1. What is Gear Ratio?

The gear ratio of a bicycle is the ratio of the number of teeth on the front chainring to the number of teeth on the rear cog. It determines how many times the rear wheel turns for each pedal revolution.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple 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 revolution (harder to pedal), while a lower ratio means less distance (easier to pedal).

3. Importance of Gear Ratio

Details: Gear ratio helps cyclists understand their bike's mechanical advantage. It's crucial for selecting appropriate gears for different terrains and optimizing pedaling efficiency.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Count the teeth on your front chainring and rear cog, then enter these numbers. Both values must be positive integers (typically between 20-55 for chainrings and 10-50 for cogs).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical gear ratio for road bikes?
A: Common ratios range from 2.0 (easy) to 4.0 (hard), with many road bikes having ratios around 2.5-3.5 for flat terrain.

Q2: How does gear ratio affect speed?
A: Higher ratios allow higher speeds per pedal revolution but require more effort. Lower ratios make climbing easier but limit top speed.

Q3: What's gear inches and how is it different?
A: Gear inches incorporates wheel diameter and provides a more complete picture of mechanical advantage, while gear ratio is purely teeth-based.

Q4: Should I use the same ratio for hills and flats?
A: No, lower ratios are better for hills while higher ratios are more efficient for flat terrain and descents.

Q5: How do I count teeth accurately?
A: Mark one tooth with chalk and count each tooth as you rotate the crank or wheel until you return to the marked tooth.