What does an 8 speed bike mean?
James Craig
Published Jan 07, 2026
In a Hub Gear system, the gears are enclosed within the bicycle's rear hub. When "3 Speed" or "8 Speed" is mentioned in relation to a hub gear, it means that the hub has 3 (or 8) distinct gear ratios.
Is 8 gears enough on a bike?
Means no I don't believe 8 gears is enough once he gets up to speed and fitness. 50-11 at a top gear is plenty for 95% of riders. For high speeds the number of gears is irrelevant.
What does number of speeds mean on a bike?
You can think of gears as the same thing as speeds – a bike with 18 gears is an 18-speed bike. Bikes generally have 1, 3, 18, 21, 24, or 27 speeds. (10- and 15-speeds are obsolete and you don't see them on new bikes anymore.) Lower numbers are the low gears, and higher numbers are the high gears.
How many speeds is good on a bike?
In terms of how the number of gears affects the overall ride of the bike, a 21-speed is generally faster with smoother transitions and pedaling. The 7-speed is adequate for most riders, which is why many people choose the slower option.
What does a 10 speed bike mean?
Road bicycle—10-speed is a 1970s American term describing road racing bicycles (using a derailleur) with 10 total gearing combinations, or speeds.
39 related questions foundWhat are 7 speed bikes good for?
A 7-speed bike is a great bike for a person who rides on tricky terrain. It's main purpose is to let the bike adapt to rough conditions and accommodate inclines, bumps and other difficulties. On a 7-speed bike, the lower gears make it easier to pedal and the higher gears allow for better movement going downhill.
How many speeds should a road bike have?
A road bike will have either a triple, double or compact crankset. This refers to the number and size of chainrings (located by the pedals). A triple crankset has 3 chainrings; it is often paired with a 9-speed cassette on the rear wheel to give it a total of 27 gears.
What is an average cycling speed for a beginner?
To give you an idea of distances and speed, the average cycling speed for a beginner is about 12mph. This means that in your first week, you'll be covering distances of up to 2 miles. After eight weeks, the 10-mile ride shouldn't feel daunting at all.
What is a good average speed for a beginner cyclist?
Average Cycling Speed For Beginners
– A Beginner doing short-distance rides should expect to average around 12mph. This is based on how most beginners can average 10-12mph of limited training. – Riders with at least 6 months of riding behind them can expect to average between 15-16mph when riding between 20-30 miles.
Is 20 mph on a bike fast?
More experienced, short-medium distance (say 20-30 miles): average 15-16 mph. Reasonable experience, medium (say 40 miles): average around 16-19 mph. Quite competent club rider, some regular training likely, medium-long distances (say 50-60 miles): 20-24 mph.
What gear should I bike in on flat road?
For riding on flat roads, it is recommended to use the middle gear. It is a common choice among bikers as it helps you reduce pressure from your feet onto the pedals.
What gear should I use on a flat road?
High Gear. This one is great for descending, accelerating, or for use when you want to go nice and fast on a flat road. In a high gear, you travel a long way for each turn of the pedal.
Is my bike 10 or 11 speed?
Multiply the front gear number by the rear gear number to get the number of speeds. For example, if you have two front gears and five back gears, you have a 10-speed bike. If you have one front gear and three back gears, you have a 3-speed bike.
Can I put a 10-speed cassette on an 8 speed hub?
Condensed Answer: Shimano and SRAM 10-speed cassettes can be installed on 8-speed hubs because 8,9 and 10-speed cassettes have similar widths. However, a Campagnolo 10-speed cassette won't fit on an original 8-speed hub due to incompatible spline designs.
Can I change my 8 speed to a 10-speed?
Therefore, it is possible to convert an 8-speed wheel to a 10-speed wheel by adjusting the height with a commercially available Shimano 1.0mm low spacer on the low side.
Can I use an 8 speed derailleur on a 7 speed cassette?
8 speed shifter and cassette, 7 speed derailleur? You'll be fine. There's no "probably" about it. 6-, 7- and 8-speed gear is all cross-compatible in terms of chain width.
Does biking burn belly fat?
Yes, cycling can help lose belly fat, but it will take time. A recent study showed regular cycling may enhance overall fat loss and promote a healthy weight. To reduce overall belly girth, moderate-intensity aerobic exercises, such as cycling (either indoor or outdoor), are effective to lower belly fat.
Is cycling better than running?
The number of calories you burn in either exercise depends on the intensity and length of time you do it. In general, running burns more calories than cycling because it uses more muscles. However, cycling is gentler on the body, and you may be able to do it longer or faster than you can run.
What is a good distance to cycle daily?
Recommended Minimum Daily Allowance - 15 km
At a moderate rate of exertion, 30 minutes of cycling at a rate conducive to maintaining health equates to covering about 15 km at an average speed of about 30 km/h. 15 km per day equates to about 100 km per week or about 5500 km a year.
How much faster will I cycle if I lose weight?
If I lose 5 pounds, how much faster will I get? That depends on a number of variables, including terrain. “On the flats, simply losing five pounds won't have a huge impact, as you're looking at a time savings of roughly 10 to 15 seconds [for an hour-long ride],” says Menachem Brodie, a Pittsburgh–based cycling coach.
Is cycling good for over 60s?
Bike riding is a great option for seniors for so many reasons. First, it's low-impact so it's easier on our joints than many other sports, e.g., running. Cycling is an excellent cardiovascular exercise as it gets our heart rates pumping and burns those calories, thus improving our overall fitness level.
How many miles can you ride on a bike in an hour?
How far can you cycle in 1 hour? The average person can cycle between 15 and 20 miles in 1 hour, and they can expect to burn 660 calories per hour. The distance cover can increase or reduce depending on the type of bike, terrain, weather and intensity of the rider.
How do you ride a 7 speed bike?
In order to use a standard Shimano 7-speed shifter to change gear, you'll need to press the main shifter with your finger while riding forwards, every time you'd like to change into a lower gear. You should press the other shifter (which tends to be a little smaller) with your finger to change into a higher gear.
How do you shift a 7 speed bike?
Ride the bike around slowly to get a feel for the pedal tension. Move the shift either one number up or down while you pedal forward. Listen for the derailleur to activate. Seven-speed bikes have just one derailleur on the rear wheel.
Do they still make 10 speed bikes?
The 10-speed bike has become nearly obsolete in professional racing as more technologically advanced bicycles today feature up to 27 speeds, with three chain rings in the front and nine sprockets in the back. Plenty of 10-speed bikes can still be seen on the road and are used for recreational purposes.