1. What is Gear Inches?

Gear inches is a system used to measure the gear ratios of bicycles. It expresses gear ratios in terms of the diameter of an equivalent directly driven wheel, making it easier to compare different bicycle setups.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the gear inches formula:

Where:

• Gear ratio — The ratio of chainring teeth to cog teeth (front gear ÷ rear gear)
• Wheel diameter — The diameter of the bicycle wheel in inches

Explanation: The formula calculates the effective wheel size when accounting for the gear ratio, allowing cyclists to compare different gear setups.

3. Importance of Gear Inches

Details: Gear inches help cyclists understand how hard or easy it will be to pedal in a particular gear. Higher gear inches mean more distance per pedal revolution but require more effort.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the gear ratio (chainring teeth divided by cog teeth) and the wheel diameter in inches. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical gear inch range for road bikes?
A: Road bikes typically range from 30-120 gear inches, with common cruising gears around 70-90 gear inches.

Q2: How does gear inches compare to meters development?
A: Meters development (distance traveled per pedal revolution) is gear inches multiplied by π/39.37 (about 0.0798).

Q3: What's a good gear inch for climbing hills?
A: For steep hills, many cyclists prefer gears under 50 inches, sometimes as low as 20-30 inches for very steep terrain.

Q4: How do I measure my wheel diameter?
A: Measure from ground to axle center and double it when the tire is properly inflated and under load.

Q5: Why use gear inches instead of just gear ratio?
A: Gear inches accounts for wheel size, making it easier to compare different bikes or wheel sizes.