1. What is Fixed Gear Ratio?

The fixed gear ratio is the relationship between the number of teeth on the chainring and the cog. It determines how many times the rear wheel turns for each pedal revolution, affecting speed and pedaling difficulty.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the fixed gear ratio formula:

Where:

• Chainring — Number of teeth on the front chainring
• Cog — Number of teeth on the rear cog

Explanation: A higher ratio means more distance per pedal stroke but requires more effort, while a lower ratio means easier pedaling but less distance per stroke.

3. Importance of Gear Ratio

Details: The gear ratio is crucial for determining the bike's performance characteristics. It affects acceleration, top speed, and how easily you can climb hills or maintain speed on flats.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of teeth on your chainring and cog. Both values must be positive integers (typically between 30-60 for chainrings and 10-20 for cogs).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical gear ratio for fixed gear bikes?
A: Common ratios range from 2.5 to 3.5, with 2.7-3.0 being popular for urban riding.

Q2: How does gear ratio affect riding?
A: Higher ratios are better for speed on flats, lower ratios are better for hills and acceleration.

Q3: What's skid patch and how does it relate to gear ratio?
A: The number of skid patches is determined by the gear ratio's simplification - certain ratios give more skid patches which distribute wear more evenly on your tire.

Q4: Should I consider wheel size with gear ratio?
A: For complete understanding, combine gear ratio with wheel size to calculate gear inches or meters of development.

Q5: What's the difference between gear ratio and gain ratio?
A: Gain ratio considers crank length and wheel size for a more complete measure of mechanical advantage.