Gearing Calculators

The UK offers an enormous variety of terrain, from the pancake-flat Fens of East Anglia to the brutally steep lanes of Devon, the Lake District, and the Welsh valleys. Choosing the right gearing setup is essential for riding comfortably and efficiently across this range. Our gear ratio calculator and gear range calculator let you compare different chainring and cassette combinations so you can see exactly how your drivetrain performs before committing to a purchase.

Modern groupsets have made wide-range cassettes increasingly popular, with 11-34 and even 11-36 options becoming standard on road bikes. The cassette calculator analyses the jumps between sprockets so you can assess whether a particular cassette gives smooth shifting or leaves awkward gaps in the gears you use most. The speed in gear calculator shows you the road speed at any cadence for each gear combination, which is particularly useful when comparing a compact 50/34 chainset against a semi-compact 52/36 for hilly sportives.

For fixed-gear commuters and single-speed riders navigating UK cities, the single speed calculator helps you find the ideal ratio for your local terrain — balancing comfortable spinning on the flat with manageable effort on bridges and overpasses. The hub gear calculator covers Sturmey-Archer, Shimano Nexus, and Rohloff systems, which remain popular choices for year-round British commuters and touring cyclists who value low maintenance in wet conditions.