How is a cycling gear ratio calculated?

A cycling gear ratio is calculated by dividing the number of teeth on the front chainring by the number of teeth on the rear cog. For example, a 50-tooth chainring with a 15-tooth cog result in a 3.33 ratio.

What are gear inches in cycling?

Gear inches represent the diameter of an equivalent direct-drive wheel. It is calculated as: (Chainring Teeth / Cog Teeth) × Wheel Diameter in inches.

What is development or "meters per pedal stroke"?

Development is the distance the bicycle travels with one full rotation of the pedals. It equals (Gear Ratio) × (Wheel Circumference).

Is a higher or lower gear ratio better for climbing?

A lower gear ratio (smaller chainring or larger cog) is better for climbing as it requires less force per stroke, though you travel less distance per rotation.

Cycling & Performance

Cycling Gear Ratio Converter

Optimize your drivetrain. Calculate exact gear ratios, gear inches, and distance traveled per pedal stroke for any wheel size and gearing setup.

Drivetrain Setup

Front Chainring

Teeth

Rear Cog

Teeth

Wheel & Tire Size

Gearing Metrics

Gear Ratio

3.33

Revolutions of wheel per pedal stroke

Gear Inches

90.2

Wheel feel scale

Development

7.11

Distance per stroke

Understanding Cycling Gear Math

Gear Ratio

The raw mathematical relationship between your chainring and cog. A 50x15 setup means for every 1 rotation of your pedals, your rear wheel spins 3.33 times.

Gear Inches

A legacy measurement from the "Penny Farthing" era. It tells you the diameter of an equivalent direct-drive wheel. Higher numbers mean harder gears (faster speed, more effort).

Drivetrain Formulas

Ratio = Chainring Teeth / Cog Teeth
Gear Inches = Ratio * Wheel Diameter (inches)
Development = Ratio * Wheel Circumference (meters)

Common Ratios Reference

Setup	Ratio	Best For
53 x 11	4.81	High-speed descents/sprinting
34 x 32	1.06	Steep alpine climbs
48 x 17	2.82	Standard fixed-gear/commuting