3 items you need for drifting

June 6, 2022

Here are the three essential items you need to skid: a cog, tools, and pedals!

Everyone dreams of skidding. While practice is certainly necessary, I'll also discuss cog gear ratios that extend tire life.

1: About Cogs

A gear ratio of around 2.8 is said to be optimal for everyday riding. Just as 48Tx17T is called the golden ratio, this results in a gear ratio of 2.8.

If your current fixed gear feels heavy, replace the cog with a larger one. If it feels light, replace the cog with a smaller one.

For city riding and speed, a gear ratio of around 3.0 is recommended. 51Tx17T is ideal, but to install a 51T chainring, you'll need a crank with a PDD of 144mm.
Before changing your chainring, check the PCD of your current crank's bolt holes.

I digress, but in terms of appearance, a 17T cog has the most balanced size.

Changing the gear ratio alone changes your entire riding feel, so a cog replacement is highly recommended as the first step in customizing your fixed gear.

Searching for "skid point table" will show you various pages. It seems 17T is popular, and the more skid points you have, the more evenly you can use your tire, extending the tire's lifespan.

・EURO ASIA track cogs　¥8,250~27,170-(tax included)
・SURLY track cogs　¥4,400~5,270-(tax included)
・Phil Wood track cog　¥11,880-(tax included)

When replacing a cog, the chain length will also change. It's best to change the cog and chain at the same time. If you're going to change it, upgrade to a slightly better chain.