So it turns out I've been using the wrong terminology for gear ratios half the time.
I say gearing up for higher speed/low torque and gearing down for lower speed/higher torque, but then I say "high gear ratio" for lower speed/higher torque. So you "gear down" to get a "high gear ratio". I never noticed how inconsistent that was until now.
I should just look at the math:
Gear Ratio = Output/Input
THen it's dead obvious which is gearing up and higher, and gearing down and lower.
I say gearing up for higher speed/low torque and gearing down for lower speed/higher torque, but then I say "high gear ratio" for lower speed/higher torque. So you "gear down" to get a "high gear ratio". I never noticed how inconsistent that was until now.
I should just look at the math:
Gear Ratio = Output/Input
THen it's dead obvious which is gearing up and higher, and gearing down and lower.