im just curious what everyone else is running gear ratio wise for centurys.
my current is 53x17, 84.2 gear inches.

42x16 - fairly flat (maybe 3000' )

That's a pretty large gear for any purposes.

But anyhow, I think you should just use the gear you're used to.

I'm not sure I'd go higher than 46x16.

im just curious what everyone else is running gear ratio wise for centurys.
my current is 53x17, 84.2 gear inches.

42 x 16, 45 x 17 or 50 x 19. All yield about 70 gear inches...

70-74 inches, depending on fitness. 45 x 18, 44 x 17 or something like that.

No different from everyday riding.

I've run 67-70 inches on century and double century rides with lots of climbing.
I've run 76-80 inches on flat centuries.

Just a personal thought...
I would like to think that I will not go higher than what I cannot spin at 100 or at least 90 rpm on the flats. However, others can mash a higher gear and get the same speed. So whatever works for you.

53x17 should only be 82 or so inches. I used to ride 52x17 singlespeed and that was just over 80 inches. Unless you are running bigger than 700c...

Anyway,


I wouldn't go any higher than 85 inches on the flats and for the hilly ones I'd go with around 71-74.

I used to run a 48:17 and climbing for me with that was great except for really steep stuff, but theres not much, if any steep hills in my daily ride.

49 x 18, 73", same gear I use year round.....

Just to add to my last post, on the next L.A. Wheelmen Grand Tour highland route which is coming up in June, I decided to go single speed this time due to the many long tiring descents. I'll be running a 44x17. Doing that ride fixed last year was miserable. I was on the road for 16 hours... It sucked.

I couldn't get up half of the climbs around here with that ratio. I do Singlespeed centuries at around 70 (44/16-18) depending on the terrain. My favorite century has around 9600 ft of climbing with the equivalent descents. I did it with a 44/17 last year in 6:15. There are too many long downhills around here for me to do a fixed century without killing myself.

44/17 - all terrain (flats to mountains)

The last century I rode, I did with 48x16. I wanted to maintain over 20 mph, and average around a 90 rpm cadence. I used a spread sheet like this one to figure it out
http://www.hubbub.com/hubbub_calculator_index.html

i did moutains of misery w/ 39x16...12,000 feet of climbing with some nearing 10% grade...never dismounted....blacksburg va

seagull century...mostly flat...i run 49x15...eastern shore of md

i think it really depends on your engine :D

42x16 - fairly flat (maybe 3000' )

Another vote for the 42X16. For me its pretty much a "all round" gearing.

i have a long race/ride in a few months and am thinking about the gearing. i've been on the route before and 42x16 and that was the steepest gear i could use on the longest sustained climb...and still have legs for the next 100 miles. so i'll probably go with that combo.

but there are other variables, even after you know the route: especially wind, whether you generally like to spin (me) or mash, and freewheel v. fixed.

another way to look at it is pick the highest gear ratio you could use on the steepest climb or greatest wind that you might encounter.

i did moutains of misery w/ 39x16...12,000 feet of climbing with some nearing 10% grade...never dismounted....blacksburg va


Sick Sick Sick, I might consider it in the future. I think you finished not far behind me in 2006, and I was ready to puke from the heat and climbing on a compact. This was before my enlightenment to the ways of Singlespeeds and fixies.

I'm planning on doing the Central VA bikefest Century on the 18th on my SS. It has 10k of climbing including 13 miles up Thunder Ridge. But nothing is as steep as mountain lake. I think I can get by with my 44/18. I'm hoping I can make it, I can decide on the metric or english option at 50 miles. I'd really like to do it all.

Like you said, it depends on the engine. But unless you are at really steep grades it really isn't much harder than a geared bike, just different.