48x16?

[ulty_guy]

this is the standard gearing of the track bike that i'm most likely getting. no probs w/ that for the ordinary, very in shape guy in a pretty flat city, right?

[Innominatus]

For stop and go (as with urban traffic) I think it's a little tall. I ride a 42x16 in town, and it's just right for me. I like to spin a high cadence, but if you're doing longer rides at a constant 20-22 mph, I think a 46 would be about right.

You can always swap out the chainring later on if it's too tall (depending on what's available in your BCD (bolt circle diameter - Campy's 135mm, Shimano is 130mm, I think) and try a 44 or a 42 if you can make an inner chainring work).

What bike did you end up getting?

[Viva]

It is tall. You can certainly work it, but you may find the 46 or 44 ring more fortunate. Will your shop allow you to try it out around the block and swap with something smaller if you don't like it?

Yeah! What bike?

[ulty_guy]

fuji track. steel, very simple, new, and about what you'd pay for a new one in the states (which is a novelty here). yeah, i'll probably go down to a 44 and can most likely bug them into letting me try it out w/ that ring.