Backflip

Yea was hard to get speed. Running 32-16 ratio.

try sticking a 15t cog in the back, it was much better for me and i'm going to run the same ratio on my new build (28-13)

Eh creamsoda, I'm looking at getting some BMX cranks for my Mob but from what I know, if you go into smaller tooth cogs like 28, the ratios are totally different. Like a 32-16 would be totally different then a 28-14 even though they are both a 2:1 ratio. Is that correct?

as far as i know, ratios are ratios. 28-14 should feel the same as a 32-16, should feel the same as 36/18. i do know that as wheel sizes go down, the harder the ratio you should use to make it feel the same.

i used to have 32-16, then went with a 28-13 combo (micro-microdrive comes with a whole host of issues, chainwear, drive side bearings for both hubs and bb when you tighten the chain more and more, chain breakage and premature wear, unavoidable chainslap if you run something tiny like 23-10... etc. i was turned away from the ns bikes 10t driver hubs for that reason, and that a 5 dollar cog is cheaper to replace than a 70 dollar driver).

So I did some research on the forum. The basic formula for calculating gear ratio is front ring divided by rear ring, times the size of your wheels. Then they said you want to aim for 55. So, for mountain bike, youd want a 25-12 ratio? This would give you 54.16 if you use that formula.

i've also read on other forums, that as soon as your rear cog drops below 13t, you lose pedalling efficiency, but that's not really a factor unless you do a lot of long d on your bike like me

25-12 setup = 54.16 ratio
27-13 setup = 54 ratio
28-13 setup = 56 ratio

What exactly does the "55" ratio mean though? Is that like the universal standard you want to aim for? Then if you go above 55 it gets harder to pedal; if you go below it gets easier?

seeing as 27-13 is a 54 ratio and 28-13 is 56, you are correct - the lower you go the easier it is to pedal.

common 26" wheeled ratios are 25-12, 26-12, 28-13 (i'm running this), if you're too lazy to go bmx cranks i'd highly recommend 32-15 - i ran that on my old build and it was great for everything except it might be too easy if you go 4x racing!

also, keep in mind, the higher your ratio the slower you can pedal backwards in fakie.

Right now I'm running a 32-16 which ends up being a 52. This setup is pretty good right now so I dont think I would want to go all the way to a 56. I think the 25-12 which turns out to be a 54 would be the right setup for me.

http://www.danscomp.com/showfullimage.php?type=products&group=CRANKS&image=452560_Translucent_Ox_Blood_Red.gif&title=SPUTNIC%20CRANKS%20SPUTNIC%20PLAYBACK%20ARMS/SPINDLE

Looking to get these once I buy the Elixir CR's for the SX.

wow, those are very nice looking cranks. i know nothing about sputnik but i have seen a set in person and they look really clean-lined.

as for the ratio, it's all personal preference, so just go for the 25-12.

i pretty much top out at around 35-40 kmph with my 28-13 ratio, just a little tidbit i found out today on my bike's first real ride