1. What is a Bicycle Gear Calculator in Inches?

Definition: This calculator determines gear inches, a measurement that helps cyclists compare different gear combinations across various wheel sizes.

Purpose: It helps cyclists understand how "hard" or "easy" a particular gear combination will feel when pedaling.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( GI \) — Gear inches (inches)
• \( GR \) — Gear ratio (unitless)
• \( WD \) — Wheel diameter (inches)

Explanation: The gear ratio is multiplied by the wheel diameter to calculate the equivalent diameter of the drive wheel if the bicycle were a penny-farthing.

3. Importance of Gear Inches

Details: Gear inches allow cyclists to compare gearing across different bikes and wheel sizes. Higher numbers mean harder gears (more distance per pedal revolution), lower numbers mean easier gears.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the gear ratio (chainring teeth ÷ cog teeth) and the wheel diameter (including tire). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I find my gear ratio?
A: Divide the number of teeth on your chainring by the number of teeth on your rear cog.

Q2: What's a typical wheel diameter?
A: Common diameters are 26" (MTB), 27.5" (650B), 29" (700C MTB), or 27" (older road bikes).

Q3: What's a good gear inch range?
A: 20-30" for climbing, 30-60" for general riding, 60-100+" for speed on flat terrain.

Q4: Does this include tire size?
A: Yes, wheel diameter should include the inflated tire for accurate calculations.

Q5: How does this compare to meters development?
A: Gear inches × 0.0254 × π gives meters development (distance traveled per pedal revolution).