CALCULATOR

Race Gearing Calculator

Find the chainring and cassette combination that best covers your climbing speed, main race speed and maximum pedalling speed at your chosen cadence. Alternatively, check whether your existing gearing covers those targets.

Mode
Course

Course presets provide general starting values. You can adjust the three speeds to match your race.

Climbing speed
km/h
Cruising speed
km/h
Maximum pedalling speed
km/h
Preferred cadence
rpm
Drivetrain
Brand / component family
Number of rear sprockets
Component system

Select the brand and component series you can use. If unsure, select Any to compare all listed component families.

Advanced cadence and wheel settingsCadence 85–95 rpm · climbing ≥70 rpm · pedalling up to 110 rpm · 700C × 28 mm · 250 W
Minimum acceptable cadenceAuto
rpm
Maximum acceptable cadenceAuto
rpm
Minimum climbing cadenceAuto
rpm
Maximum pedalling cadenceAuto
rpm
Rider power
W
Wheel
Tyre width

Calculated circumference — 2130 mm

Recommended setup53/39 + 11–25

Covers 3 of the 3 targets

Relative watt estimate

Climb

19 km/h

39×23

88 rpm

Within preferred cadence

Relative estimate: ~0.5 W more loss than 53×15, at 250 W

Cruise

38 km/h

53×16

90 rpm

Within preferred cadence

Relative estimate: approximately the same loss as 53×15, at 250 W

Maximum speed

55 km/h

53×11

89 rpm

Within preferred cadence

Relative estimate: ~1.5 W more loss than 53×15, at 250 W

Speed range for 53/39 + 11–25

Calculated range: 14.0–67.7 km/h, from the easiest and hardest gears at the selected cadence limits.

View result details

Why this result was selected

Other catalogue options

  • 52/36 + 11–32Recommended setupDifference: Climbing cadence is approximately 3 rpm higherTrade-off: See the target cards for exact cadence and chainline differences
  • 53/39 + 11–32Recommended setupDifference: Climbing cadence is approximately 8 rpm higherTrade-off: See the target cards for exact cadence and chainline differences
  • 52/36 + 11–25Recommended setupDifference: Chainrings 52/36 instead of 53/39Trade-off: See the target cards for exact cadence and chainline differences

Gear table

Cadence (rpm) at 38 km/h

Show
At this target
  • Suggested gear
  • Within cadence limits
  • Outside cadence limits
  • Large chainline angle
  • Extreme cross-chain

Scroll horizontally to see all gears.

Chainring1112131415161719212325
53
39

Relative gearing-loss estimate

Relative gearing-loss estimate for Cruise — 53×16

Relative estimate: approximately the same loss as 53×15, at 250 W

The ~W figure is a simplified comparative estimate. It compares the selected gear with the 53×15 reference gear at the same rider power and chain condition.

This simplified, relative estimate is based on CeramicSpeed’s published loss trends for cross-chaining and chainring size in a 2×11 drivetrain. Estimates for other setups are approximate adaptations of those data. It is not a laboratory measurement of the specific drivetrain or an estimate of total transmission loss.

Compatibility and assumptions

This combination is among recognised, commonly used gearing setups. Before buying new components, confirm compatibility with your mechanic.

How to use it

How to use it

Select Recommend a setup for a gearing recommendation or Check my setup to assess your existing gearing.

In Recommend a setup, select Course and set climbing speed, main race speed, the maximum speed at which you want to pedal and your preferred cadence. Then choose drivetrain, brand and component series.

In Check my setup, first enter the components on your bike, then your race targets.

Course presets use general starting values that you can adjust. Open Advanced cadence and wheel settings only if you want to change automatic cadence limits, wheel circumference or reference power for the relative watt estimate.

Limits

What you need to know

The calculator checks whether a set of gear ratios can cover the speeds and cadence limits you expect in your race.

It does not calculate required power or predict the speed you can sustain based on gradient, wind, aerodynamics, weight, fatigue or physiology.

The ~W figure is a relative, approximate estimate of losses associated with the selected gear’s geometry. It is not a measurement of total drivetrain loss.

Before buying components, confirm the full setup’s compatibility with your mechanic.

Related article

Read the related article

Performance & Physiology

Cycling gearing: how to choose chainrings, cassette and cadence for your race

Your gearing should cover climbing speed, main race speed and maximum pedalling speed at your preferred cadence. Learn how to use the Race Gearing Calculator and interpret relative losses from chainline, cross-chaining and sprocket size.

6 min read
  • cycling gearing
  • race gearing
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Next step

Explore 1:1 Coaching

The calculator shows whether the available gears cover the speeds and cadence limits you have set for your race.

Through 1:1 Coaching, we can adapt gearing, cadence and pacing to the course, your physiology and your race strategy.

Explore 1:1 Coaching
Method

Methodology & Sources

Speed calculation

Speed in each gear is calculated from wheel circumference, front chainring and rear sprocket tooth counts, and cadence.

Recommend a setup

Recommend a setup compares only the catalogue combinations included in the tool.

It first assesses how many of the three targets are covered within the selected cadence limits, excluding gears with extreme cross-chaining. If full coverage is unavailable, it favours the combination with the smallest relative deviation from the targets.

When results are equivalent, Course, chainline, cassette steps and the combination’s catalogue availability are taken into account.

Check my setup

Check my setup assesses the chainring and cassette tooth counts you enter.

For setups recognised in the tool’s catalogue, it may suggest the smallest single-component change that covers all three targets.

Custom setups are calculated only from cassette and chainring tooth counts; mechanical compatibility and availability are not verified.

Relative watt estimate

The ~W figure compares each selected gear with the 53×15 reference gear at the same rider power and chain condition.

It is a simplified, relative estimate based on CeramicSpeed’s published loss trends for cross-chaining and chainring size in a 2×11 drivetrain. Estimates for other setups are approximate adaptations of those data.

It is neither a laboratory measurement of the specific drivetrain nor an estimate of total transmission loss.

Catalogue and compatibility

Catalogue options and compatibility notes are based on the sources below. A combination’s inclusion does not guarantee local availability or full compatibility with every bike.

Before buying components, confirm the specific combination’s compatibility with your mechanic.

Last updated: 25 August 2026