Calculate the speed and power requirements of different sprocket sizes for different Hub and Derailleur gears

Graph and analyse each gear ratio


Select your hub type or gear set and graph and analyse each ratio.
  • Is your lowest gear low enough for those steep hills?
  • Is you highest gear fast enough for your desired top speed?
  • Have you enough gears to stay in your optimum cadence range?
  • For each gear how much power do you have to produce to go at a given speed and how much power is lost due to friction and air resistance?
  • For each given speed point, which gears can you be in to stay in cadence range
Graphically compare the effects of cadence / gear calculating speed.

Cadence is the number of revolutions of the crank per minute, this is the rate at which a cyclist is pedalling/turning the pedals.

Choose your ideal gearing for your make of hub / gearsets / power or riding style.

Make sure you stay in the green zone!

Pick your gear type:



Derailleur gears


Hub gears


Information:



Documentation

Cadence - the number of revolutions of the crank per minute



Cadence is the number of revolutions of the crank per minute, this is the rate at which a cyclist is pedalling/turning the pedals.

Take a look at the Wikipedia article on bicycle cadence.

There has been much scientific research on optimum cadence. For most people a cadence of 60 to 100 rpm is a comfortable range, with some sources measuring maximum power at 85 rpm and others at 90 - 95 rpm. Even if you do not have expensive instrumentation, you can measure your own preferred cadence. Zip tie a cheap watch (or a speedo with a timer) to your handlebars and count how many times your pedals rotate when you are pedalling hard. Factors are the degree of fitness of the rider and the degree to which efficiency or peak power are important.

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Gear calculation


Use this website to choose the ideal gearing for your personal riding style.
  • At the high speed end, how fast do you want to be able to go with a cadence near your maximum? Can you produce enough power to achieve this speed, on the flat, uphill/downhill, and with a headwind / tailwind?
  • At cadences lower than 60 rpm it is harder work to create a given amount of power. Sure, athletes can create high power at low revs but it is still less efficient than pedalling faster! So, at the low end do you have a suitable gear that you can pedal within your cadence range that will get you up a steep hill?
  • Inbetween, have you enough gears to be able to pedal at all speeds and keep within your target cadence range. It is inefficient if when you reach your max cadence in one gear the change to the next gear takes you below your min cadence.
Click on View analysis and information is provided for that gear set and for your personal information:
  • For that gear set what gradient of hill you can climb given your preferred cadence, weight and power capabilities.
  • What power is required to pedal at different speeds in different gears with and without a headwind.
  • For each gear ratio; what speed could you achieve within your cadence range and how many gear inches does the gear equate to.
  • For each MPH point - which gear combinations could you use at this MPH and remain within cadence range
Change you gearing and see what the effect is.

Gear calculation input data


A figure of two watts (of power) per Kg of body weight is often quoted as a maximum sustainable power for a fit person. Athletes can produce figures much higher than this.

The calculations take frictional losses (tyres, bearings, chain), air drag and energy to climb a gradient into account when calculating power requirements.

The calculations for air resistance with a headwind / tailwind (enter a negative headwind) assume the wind is not at an angle and not affected by objects such as buildings or hedges.

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