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How fast is your e-bike really? The influence of cadence & gear ratio

You know the feeling: you pedal like crazy – but the e-bike barely moves. Or the exact opposite: the lowest gear is still so hard that the motor almost gives out on a hill.

By Vincent Augustin 3 minutes read time

Wie schnell ist dein E-Bike wirklich? Der Einfluss von Trittfrequenz & Übersetzung
About the author Vincent Augustin

Vincent founded MYVELO together with Fabian. The two share a long-standing passion for cycling. Together they have cycled thousands of kilometers and fought for victories in the German racing bike league. The idea of founding MYVELO arose from their many years of experience and knowledge of what makes a good bike. Find out more about MYVELO now

Published: April 16, 2026

👉 Goal of this article: To understand how speed is derived from cadence and gear ratio – and how to optimally adjust your e-bike accordingly.

Why “many gears” alone means nothing

Monza Carbon Elektro-Klapprad - myvelo.de

The problem is rarely the number of gears. Two things are much more crucial:

  • the gear range

  • and the so-called gear development

Because only when both suit your riding style will you achieve a comfortable speed at your personal feel-good cadence.

The MYVELO Gear & Speed Calculator

 

Try it yourself now

 

👉 Try it now: Change the cadence and observe how your speed changes in the smallest and largest gear.

  • What happens at 60 vs. 80 RPM?

  • How much does your climbing gear differ from your fastest gear?

  • Where is your personal sweet spot?

💡 Tip: Deliberately play with extreme values – that's where you quickly see if a gear system is truly suitable for everyday use.

Key terms briefly explained (without formulas)

Gear development

The gear development describes how many meters your e-bike travels with a single pedal revolution.

👉 High gear development = long distance per pedal stroke (fast, but hard)
👉 Low gear development = short distance per pedal stroke (slow, but easy)

Cadence (RPM)

Cadence indicates how many times you turn the crank per minute.

  • Typical range: 60–90 RPM

  • Optimal for many e-bikes: 75–85 RPM

👉 In this range, most motors work particularly efficiently.

Gear ratio

The interplay between:

  • chainring at the front

  • sprocket at the back

👉 Large rear sprocket = easy gear
👉 Small rear sprocket = fast gear

The “Range” – The Heart of High-Quality E-Bikes

The real difference between inexpensive and high-quality e-bikes lies in the gear range.

The comparison:

  • Simple shifting system: small range
    → climbing gears often too hard
    → fast gears "spin out"

  • Modern 12-speed shifting system (e.g., 510%)
    → huge gear ratio range
    → perfect for steep climbs and high speeds

Why this is crucial

A wide range means:

✅ Low end: Extremely easy gears – ideal for steep climbs (10–15% and more)

✅ High end: You can still pedal effectively at 25 km/h → no "hamster wheel effect"

👉 You can immediately see if the smallest gear is truly suitable for climbing – and if the largest gear is still usable.

Why cadence saves your battery

E-Bike Kadenz

Many underestimate how strongly cadence influences energy consumption.

The background:

E-bike motors function similarly to car engines:

  • Too low RPM → inefficient

  • Optimal RPM → maximum power with minimum consumption

The result in practice:

Riders who pedal at 80 RPM instead of 50 RPM:

Practical tip

👉 Use the calculator specifically:

  • Set your cadence to 80 RPM

  • Look at the speed in the smallest gear

➡️ This is your realistic comfortable pace for steep climbs

Checklist: What to look for when buying

Intended use

  • Commuters (flat):
    → smaller gear range sufficient

  • Touring / Off-road / Mountains:
    → wide gear range mandatory

Number of teeth on the cassette

A quick look at the cassette reveals a lot:

  • Large sprockets (e.g., 51 teeth)
    → perfect for steep climbs

  • Small sprockets
    → important for high top speed

👉 Modern e-bikes rely on "giant sprockets" here – and for good reason.

Conclusion: Your bike, your rhythm

The gear system is more than just "nice to have" – it is the link between your power, the motor, and the road.

  • The right gear range determines comfort and area of use

  • The appropriate cadence determines efficiency and range

  • The optimal gear ratio determines riding fun

👉 The crucial point: It's not the bike that dictates your pace – but the combination of you, your cadence, and the gear ratio.

Choose your MYVELO so that the gear ratio suits your routes – then your e-bike will not only ride faster, but also smarter.

Measure your inseam: How to determine the perfect frame size

Getriebe- & Speed-Rechner

Find out how fast you really go at each cadence.

(60 = leisurely, 80 = sporty, 100 = pro)

Low gear (e.g. 51 teeth)
6.5 km/h
Perfect for steep inclines
High gear (e.g. 11 teeth)
38.2 km/h
For speed on flat terrain

Select your tooth counts to see the gear development.

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