1. What is Gear Ratio?

The gear ratio is the ratio of the number of teeth on the chainring to the number of teeth on the cog. It determines how many times the rear wheel rotates for each pedal stroke.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the gear ratio formula:

Where:

• Chainring Teeth — Number of teeth on the front chainring
• Cog Teeth — Number of teeth on the rear cog

Explanation: A higher gear ratio means more distance covered per pedal stroke but requires more effort, while a lower ratio means easier pedaling but less distance per stroke.

3. Importance of Gear Ratio

Details: Gear ratio helps cyclists choose appropriate gearing for terrain and riding style. Higher ratios are better for flat terrain and speed, while lower ratios help with climbing hills.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of teeth on your chainring and cog (typically marked on the components). Both values must be positive integers (usually between 20-60 teeth).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical gear ratio for road bikes?
A: Common ratios range from 2.0 (easy climbing) to 4.5 (fast flats), with 3.0 being a good all-around ratio.

Q2: How does gear ratio relate to gear inches?
A: Gear inches combines gear ratio with wheel diameter. Multiply gear ratio by wheel diameter (in inches) to get gear inches.

Q3: What's better - higher or lower gear ratio?
A: Neither is universally better. Choose based on terrain - higher for flats/downhills, lower for climbs.

Q4: How does cassette range affect gear ratios?
A: A wider-range cassette (e.g., 11-34t) offers more ratio options than a narrow one (e.g., 11-25t).

Q5: Should I consider cadence with gear ratio?
A: Yes, ideal cadence (pedal RPM) is typically 80-100 RPM. Gear ratio helps maintain this across different speeds.