What gear to use when going uphill on a bike?
The concept of bike gearing can be pretty confusing if you are new to cycling. However, practice on proper gearing and the concept of gear shifting will not only improve your speed but will also increase your endurance.
Here’s the ultimate guide that incorporates all you need to know when it comes to gears and their shifting.
How Bicycle Gears Work
Figuring out how bicycle gears work can be tricky, especially for a novice. However, understanding how to use the gears can help improve your overall efficiency and make cycling enjoyable.
The number of gears you need on a bike highly depends on your cycling needs and experience. If you ride on hilly terrains, means that you will need more gears with lower gear ratios and for road cycling, you can get away with a single-speed bike!
1 speed
When shifting gears if the mechanism has display numbers, gear 1 or single is the lowest gear on the cassette. It has one cog at the rear hence providing one gear.
This gear is best used for climbing hills and difficult terrains or in slow-speed riding. A bike with a single-speed is simple to use and low maintenance.
7 speed
A 7-speed bike has a single chain ring at the front and 7 different-sized cogs at the rear. The 7 cogs provide 7 different gears ranging from gear 1 (the easiest gear) to gear 7 (the high gear).
The lower gears make it easy to pedal uphill while the higher gears allow for better descending.
A 7-speed gear bike is the most popular choice because you can adjust the gears to cycle on varied terrains and is also a favorite for commuters who want easy rides to work.
How Bike Gear Ratio Works
Bike Gear ratio refers to the number of times the rear wheel rotates for each full turn of the pedals (crank arms).
The bike gear ratio is a combination of the chainring and cog and is calculated by dividing the number of teeth on the current chainring by the number of teeth on the cassette (collection of cogs). Each combination has a specific mechanical advantage.
For example, a 38-tooth chainring and a 16-tooth cog will give you a gear ratio of 2.37. This means that for every full turn of the crank arms (pedals), the rear wheel makes 2 revolutions.
A gear ratio of 4 means that the rear wheel will spin 4 times for every pedal rotation.
The higher the gear ratio, the lower the torque but the faster the wheel will spin, ideal for road cycling and vice versa.
Bike Gear Ratio Calculator
| Ring Cog | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | Ring Cog |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 3.64 | 3.73 | 3.82 | 3.91 | 4.00 | 4.09 | 4.18 | 4.27 | 4.36 | 4.45 | 4.55 | 4.64 | 4.73 | 11 |
| 12 | 3.33 | 3.42 | 3.50 | 3.58 | 3.67 | 3.75 | 3.83 | 3.92 | 4.00 | 4.08 | 4.17 | 4.25 | 4.33 | 12 |
| 13 | 3.08 | 3.15 | 3.23 | 3.31 | 3.38 | 3.46 | 3.54 | 3.62 | 3.69 | 3.77 | 3.85 | 3.92 | 4.00 | 13 |
| 14 | 2.86 | 2.93 | 3.00 | 3.07 | 3.14 | 3.21 | 3.29 | 3.36 | 3.43 | 3.50 | 3.57 | 3.64 | 3.71 | 14 |
| 15 | 2.67 | 2.73 | 2.80 | 2.87 | 2.93 | 3.00 | 3.07 | 3.13 | 3.20 | 3.27 | 3.33 | 3.40 | 3.47 | 15 |
| 16 | 2.50 | 2.56 | 2.63 | 2.69 | 2.75 | 2.81 | 2.88 | 2.94 | 3.00 | 3.06 | 3.13 | 3.19 | 3.25 | 16 |
| 17 | 2.35 | 2.41 | 2.47 | 2.53 | 2.59 | 2.65 | 2.71 | 2.76 | 2.82 | 2.88 | 2.94 | 3.00 | 3.06 | 17 |
| 18 | 2.22 | 2.28 | 2.33 | 2.39 | 2.44 | 2.50 | 2.56 | 2.61 | 2.67 | 2.72 | 2.78 | 2.83 | 2.89 | 18 |
| 19 | 2.11 | 2.16 | 2.21 | 2.26 | 2.32 | 2.37 | 2.42 | 2.47 | 2.53 | 2.58 | 2.63 | 2.68 | 2.74 | 19 |
| 20 | 2.00 | 2.05 | 2.10 | 2.15 | 2.20 | 2.25 | 2.30 | 2.35 | 2.40 | 2.45 | 2.50 | 2.55 | 2.60 | 20 |
| 21 | 1.90 | 1.95 | 2.00 | 2.05 | 2.10 | 2.14 | 2.19 | 2.24 | 2.29 | 2.33 | 2.38 | 2.43 | 2.48 | 21 |
What Gear to use when Going Uphill on a Bike?
Climbing a hill is hard enough, but using the wrong gear can make riding your bicycle uphill frustrating and extremely taxing. In some cases, it can make you grind to a halt.
Gear and gear ratios are a personal preference, however, having the correct gear ratios is very important.
When going uphill on a bike, ensure that you are using a lower gear ratio. This is achieved by using a lower gear number. A lower gear requires less leg strength and muscle power to maintain a comfortable cadence up.
Most riders enjoy going uphill with an average gear ratio of 48/17. However some of the popular alternatives are46/16, 46/17, 48/16, 48/18, 49/13, and 49/16. What that means is 46-49 on the chainring and 16- 18 on the cassette is ideal for most riders.
On very steep hills most riders can even go with lower ratios of between 36/40 to 32/20.
For smaller hills,46/17 to 42/17 would suffice for many riders.
Remember that lower gear ratios will require you to spin more with less effort and your maximum speed will be lower.
Related article: Types of Bike Brakes – Common Bike Brakes
What is the easiest way to bike up hills?
Cycling uphill, whether for fitness or fun, is not an easy endeavor. It requires strength, determination, and a lot of training. Luckily for you, I have some tips that can help you make the ride a tad more comfortable.
Prepare in advance.
- Get to know what you are climbing. That is, the length, gradient, and the time needed. You will require to be reasonably fit before you tackle steep hills. Also, incorporate training on hilly routes regularly.
- When you start climbing, you normally use your upper body and back more, and as the gradient increases, the effort required increases exponentially. In this regard, core exercises to strengthen your upper back muscles will come in handy. Also ensure that you have the right bike, clothing, and equipment.
Body position
If you are wondering whether to climb seated or standing on the pedals, I’ll explain the logic behind the two options.
- Seated
Remain seated where possible and keep your pedaling cadence at a high of 70 to 90 revolutions per minute. This ensures maximum transfer of your energy into power. If you require more power;
- Lean forward
- Seat as far back as possible as you push on the down strokes.
- Standing
When the gradient becomes very steep, you will need more power than sitting allows. When doing the downward stroke, lean the bike away from the foot delivering the strokes.
As you alternate the feet when delivering the strokes, transfer your weight accordingly. Ensure you keep your body in a straight line over the weighted foot.
You will notice that shorter, lighter riders do better off the saddle than heavier riders.
What are the gear terminologies?
Gearing
Gearing is an individual decision depending on the gradient and your fitness level. Timely shifting of gears when climbing a hill is very significant. Shifting too soon will have you losing momentum while shifting too late will have you struggling uphill.
Choosing the wrong gear will have you burning out. If you are strong and fit, you can use a higher gear while keeping the cadence up. However, if you are a beginner, you should use the lowest gear frequently as a higher gear will have your energy draining quicker affecting your efficiency.
Cadence
When climbing, try and keep your cadence consistent. If the cadence starts to slow, shift into an easier gear. For novices, try and keep a target of 65-80 rpm. Also, don’t push a big gear at a very low cadence.
When shifting gears, go easy on the pedals to take the pressure off the chain.
Pacing
As tempting as it may be, attacking a climb will end up burning you out a lot quicker. If you are riding in a group, sitting behind another rider, known as drafting, will have you saving 10-30% of your energy. However, trying to keep up with faster riders will only be counter-productive.
Settle in your pace, find the right gear, and enjoy your ride.
Finally, being mentally prepared and fueling your body with the right nutrients and hydrating well, will improve your efficiency and make cycling uphill a breeze.
How to Shift Gears on a Bike?
Bicycles come with different designs of shifters whose operations slightly vary from one bike to another. If your bike has lots of gears, it gives you a wider range of gears. This means, the stages between the gears are closer and that translates to increased efficiency since you don’t need to increase your energy up and down so much. Also, you will have the perfect gear for any situation.
Whatever method of shifting to use mainly depends on the shifting system installed on your bike.
Most, if not all bike shifters are installed onto the handlebars. Shifters for the front and the rear wheel are located separately. The front shifter is on the left while the rear is on the right side of the handlebar.
However, what’s the use of having so many gears on your bicycle if you can’t change them? Come with me and let’s have a look at a few types and how to use them.
Thumb shifter
These shifters are mainly found on mountain bikes.
You use your thumb to operate. To downshift, you simply push the larger lever, to upshift, you push the smaller lever.
Combination Shifters
Typically found on hybrid and fitness bikes, with the combination shifter, you incorporate your forefinger as well. Like the thumb shifter, you press the thumb lever to downshift. When ready to upshift, you use your forefinger to push the longer upshift lever.
Twist- grip Shifters
Commonly used on mountain bikes but also found on other bikes with straight handlebars.
They do not fit on road bikes because they are placed on the outer handle.
To shift, you twist the handle shifter while pedaling at a slow pace. This should be done one gear at a time to avoid jumping gears, which could derail your bike and consequently damage your bike’s components.
Trigger shifters
Also referred to as rapid-fire shifters, this is the most widespread design. The levers are located under the handlebars. The rider uses a thumb button to upshift and the index finger operated “trigger “to downshift.
Bar–end shifters
These shifters are situated towards the ends of your bars. They are most reliable on a drop bar bike though they can also be used on straight bars.
Bar end shifter uses two levers that are completely separate from the brake levers, one for each derailleur. You pull it towards you to shift one way and away from you to shift the other way. This shifter is easy for novices as the lever stays in place to remind you what gear you are in.
Tips for Shifting
- Pedal while shifting. This is the only way to shift smoothly across gears until you find the right one.
- Adjust your shifters to the position that fits your hand size and riding preferences.
- Anticipate your terrain. Shift right before climbing, not midway. This ensures minimal tension on the chain which leads to easier shifting.
Shifting gears can be tricky, but as with anything, practicing will make it easier and in no time, you will be shifting like a pro!
The bicycle gears confuse many people. If you are among them, read on as we bust the jargon.
Gear
This is a component of your bike’s drivetrain. It’s a pulley that assists you in transferring power from your legs through the pedals and the chain and finally to the rear wheel.
Chainring
This is a saw-like ring at the front end of the drivetrain, attached to the pedals. They may be one, two, or three.
Derailleurs
These are the front and rear mechanisms that move the chain when the gears are shifted. One derailleur is located in the front for the crankset while the other is in the rear for the cassette.
Block
This is a term used that refers to the group of rear sprockets.
Sprocket
Is also referred to as chainwheel, is a profiled wheel with teeth made from cast iron, used to pull a linked chain in order to turn the movement of the rider’s feet into rotation of the bike’s wheels.
Cassette
Also known as the rear block, is the set of sprockets located next to the rear tire. The rear wheel has 5-12 sprockets. The biggest sprocket, which is the innermost and is closest to the wheel, is for easy pedaling or climbing. The smallest outermost sprockets allow for faster speeding, although it is harder to pedal unless the bike is descending.
Ratio
A gear ratio refers to the number of times the rear wheel rotates for each full turn of the pedals ( crank arms)
Drivetrain
Also known as power train, is the mechanical system, that’s the chain, the cassette, and the chainrings that convert a cyclist’s pedaling power into forward movement.
Cadence
Also referred to as the pedal rhythm, it is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm). Cadence depends on the cyclists pushing power, the bike’s resistance, and the gradient. Everyone has their preferred cadence.
Cog
Cogs are the gears on the rear wheel. When put together in ascending sizes, they are referred to as a cassette.
Related article: Women’s Bike Size Chart – Women’s Bike Sizing
What Chainrings Are Used On A Geared Bike?
A chainring is cyclist lingo for front gears. They are responsible for transmitting the energy you create by turning the crank arms (pedals) to the rear wheel through the chain.
If you look around a group of bike riders, you’ll see a mix of various drivetrain setups.
The size of the chainring directly impacts your bike’s gearing. Bigger rings translate to a higher gear while small rings, a lower gear.
Chain rings on a geared bike come in three types;
The double Chainring
This is a standard chainring that comes in a classic 53-39t combination, with 53 teeth on the big ring and 39 teeth on the small teeth. With the double chainring, you have more gear choices, require less effort and your drivetrain wear is minimal.
This is the most preferred choice for professional racing.
Compact chainring
As the name suggests the gear ratios are compacted from the standard double. The most common chainring combinations are 50/34. 50 tooth for the large ring and 34 tooth for the small ring. It’s a popular choice as the reduced gearing at the end is enough to tackle the steepest of hills and the top gear allows fast descending.
The Triple
A triple chainset consists of three chainrings. The bigger outer ring has 50 teeth, the middle 39 teeth and the small outer ring has 30 teeth, a combination of 50-39-30. The advantage of this chainset is, that it provides extremely low gears for more efficient climbing.
Conclusion – What gear to use when going uphill on a bike?
Knowing the kind of riding you are planning to do, will help you make a conscious choice on the bike you purchase as it will be on the gear range that best suits you.