climbing
51/19 for everyday
Don’t be afraid of big cogs! Tons of skid patches too

[billle]

48/17 is the most efficient ratio. I use to run 48 /15 for a decade. When I switch, at first spinning at a high level felt uncomfortable . Over a few months I gotten better at spinning .

Spinning is really something much different than mashing and relying on pure strength. It's about having better strokes. And when you have better strokes you can move your legs faster and with a smaller ratio the faster you can spin the more rotation you can achieve with the back wheel versus
Purely relying on a big gearing to do that

[jnorth]

My bike came with 28c tires, 170mm crank arms, 48X17 gearing. I took a long layoff from cycling between 2005 and 2020 and I purchased this first fixie in 2021, in my mid-50s. After riding for a few months, I found that gearing just a little too stiff and my regular mechanic (a fixed-gear aficionado) suggested that I step all the way down to 44X17.

Apart from one nerve-wracking but isolated experience of nearly spinning out, I've actually come to embrace higher cadence riding. Right now, I can comfortably spin 105RPM (translating to roughly 35km/h) on downhills, easily pull away from dead stops, and climb without worrying about dying (usually!). I could see moving back up to 45X17, 51X19, or even 46X17 in order to squeeze out a bit more top-end speed but not much heavier.

[milocino_]

46/16 has been the best I've done so far. It's consistent and is close in ratio to 48/17

[Cube_Ernator]

My ratio is 48/18. Commuting and hills are my challenges. 

I'm 62 with small fibre polyneuropathy and my neurologist was the "guy", whom recommended I get into fixed gear cycling.

[moviepedro]

I can feel a huge difference between 47/17 and 49/17... 47 just doesn't feel fast enough for regular riding, sure it feels a bit quicker to get up to speed and it feels a little easier on the hills but its just not enough top end, at least for NYC. The most popular ratio in NYC, at least among people who race alleycats is 49/17 and with good reason, its quick but it still has a fair bit of top end. I don't race that much any more but is still feels like the best gear to get around the city on.

[arjay]

I've been using 47/15 for the past year but started out on 47/17 and used it for three years. I swap in the 17t cog for Tracklocross on 650B wheels. 😁

[alienrefugee]

47/17+19 Here. Pretty easy ratio, tons of skid patches and I like having dual rear cogs incase I'm going to be doing any tough climbs. Sure, it can take a few minutes to flip your wheel for the descent, but not too bad. Honestly, the older you get, the less you will skid. You just tend to backpedal more and hop-skip to slow down. Tires ain't cheap and skidding, whilst fun in the beginning, it loses that fun factor over time.

[EugeneTurkulevich]

tried almost all available options for my hilly city, finally came to 50/17 for summer and 46/19 for winter (snow/ice) riding on fixed gear

[stevekelly]

I’m turning 50 this fall, I’m running 45-17 (single speed) and it’s just fine. Can still get up to 22mph on flat ground, and climb hills without dying…..average speed on rides is always about 16mph…..

[adhunt]

I run 44 x 16 on a 650b x 42 conversion. A great multi purpose ratio for me!

[talhaminhas]

I'm running 48/16. My Logic when I chose this ratio was speed and strength training. But after almost a year of riding, I'd be quite happy to get a 17 cog. 😅 Thanks for explaining nicely about other advantages of 48/17. Cheers

[BanjoLuke]

Real World Advice: Do not do fast descents without brakes. Ever.
I ride on the hills of the Welsh Marches (UK) and have used a homebuilt fixie (among other bikes) for many years. Two of my kids -they are all now adults - also ride fixed or single-speed quote often. They grew up around it.
Many of the descents here are an easy 35mph on fixed. That means spinning at 170+ rpm. At those crank speeds, there is NO WAY anything other than a traditional brake will slow you safely. Add wet weather to the mix and you can double the danger.
Seriously, NEVER descend at speed in the fantasy that skidding is a safe way to stop without brakes. Fun to pretend it is when chatting on a bar... Suicide to believe it is when actually heading at 35mph/170rpm towards a car or truck that just pulled out of a side road.
Other than for showing off or gentle urban commutes, all fixies should have at least a front brake. For fast descents, a front and a rear.
My gearing? It varies, but currently 52/20 on 700c x 23.

Approximately 20mph at 100rpm on the flat. At my advanced years (60) that is fast enough on most rides.

[CarlinTran]

48/22 here. Im a biggie at 270lbs so it is helpful to have it. I save hills amd going fast for my heared bikes.

[tweed]

I am road biker that added a track bike in my collection. I ride quite heavy gear: 53/16 and while I am perfectly fine going on flats and uphill, I am totally not comfortable with descending. Too scary and I can't skid.

[indigo_nico]

In my Red Bull days… aka when I was really fit… I climbed Onion Valley Road, an Hors Categorie climb and California’s hardest climb, on 50/18 which is like a half inch lighter than 48/17. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done on a bike. I skidded through a brand new tire on the descent and the tube blew out right at the end haha. In Chicago, I bounce between 48-49-50/17. If I’m trackpacking or riding in the mountains, I throw on a 47 and its great. The 17 tooth cog works well with just about any front chainring for most riders. If you like 48/16 try a 50/17 and you’ll get a much better skidding experience.

[caelumleamhain]

46:16 is my sweet spot. Spinny enough for the climbs where I live, but not too spinny for the descents.

[felixmourlevat]

in europe when you buy a new bike it's generally 16/46,
but after a lot of people change for 14-16/46-48-50 (i am a french bike repairer)