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

Explanation: A higher gear ratio means more distance covered per pedal stroke but requires more effort. Lower ratios provide easier pedaling but less distance per stroke.

3. Importance of Gear Ratio

Details: Gear ratio helps cyclists understand how hard or easy it will be to pedal in different gear combinations. It's crucial for selecting appropriate gears for terrain and riding style.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of teeth on your chainring and cog. Typical mountain bike chainrings range from 28-36 teeth, and cogs from 10-50 teeth.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a good gear ratio for climbing?
A: For steep climbs, lower ratios (below 1.5) are ideal as they make pedaling easier.

Q2: What ratio is best for flat terrain?
A: Higher ratios (above 2.5) are better for flats as they allow faster speeds with each pedal stroke.

Q3: How does wheel size affect gear ratio?
A: While this calculator shows the basic ratio, actual speed also depends on wheel diameter (larger wheels cover more ground per revolution).

Q4: What's a typical gear range for mountain bikes?
A: Modern 1x systems often have chainrings from 28-36t paired with 10-50t cassettes, giving ratios from about 0.6 to 3.6.

Q5: How does gear ratio relate to gear inches?
A: Gear inches incorporates wheel size (ratio × wheel diameter in inches) for a more complete picture of gearing.