1. What is Gear Ratio?

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 turns for each pedal revolution, affecting your pedaling efficiency and speed.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple 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, while a lower ratio makes pedaling easier but covers less distance per stroke.

3. Importance of Gear Ratio

Details: Choosing the right gear ratio is crucial for gravel biking as it affects your ability to climb hills, maintain speed on flats, and ride efficiently over varied terrain.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of teeth on your chainring and cog. Typical gravel bikes have chainrings between 38-46 teeth and cogs between 10-42 teeth.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a good gear ratio for gravel biking?
A: For mixed terrain, ratios between 1:1 (for climbing) to 4:1 (for descending) are common. Many gravel bikes use a 40t chainring with an 11-42t cassette.

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

Q3: Should I consider wheel size when calculating gear ratio?
A: While gear ratio is independent of wheel size, for complete understanding of gearing you might also want to calculate "gear inches" which factors in wheel diameter.

Q4: What's the difference between 1x and 2x systems?
A: 1x systems have a single chainring with a wide-range cassette, while 2x systems have two chainrings with a narrower cassette, offering more gear options.

Q5: How often should I change my chainring and cog?
A: Replace when teeth become worn or hooked, typically after 2,000-5,000 miles depending on usage and maintenance.