What is the linear speed of the bicycle chain?

S

Sal M

New member
Large chain ring = 53 teeth, small chain ring = 30 teeth, small cog = 12 teeth, large cog = 28 teeth. Wheel diameter = 700 mm. A fit cyclist can turn the crank at angular speed of 30 - 130 RPM.

To go fast, a cyclist will shift to the large chain ring and the small cog and pedal at maximum RPM, under these conditions what is the linear speed of the chain?
 
The linear speed of the chain never changes unless the cyclist varies his RPM. If he pedals at 30 RPM his linear speed of the chain will be 30 times the circumference of the front ring. If he pedals at 130 RPM, it will be 130 times the circumference of the front sprocket

The gearing and wheel size makes absolutely no difference to the linear speed of the chain. It is totally based on how many revolutions the front sprocket goes because the chain goes around the outside edge of the front sprocket at whatever speed that front sprocket is turning. You could have wheels 10 meters in diameter or a back sprocket of 5 meters, it doesn't change the linear speed of the chain.

It greatly affects the speed of the bike itself, but not the chain
 
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