Get To Know Your Drivetrain

Our guide to gears will help you choose the best ratio for you.


Bicycling |

Gear ratios are determined by the number of teeth on your chainrings, and the number of teeth on the cogs on your cassette.” width=”650″ height=”366″ /> Gear ratios are determined by the number of teeth on your chainrings, and the number of teeth on the cogs on your cassette.[/caption]

Gear ratios, Explained
Gear ratio – or “gearing” – is determined by which chainring (in front) and which cog of the cassette (in back) the chain is on. Chainrings on road bikes usually come in a “standard” pairing of 53 teeth and 39 teeth (abbreviated as 53/39), or in 50/34 or 50/36 combinations that are known as “compact.” Cassettes are most commonly made up of 10 or 11 cogs that range from 11 teeth to 25 teeth.RELATED: 6 Gearing Mistakes You’re Probably MakingWhy It Matters It tells you how far your bicycle will travel with one complete revolution of the pedals. For instance, in the most common biggest gear, with the chain on the 53-tooth chainring in front and the 11-tooth cog in back (or 53×11), you move forward about 10.2m with each revolution. In one of the most common smallest gears, 34×25, you’d move only about 3m – a big drop in distance, but much easier to spin. If you like to sprint, live in a flattish region, or go fast downhill, you probably want a 53 as your biggest chainring and a cassette with an 11 or 12 as its smallest cog.

The Right Ratio For You If you live in a hilly area, hate climbing in general, or just prefer pleasure over speed, you probably want your smallest chainring to be 34 or 36, and a cassette with a cog that has 25- or 28 teeth.


Keep Calm and Pedal Your Chain Back On
If you drop your chain on a downshift (big ring to little), soft pedal in a smooth, steady rhythm. Shift back to the big ring and the chainring will catch the chain. If you drop it on an upshift, lightly spin and shift back down.

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