A Drivetrain Setup
cogs
teeth
📊 Gear Range
Gear Range Calculator — Drivetrain Visualizer
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I read the gear range chart?
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Each row represents one chainring. Dots along the row show each gear combination (chainring × cog) plotted on a shared speed/development axis. Dots to the left are easier gears; dots to the right are harder. The number inside each dot is the cog size.
Gaps between dots indicate large jumps between gears — you'll feel a bigger cadence change when shifting there. Clustered dots mean fine steps and smooth progression.
Gaps between dots indicate large jumps between gears — you'll feel a bigger cadence change when shifting there. Clustered dots mean fine steps and smooth progression.
What is gear development?
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Development (m/rev) is the distance the bike travels per full pedal revolution. It equals the gear ratio × wheel circumference. A development of 5.0 m/rev means one complete crank revolution moves the bike forward 5 metres. This is the most practical single number for comparing gearing across different wheel sizes — unlike gear inches, development is in SI units and directly tells you ground distance per stroke.
What are gear inches?
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Gear inches is the traditional Anglo-Saxon equivalent of development: the diameter (in inches) of a hypothetical direct-drive wheel that would give the same mechanical advantage. Gear inches = (chainring ÷ cog) × wheel diameter in inches. Still widely used in road and track cycling contexts.
How do I compare two drivetrains?
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Click + Compare to reveal a second setup (B). Both setups are plotted on the same axis — blue rows for A, red rows for B. You can immediately see if one setup has wider range, smaller steps, or more overlap with the other. Useful for deciding between 1x vs 2x, or comparing before/after a cassette swap.
How do I choose a cassette for climbing?
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Use the Speed display at your minimum sustainable cadence (e.g. 60 rpm) and look at the leftmost dot. If the speed is still higher than you'd comfortably ride on the steepest climb, you need a larger cog or smaller chainring.
A practical rule: for every 1% of gradient increase, you need roughly 6% more gear reduction to maintain the same cadence and power.
A practical rule: for every 1% of gradient increase, you need roughly 6% more gear reduction to maintain the same cadence and power.
1x vs 2x: which is better?
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1x advantages: simpler shifting, lighter front end, no front derailleur. Modern wide-range cassettes (10-52) give adequate range for most MTB use.
2x advantages: tighter gear steps in the mid-range, less total cog range needed, more torque efficiency on mid-range cogs. Road cyclists typically prefer 2x for fine-grained cadence control.
Use the Compare feature to load a 1x vs 2x setup and see the step distribution directly.
2x advantages: tighter gear steps in the mid-range, less total cog range needed, more torque efficiency on mid-range cogs. Road cyclists typically prefer 2x for fine-grained cadence control.
Use the Compare feature to load a 1x vs 2x setup and see the step distribution directly.