Youth Gear Calculator
Youth gear restrictions can be tricky for riders and parents, we hope this will make it easier.
For BC categories, a good rule of thumb is roughly 50T with 17T (Youth C), 16T (Youth B), or 15T (Youth A), based upon a 32mm tyre. British Cycling removed rollout limits for the youngest riders to make the sport more accessible. Yet it is still smart to avoid using very big gears!
Always measure rollout directly!
Whenever you can, choose a suitable cassette that matches your chainring rather than locking out sprockets. Miche, XLC, and Recon have products that cover everything from tight 11-23 cassettes to wider 18-34 ranges. Rules vary abroad. In Belgium commissaires do not allow locking gears but do tolerate griding the teeth off unused teeth, we wouldn’t recommend that though!
Gear Matrix Table
Our interactive gear matrix tool is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about gearing. Based on your tyre size, chosen chainring range and any gear restrictions, the tool dynamically generates a colourful table that displays a spectrum of gear rollouts.
Similar gear combinations are shown in similar hues, and you can select whether to view rollout distance, gear inches or drive ratio. Hover over any cell to see all the detailed values, ensuring you know which combinations fall within the recommended limits. .
Rollout Limits (1/3/25)
Youth A: max 7.18 m
Youth B: max 6.73 m
Youth C: max 6.34 m
Youth D/E: unrestricteD
U9/U10/U11: max 5.52 m
U12/U13: max 5.76 m
U14/U15: max 6.48 m
U17+: unrestricted