👉 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
The problem is rarely the number of gears. Two things are much more crucial:
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.
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What happens at 60 vs. 80 RPM?
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How much does your climbing gear differ from your fastest gear?
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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.
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.
👉 In this range, most motors work particularly efficiently.
Gear ratio
The interplay between:
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chainring at the front
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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:
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Simple shifting system: small range
→ climbing gears often too hard
→ fast gears "spin out"
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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
Many underestimate how strongly cadence influences energy consumption.
The background:
E-bike motors function similarly to car engines:
The result in practice:
Riders who pedal at 80 RPM instead of 50 RPM:
Practical tip
👉 Use the calculator specifically:
➡️ This is your realistic comfortable pace for steep climbs
Checklist: What to look for when buying
Intended use
Number of teeth on the cassette
A quick look at the cassette reveals a lot:
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Large sprockets (e.g., 51 teeth)
→ perfect for steep climbs
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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.
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The right gear range determines comfort and area of use
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The appropriate cadence determines efficiency and range
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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.
