How do you tell what speed your bike is?

[Gogoal Shop]

Hi all,

Could you guys please tell what speed your bike is?

Thanks ahead!!!

[CharleyFarley]

(07-01-2019, 12:16 AM)Gogoal Shop Wrote:  Hi all,

Could you guys please tell what speed your bike is?

I'm not sure what you are asking. Are you asking how many gears does a bike have? Are you asking how fast you are going? Or are you asking how we know which gear we are in?

I will opt for "How many gears does your bike have?"

Your chain ring, which you turn with the pedals, may have one, two or three chain rings.
Your freewheel or cassette at the back may have seven or more cogs, as high as eleven.
If you have one chain ring up front, and seven cogs at the back, you have a seven-speed bike. 1 x 7
If you have two chain rings up front, and seven cogs at the back, you have a fourteen-speed. 2 x 7
If you have three chain rings up front, and seven cogs at the back, you have a twenty-one speed. 3 x 7.

I have two bikes. One has three chain rings up front and seven cogs at the back so I have a 21-speed bike.
My other bike has two chain rings up front and ten cogs at the back, so I have a 20 speed.

Having said all that, take the 21-speed bike, for example. You don't really have 21 useable speeds. If you had the chain on the largest ring up front, and the smallest cog at the back, the chain is way out of alignment with the chain ring and cogs, and will cause premature wear on all the parts.