Gear Ratios Explained For Triathlon | Choosing The Right Cassette, Chainrings & Shifters

The gearing you have on your bike is such an important factor when it comes to improving your performance and your enjoyment, yet it’s possibly one of the most commonly forgotten things. So, let’s take a look at the gearing you should choose for a triathlon?

Subscribe to GTN: http://gtn.io/SubscribetoGTN
Check out the GTN Shop: http://gtn.io/6L

In association with Shimano.

Gears really do have a huge impact on our riding. Gears that are too low, or too easy, may leave you spinning out, wishing you had a couple of harder gears. Whilst, gears that are too high, may bring you to a grinding halt on a steep climb.

Firstly you have the chainset. Simply put the lower the number of teeth on the chainrings the easier the gear. So, there are a few common options with these. There is the standard, with a 53t outer ring, and a 39t inner ring. You also have the semi-compact, that has slightly easier gears, with a 52t outer ring, and a 36t inner ring. Then you have the compact, that is even easier again, with a 50t outer ring, and 34t inner ring.

The other area you can customise your gear ratios is with your cassette. It sort of allows you to fine tune and optimise your gear selection and you’re not short of options either. Shimano cassettes come in a number of ratios including 11-25T, 11-28T, 11-30T, 11-32T, 12-25T, 14-28T! Whereas a larger number on the chainset means harder gears, on the cassette a larger number actually means easier gears. So, for example, I have quite a nice range on my bike as it goes from 11 teeth on the smallest sprocket, up to 30 teeth on the largest. So, it’s very well suited to a hilly terrain because I have a range up to 30 teeth.

There are so many options when it comes to gear ratios but we hope this video helped you to understand what is available. If you found it useful, don't forget to give it a thumbs up and share with your triathlon and cycling friends 👍

If you'd like to contribute captions and video info in your language, here's the link 👍 http://gtn.io/6M

Watch more on GTN...
📹 How To Bike Like A Pro - http://gtn.io/BikePro
📹 What Is The Optimal Cadence To Run Fast Off The Bike? - http://gtn.io/OptimalCadence

The Global Triathlon Network (GTN) is the best triathlon YouTube channel, with videos for anyone who loves triathlon: from seasoned Ironman racers to first timers – and everyone in between.

With the help of our pro and Olympic medal winning team, we’re here to inform, entertain and inspire you to become a better triathlete; including videos on:

How to swim, bike, and run faster with expert knowledge
Beat your PB with record-breaking expertise
Get the best from your bike and gear with pro know-how
In-depth, entertaining features from the heart of the sport
Chat, opinion and interact with us across the channel and on social media every week

Join us on YouTube’s best triathlon channel to get closer to the sport and to become a better, faster and fitter triathlete.

Welcome to the Global Triathlon Network.

Thanks to our sponsors:
Cervelo bikes: http://gtn.io/cervelo
BMC Switzerland: http://gtn.io/bmc-bikes
ON Running: http://gtn.io/On-Running
Assos of Switzerland clothing: http://gtn.io/Assos
KASK helmets: http://gtn.io/kask
Park Tool: http://gtn.io/parktool
Profile Design: http://gtn.io/profiledesign
Zipp wheels: http://gtn.io/zipp
ENVE wheels: http://gtn.io/ENVE-wheels
Quarq powermeters: http://gtn.io/quarq
Polar: http://gtn.io/polar
Vision wheels: http://gtn.io/vision
Continental: http://gtn.io/continental
Team Bath: http://gtn.io/TeamBath

YouTube Channel - http://gtn.io/YouTube
Facebook - http://gtn.io/Facebook
Instagram - http://gtn.io/Instagram
Twitter - http://gtn.io/Twitter
Google+ - http://gtn.io/GooglePlus
Strava Club - http://gtn.io/stravaclub
GMBN Tech - http://gmbn.tech/subscribe
GCN Tech - http://gcntech.co/subscribe
EMBN - http://embn.me/subscribe