1. What is Gear Inches?

Gear inches is a system that assigns numerical measurements to bicycle gear ratios, combining the gear ratio with the diameter of the drive wheel to give a single number that describes how "hard" or "easy" a gear is to pedal.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the gear inches formula:

Where:

• Gear Ratio — Chainring teeth divided by cog teeth
• Wheel Diameter — Diameter of the bicycle wheel in inches

Explanation: The formula accounts for both the mechanical advantage of the gears and the mechanical advantage/disadvantage of the wheel size.

3. Importance of Gear Inches

Details: Gear inches allow cyclists to compare gearing across different bicycles and wheel sizes. Higher gear inches mean a "harder" gear that requires more effort to pedal but covers more distance per pedal revolution.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the gear ratio (chainring teeth divided by cog teeth) and the wheel diameter in inches. All values must be valid (greater than 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical gear inch range for road bikes?
A: Road bikes typically range from about 30 gear inches (easy) to 120 gear inches (hard).

Q2: How do I measure my wheel diameter?
A: Measure from the ground to the center of the wheel axle and multiply by 2. For accurate results, measure with the rider's weight on the bike.

Q3: What's the advantage of using gear inches?
A: It allows direct comparison between different bikes regardless of wheel size or gearing setup.

Q4: How does gear inches relate to speed?
A: Higher gear inches mean more distance per pedal revolution, potentially higher speed at the same cadence.

Q5: What's a good gear inch range for hilly terrain?
A: For hilly terrain, a low gear around 20-30 inches is helpful for climbing, while 70-90 inches works for descents.