oh, and I think the rule of thumb is a odd/even cog/chainring combo will give you the best skid patches - although that may not matter on a FW
What is the best gear ratio for polo?
I'm upgrading my polo bike, and I keep debating about what gear ratio to put on it. I have a 22t freewheel and, I've been riding with a 41t chairing. I keep seeing guys running 32/18 or 22/18, or even 18/16. How much better will it get towards a 1/1 ratio?
1.7 to 1.9 is the best ratio for me.
35/20 is what I'm going to switch to. Gearing up from 35/22. Freewheel rear brake.
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2009 me didn't know what the hell he was talking about apparently.
Still running 35x22 and loving it.
I think it depends somewhat on the court size you use most often. I use a 32/18 which I think is perfect for me and great for all but the largest courts ( full size hockey rink).
EVBP
i like 1.6-1.7 but i ride a mtn bike with fat (for hardcourt- 1.9") tires...
36x22 on the retired steed and 32x18 or 19 on the new one.
and a full size court doesn't faze me too much, there's just a lot of spinning.
i run 36x22 freewheel, and i love it! best ratio ive used so far.
seems like most of us are happy with a 1.6-1.7 ratio. i run 35x21. awesome.
TOP CENTER 4-EVA
~1.81 on freewheel and about ~1.9 on fixed.
I run a 40t bmx chainring...it's beefy. My freewheel is 22t, and my track cog is 21t...giving me 21 skid patches.
OGT-COMOPOLO
28x18...1.5 or smaller...anyone still running over 1.5? watching recent videos has me curious...
i'm running 32/18. or 1.77 to 1, with 700c wheels. 1.5 is definitely not steep enough for me. i think i prefer a little more top speed, where i just put my whole body into it for quick acceleration.
I've got 32x18 with 26s. It feels pretty good. I think if I always played on a smaller court I'd step down to something a little quicker.
34x22, though it tends to top out on longer courts.
700cc and 23s
35x22, 26" 2.50 front and 700x38c back
61x13 for maximum skid patches, 700x19c for maximum speed, fixed brakeless for maximum style.
^watch out for this guy, he can go like 60mph on the court.
34/18 Freewheel and 34/17 if i want to play fixed with 170mm crankarms and a 26x1.5" rear wheel. if it were a dedicated fixed bike then i'd lower the ratio. so thats 1.88:1 with the freewheel and 2.0:1 fixed, or 47 gear inches free and 49.7 gear inches fixed. i was playing really low on my last bike but i like the top end that the 1.88 gives, maybe i'll gear down, i dunno.
35x20
700cx23 with
140mm crank arms
Fixed, brakeless
Though I am considering switching to 34x21 and adding a rear brake...
you're already fixed, you don't need a rear brake (your legs are your rear brake). a good friend of mine uses 34-21 as fixed, and has a front brake. 140mm crank arms are pretty insanely short...congrats.
The rear brake is for stability (keep my feet from shifting while track standing). The 140's a super rad and super durable, BMX cranks are the way to go.
140s do sound rad, but a rear brake on fixed is redundant (I've done it before) which means you're already braking with your back tire with your legs, a rear brake won't do much more. If you want to keep your feet in the right spot, either bunny hop and reset them in the 3-9o clock position, or go freewheel.
bunny hopping backward with a fixed gear is also excellent when done right with small hops... you'll screen people, get the ball faster, etc.
a rear brake on fixed is redundant (I've done it before) which means you're already braking with your back tire with your legs, a rear brake won't do much more
Maybe in theory you're right but in practice a rear brake is helpful. Sometimes he may not feel all into braking with his legs. Also sometimes things happens fast and he might not be in a good position for all that effort. I liked fixed with a back brake.
STEVENZO... you ride fixed with a front brake. don't insinuate that fixed with a back brake is any good.
having a rear brake > not having a rear brake
simple concept, i know i know
Oh no...
Not this thread again...
braking with front wheel > braking with rear wheel.....if you're gonna add a brake to a fixie, put it on the front....it only makes sense. The wheel that doesn't already have a brake, and has much more stopping power than the rear wheel in the first place (all the weight transfers to the front wheel when decellerating)
i rode fixed w/ rear brake for a long, long time. i loved it, the handbrake plus the fixedness of the wheel made 180 skids easy as pie. i would recommend it.
a front brake will stop you faster, though.
The rear brake isn'( for stopping, I can stop just fine with out it. The 140 cranks put my feet really close together so it's harder to keep steady in a track stand. The brake is just to take some of the strain off my legs.
25 - 17 on large court, 25 - 19 on tiny courts. Spin to win!
I used to ride 22x18, that was nice and 'zippy' but also very 'spinny'. The torque gave me isses too, stripping out cogs and tacoing the small chainring on the 3-speed MB crank I was using - several times. I upped the GI with a 35t bmx crank, so now im running 35x18, it feels pretty good - I do have to actually use my leg muscles a little more on the joust than before… but my bike is much more efficient now.