Bicycle Gear Ratios and Meters of Development

A ride in the park or around the block is a regular activity for many of us. We cruise down hills and change gears for easier pedaling up the hill. But have we ever stopped to wonder how our bicycle gears work? What is actually happening when we shift gears up and down? This Demonstration represents an analysis of how the gears of a bicycle transfer energy from each crank rotation to the rear wheel. Specifically, it will show which sprocket combinations produce the greatest wheel distance for each complete pedal turn.