# What is the correct terminology for bike speeds?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-terminology-for-bike-speeds/249262>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 8, 2004, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-terminology-for-bike-speeds/249262 "2004-06-08T12:01:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-terminology-for-bike-speeds/249262/21 "2004-06-09T21:22:28Z")

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Yeah, the “ordinary” bikes are pretty scary. I had a chance to try to ride a 48" bike and I comletely failed. The biggest danger, as I understand it, is the “header,” i.e. being thrown over the handlebar and onto your head. Ordinary bikes have very skewed (front heavy) weight distribution so it doesn’t take much to tip it forward.

By the way I question **casdave** ’s claim that the invention of the chain and sprocket made the safety bike possible. IMO the invention of the pneumatic tire was a more significant factor. With solid rubber tires you need big wheels to reduce rolling resistance and to make the ride smoother.

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**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-correct-terminology-for-bike-speeds/249262/22 "2004-06-09T21:42:39Z")

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> [@Endemic](#):
>
> What I want to know is how does one describe the gear they are in?

I always describe it as “big ring, second gear” or “little ring, sixth gear” and so on.

There’s so much overlap that “19th gear”, “15th gear”, etc. seems meaningless.

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