SS gearing for Leb?

[flombe]

Any recommendations? I am more of a pedal masher than spinner.

I have been running my 29er at 32x16 (58 G.I.) at Theo and it works great!

[Trevize1138]

32X16 at Theo does, indeed, work great for me although I'm on 26ers, of course.

I rode leb last night on 32X18, though, and appreciated it on the climbs. Also, if you plan on doing two "complete" laps at Leb a little lower ratio is nicer for endurance. 2:1 ratio at Leb is doable, but a little lower gearing there is just a bit more fun. :)

[Tetreves]

I've been doing 32x20 at Leb. Of course, I'm more of a spinner, and I've also been running 32x20 at Theo...

(on a 29er)

[Wolfchimp]

I run 34x18 at Leb. on my "26er". It has worked well for me. I could probably stand to spin a little more though.

[tedsti]

I run 32x18 on a 26er in the summer and it is just right. I was historically more of a masher on gears.

[manual63]

I am a masher and I like to drop 2 teeth when I go to Leb vs. Theo.

So I suggest dropping 1 at least, but maybe 2.

[LightWeight]

I rode Leb 32:16 on my 29er last Saturday and while I made it most of the way around without getting off to walk, it was rough. :sick:

32:20 should be perfect!

[flombe]

Hmmm. I think I will try 32/18 on the 29er for first lap and see how that goes. This is 51.5 G.I. which is pretty much the same as 32x16 on a 26er.

I will have bigger/smaller cogs and tools to swap out if needed.

Thanks for the advice!!

[Trevize1138]

Yeah, the hills at Leb are just a little too long to run a 2:1 ratio, especially if you're on a 29er! Theo is OK to run "masher" ratios because the hills are shorter.

[Tetreves]

Hmmm. I think I will try 32/18 on the 29er for first lap and see how that goes. This is 51.5 G.I. which is pretty much the same as 32x16 on a 26er.

I will have bigger/smaller cogs and tools to swap out if needed.

Thanks for the advice!!

I'd have a hard time on the hills at a 2:1. I like the 20t :D

[flombe]

...why make this painful? I think I will start with 32x19 on the 29er which is similar to 32x17 on a 26er.

Thanks for knocking some sense into me!:crazy:

[MUni]

you could try 1:1, 24x3.0 Nokian tire with 170mm cranks. :D

It was exihilerating and painful to ride Leb yesterday...looking forward to a good full summer of riding! Last year I only got out there three times. That's what knee surgery will do to you.

[flombe]

Uh, you are nuts!:D I have seen you on the Uni and it amazes me. I have enough trouble with two wheels on dirt. Good to hear you are back out there!

[jjrsds]

32x18 at Leb works great for me when I am not riding on my helmet during a night ride.

[soupboy]

32:20 is my preferred gearing (29er). Can sit and spin almost all of Leb save maybe the last few yards of the obvious climbs. I've ridden it 2:1 and you go fast because you have no choice! (unless you like walking)

On BMX-yfied trails like Theo you can run something taller.

There is nothing cool about suffering unnecessarily. You're just unfurling a micro-jihad on your knees. Don't be a SS martyr.

[RedSquirrel]

First time on SS dirt ever, went 32x18 at Leb. It was perfect, broke my previous Leb speed record was pushing LT constant the whole time. In other words went faster on SS than ever did on a my 8 geary. Wow, nice surprise. Hmmmm, think I'll keep 32x18 for a while, worked for me.

Flombe, I thought you learn'ED this winter.

Soup, where's that 20t anyway?

[flombe]

Flombe, I thought you learn'ED this winter.

Yeah, I learned that 2:1 is too much in 3" of snow at Leb!:D It was all I had at the time.

32x20 on 29 is the same as 32x18 on the 26. Looks like I gotta pick up a 20T....

[Tetreves]

Looks like I gotta pick up a 20T....

If Heath bails on buying Soupboy's Eno 20t, I'll pick that up, and sell you my ACS 20t cheap! :D

[bigwheel]

Yeah, I learned that 2:1 is too much in 3" of snow at Leb!:D It was all I had at the time.

32x20 on 29 is the same as 32x18 on the 26. Looks like I gotta pick up a 20T....

34x22 was pretty comfortable on the Karate Monkey 29er, although I put on a 23 for snow riding. The only drawback was that it was a little slower cruising the flat sections.

So, since 32x20 is pretty much the same, you will be fine with it.

For me, I'm glad to be back running gears and FS at Leb. (although I'll probably still ride the SS at Theo, Salem, and River Bottoms).

[flombe]

34x22 was pretty comfortable on the Karate Monkey 29er, although I put on a 23 for snow riding. The only drawback was that it was a little slower cruising the flat sections.

So, since 32x20 is pretty much the same, you will be fine with it.

For me, I'm glad to be back running gears and FS at Leb. (although I'll probably still ride the SS at Theo, Salem, and River Bottoms).

I gotta try that FS geared thing. Likely of the 29er variety. I need to get some more miles on the Rig to be sold on the 29" wheel. Also waiting for the Fisher Race Day, Niner R.I.P., Intense Spider to hit dirt. The Race Day appears to be a steal (it's all relative) so that might be the way I go this year. I better get on the pre-sale list.

I have learned to appreciate the SS, but I also like to pour on the speed when the opportunity arises and I am afraid I will find myself spinning out and coasting a little too often at 32x20 at Leb.

The SS rocks at Theo. In the past , I often rode it on my geared HT 26er by selecting a single gear and sticking with it.

Enough rambling...

[OneBikeOneGear]

I'm a little guy on a little bike. But I still ride 34x17. The hills are short enough that you should be able to do most of the climbs still in the saddle.;)

[crux]

2 to 1 is all you need for the traails around here assuming a 26" wheel.