CYCLE CALCULATORS

CalculatorsGear Inches and Roll-out Calculator

Gear Inches and Roll-out Calculator

Gear inches multiply the ratio by the wheel diameter. Roll-out is the metres the bike travels in one crank revolution — the number that tells you whether 52×11 on a 700×28c is actually a fast gear.

Inputs

Units

Results

Gear inches
126.2 in
Roll-out
33.04 ft

The Result is indicative and educational. It does not constitute a design, a technical opinion or medical advice and does not replace calculations or verification by a person with the appropriate qualifications and authorisations. Before purchase, installation or use in practice – in particular in electrical installations – the Result should be verified by a qualified specialist. Details: Terms of Service, point 4.

How the number is made

Diameter mm = bead seat diameter + 2 × labelled tyre width. Gear inches = (chainring ÷ cog) × diameter ÷ 25.4. Roll-out (m) = ratio × π × diameter ÷ 1000. Example: 52×11 on 700×28c → 678 mm, 126.2 gear inches, 10.07 m.

Labelled width stands in for tyre height. A wide rim can make the real tyre taller.

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Questions

What is a high gear inch?

Road 52×11 on 700×28c is about 126 gear inches. A 34×51 on a 29 × 2.25 wheel is about 19.

Is roll-out the same as gear inches?

They describe the same gear in different units. Gear inches are the diameter of an equivalent penny-farthing wheel; roll-out is the distance one crank turn moves you. Roll-out (m) = gear inches × π × 0.0254.

Why does a wider tyre raise gear inches?

Both numbers use the wheel diameter, and the tyre adds its labelled width above and below the 622 mm bead seat. A 28 mm tyre gives 678 mm; a 32 mm tyre gives 686 mm, about 1.2% more gear.

Example products

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