If you asked us what one of the biggest improvements in modern bicycles has been over the past two decades, it probably wouldn’t be lighter frames, aerodynamic tubing or even electronic shifting.
It would be gearing.
There was a time when a performance road bike almost always came equipped with a 53/39T crankset paired to an 11-23T cassette. It was the setup of choice for racing, but for many everyday riders it meant steep climbs were often tackled by grinding at low cadence—or simply getting off and walking.
Fast forward to today and things have changed dramatically.
Modern drivetrains offer wider gear ranges than ever before, making bikes noticeably easier to ride across a huge variety of terrain. Whether you’re climbing a long alpine pass, rolling through undulating countryside or heading off onto gravel roads, today’s gearing allows you to maintain a comfortable cadence and keep riding efficiently instead of fighting the bike.
More Gears Doesn’t Mean More Complexity
For years, performance bikes chased ever-smaller gaps between gears, giving riders plenty of options on fast roads but often sacrificing climbing ability.
Today’s drivetrains have taken a different approach.
Modern 12-speed systems offer an incredibly wide gear range while maintaining smooth shifts between gears. Combined with larger cassette options—often extending to 34, 36, 44, 50 or even 52 teeth—riders have access to lower climbing gears than ever before without giving up the ability to ride quickly on flat roads.
The result is a bike that feels equally capable on rolling country roads, steep climbs and fast descents.
Climbing Doesn’t Have to Hurt
Every cyclist has experienced that moment when the road suddenly pitches upwards.
Having a lower gear doesn’t make the hill disappear, but it allows you to maintain a comfortable cadence instead of grinding at low rpm. Your legs fatigue less quickly, your heart rate stays more controlled and longer climbs become far more manageable.
It’s one of the biggest reasons modern road bikes are becoming easier to ride, even as they’re becoming faster.
Better Gearing Gives You More Confidence
Wide-range gearing isn’t only about climbing.
On mixed terrain, constantly changing gradients can make it difficult to find a comfortable rhythm. Modern drivetrains provide enough gear options that you’re almost always able to find the right ratio, whether you’re spinning comfortably on a gentle incline or accelerating out of a corner.
Instead of riding around the limitations of your bike, you can focus on the ride itself.
Gravel Bikes Led the Way
Gravel cycling helped accelerate the move towards wider gear ranges.
Loose surfaces, unpredictable gradients and long adventures demanded gearing that could cope with almost anything. Manufacturers responded with drivetrains that paired generous climbing gears with enough top-end speed for sealed roads.
Those same ideas have now found their way onto road bikes, making them more versatile than ever before.
For many riders, a compact crankset paired with a wide-range cassette offers the best of both worlds—comfortable climbing without sacrificing speed when the road opens up.
Mountain Bikes Keep Raising the Bar
Perhaps nowhere is the benefit more obvious than on modern mountain bikes.
Single-chainring drivetrains paired with 10-52T cassettes have simplified shifting while dramatically increasing climbing capability. Riders can tackle technical ascents that would have been almost impossible a decade ago, all while enjoying quieter, more reliable drivetrains with fewer moving parts.
Less thinking about gear changes means more focus on choosing the right line.
The Right Gearing Makes Every Ride Better
One of the biggest misconceptions in cycling is that stronger riders don’t need easier gears.
In reality, even professional cyclists now use larger cassette options than they did just a few years ago. Lower gears aren’t a sign of weakness—they’re a tool that helps riders maintain efficiency, conserve energy and enjoy longer days on the bike.
Whether you’re chasing personal bests, riding with friends or simply exploring somewhere new, having the right gearing means you’re more likely to finish every ride feeling stronger.
Modern drivetrains haven’t just added more gears—they’ve expanded where your bike can take you. Steeper climbs become achievable, longer adventures become less intimidating, and varied terrain becomes something to look forward to rather than avoid.
Sometimes, the biggest improvement to a modern bicycle isn’t immediately obvious. It’s the freedom that comes from always having the right gear when the road points up, down or anywhere in between.
