How Do Bicycle Gear Ratios Work?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The gear ratio, combined with the circumference of your wheel and tyre determines how far you will travel with each revolution of the cranks

. This is expressed as 4.55 : 1 meaning that for every 1 turn I make of the pedals at the front, I will turn the back wheel 4.55 times.

Which gear ratio is faster?

A lower (taller) gear ratio provides a higher top speed, and

a higher (shorter) gear ratio provides faster acceleration

. . Besides the gears in the transmission, there is also a gear in the rear differential. This is known as the final drive, differential gear, Crown Wheel Pinion (CWP) or ring and pinion.

How do I know what gear to use on my bike?

Bike gears: the basics. What determines the number of bike gears you have? It’s a simple

multiplication of the number of sprockets at the rear with the number of chainrings at the front

.

What is a good MTB gear ratio?

Mostly, for a mountain biker with average physical abilities the best and most recommended gear ratio combination is

32T on the front with 34T on the back

.

What gear should I use on a flat road?

For riding on flat roads, it is recommended to use the

middle gear

. It is a common choice among bikers as it helps you reduce pressure from your feet onto the pedals.

Which gear is best for cycling uphill?

Get the right gear

The best combination for riding up hills is

the smallest cog at the front and the largest at the back

. The critical gear here is the largest cog at the back. The bigger it is, the easier it will be to climb up hills.

How do I know what gear ratio I need?

Does higher gear mean faster bike?

Just remember that larger gears at the rear mean easier pedalling but more torque, and

larger gears at the front mean harder pedalling but more speed

. Going from “easier” gears to “harder” gears is called “upshifting”, and the reverse is called “downshifting”.

How do I know my rear gear ratio?


Turn the wheel TWO revolutions and count the number of driveshaft turns

. The number of driveshaft rotations will help you determine your rear axle ratio. For example, if it turned 3 and a half times, it’s a 3.50:1 ratio. If it turned 4 and a quarter times, it’s a 4.25:1 ratio.

What is the easiest gear on a bike?

The

low gear

is the “easy” gear and is primarily used when climbing. The low gear is the smallest chain ring in the front, and the largest cog on the rear cassette. In this position pedaling will be easiest and the least amount of force will be required to push the pedals.

Do you change bike gears while pedaling?

Here are four tips and a few FAQs I hope will help you get the hang of your gears. First, remember that

you have to be pedaling when you change gears

. That’s because the chain has to be moving in order for the derailleurs to “derail” the chain from sprocket to sprocket. Second, pedal at a brisk pace.

Is gear 1 high or low on a bike?

Bikes generally have 1, 3, 18, 21, 24, or 27 speeds. (10- and 15-speeds are obsolete and you don’t see them on new bikes anymore.) Lower numbers are the low gears, and higher numbers are the high gears.

First gear is a low gear

.

Why do some mountain bikes only have 11 gears?

So why do mountain bikes have less gears? Mountain bikes have less gears for quite a few reasons, however the primary reasons being

less maintenance, lighter weight, and the need for only the quickest shifts when running into such a varied terrain

.

What is a granny ring on a bike?

granny ring is

the small front ring

. a chain guide can help keep your chain on the front cogs.

What gear ratio is best for climbing?

All other things being equal, the 34T sprocket on the

11-34T cassette

is going to give you the easiest gear. If your bike is currently fitted with an 11-28T cassette, switching to an 11-34T cassette will make climbing less of a struggle.

How do I shift gears on a bicycle?

How do you increase gear speed on a bike?

What does the left gear do on a bike?

Use the left shifter when you want to

make a BIG change in how much easier or harder the bike is to pedal

. Gear number one is for steep up hills, number two for flat ground, and number three for down hills. Get “in the ball park” with the left shifter, then fine tune on the right.

How can I bike uphill without getting tired?

  1. 1) Weight. The heavier you are, the harder every climb will be. …
  2. 2) Training. …
  3. 3) Get your gears right. …
  4. 4) Pacing the climb. …
  5. 5) Fuel for more power. …
  6. 6) Cycling technique. …
  7. 7) Ride in a group. …
  8. 8) Preparation.

Can biking give you abs?

Will Cycling Give You Abs?

Cycling won’t give you rock-hard abs

but that doesn’t mean that your core won’t benefit. And building a stronger core will make you a better cyclist, too. In cycling, you use your abs for stabilisation; your core keeps you steady and stable in the saddle.

Why is biking uphill harder than walking?

The rate of deceleration is greater when cycling uphill

due to the additional effects of gravity on your momentum

. That said, the ‘real world’ change in your speed and momentum is minimal at most cycling gradients (undetectable on a bike computer) and can be overcome by switching to an even lower gear (higher cadence).

Do gear ratios add or multiply?

For example, for the gear at left the blue gears are 7 and 21 teeth, while the green gears are 9 and 30 teeth. Thus, the first gear ratio is 7:21 and the second is 9:30.

Multiplying the two together

gives (7×9):(21×30) = 63 : 630, which is 1:10.

Do bigger tires affect gear ratio?


When changing gears for taller tires, you are heading to a numerically higher gear ratio

. The higher the gear ratio, the smaller the pinion gear. You do not want go too low in an effort to increase power to the wheels and/or relieve stress in the rest of the drivetrain.

Is gear ratio driven over driver?

What gear is the smallest cog?


The lowest gear

is when the chain is on the smallest cog on the front and the largest cog on the rear. The highest gear is when it’s hardest to pedal, this will move your bike at a fast speed if cruising along on the flat.

What is the hardest gear on a bike?

Assuming you’re talking about a bicycle with the gear mechanisms out in plain sight, which is the most common way bicycles are geared, the hardest (highest) gear is when

the chain is on the biggest toothed ring by the pedals

(called the “front” in shifting jargon, even though the pedals are in the middle of the bike) …

How many gears do I need on my bike?

For a daily commute, you may want to make sure you have

at least 3 gears

. Unless you’re on entirely flat terrain the entire way, you’ll want the option to shift up and down. You’re going to work, after all, you don’t want to show up sweatier than necessary.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.