How exactly do the different gears on a bike change how easy it is to pedal? And why is it that despite being at the appropriate gear, it is still harder to climb uphill despite the same pedals per minute?

Question

How exactly do the different gears on a bike change how easy it is to pedal? And why is it that despite being at the appropriate gear, it is still harder to climb uphill despite the same pedals per minute?

In: Physics

Answer 1

It’s essentially the same concept as a lever: you can perform the same work with a lot of force over a small distance, or a smaller force over a longer distance. (Ignoring the fact that it’s often easier to maintain a higher power output with a moderately fast cadence)

However, the total amount of work needed to climb a hill doesn’t change.