OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
Cycling Speed Calculator
Average Speed, Ride Time and Speed from Cadence and Gears
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How the Cycling Speed Calculator works
This cycling speed calculator works out your average speed in km/h and mph from the distance and riding time of a ride. It can also give your road speed from cadence and gearing, with the gear ratio, gear inches and how far one pedal turn takes you.
How the cycling speed calculator works
Average speed uses the formula speed = distance ÷ time, with moving time rather than total time if you stopped. For gearing, one turn of the pedals turns the wheel chainring ÷ sprocket times, so the bike moves ratio × wheel circumference per turn. Multiply by cadence and 60 for metres per hour.
First example. 40 km in 1:30:00 is 40 ÷ 1.5 = 26.7 km/h, or 16.6 mph, which is 2:15 per km.
Second example. A 50 tooth chainring on a 15 tooth sprocket is a ratio of 3.33. With a 2,105 mm road wheel that is 7.02 m per pedal turn, so 90 rpm gives 90 × 7.02 × 60 = 37.9 km/h.
How many km/h does a beginner average? Around 15 to 20 km/h on flat roads, while regular club riders average 25 to 30 km/h. Hills, wind and traffic lights all pull the average down.
Wheel circumference is printed in most bike computer manuals. Common values are 2,096 mm for 700x23c, 2,105 mm for 700x25c, 2,136 mm for 700x28c and 2,326 mm for a 29 x 2.2 mountain bike tyre.
Riding times at average speeds from 12 to 36 km/h
| Speed | In mph | Per km | Per mile | 50 km | 100 km | 100 miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 km/h | 7.5 mph | 5:00 | 8:03 | 4:10:00 | 8:20:00 | 13:24:40 |
| 13 km/h | 8.1 mph | 4:37 | 7:26 | 3:50:46 | 7:41:32 | 12:22:46 |
| 14 km/h | 8.7 mph | 4:17 | 6:54 | 3:34:17 | 7:08:34 | 11:29:43 |
| 15 km/h | 9.3 mph | 4:00 | 6:26 | 3:20:00 | 6:40:00 | 10:43:44 |
| 16 km/h | 9.9 mph | 3:45 | 6:02 | 3:07:30 | 6:15:00 | 10:03:30 |
| 17 km/h | 10.6 mph | 3:32 | 5:41 | 2:56:28 | 5:52:56 | 9:28:00 |
| 18 km/h | 11.2 mph | 3:20 | 5:22 | 2:46:40 | 5:33:20 | 8:56:27 |
| 19 km/h | 11.8 mph | 3:09 | 5:05 | 2:37:54 | 5:15:47 | 8:28:13 |
| 20 km/h | 12.4 mph | 3:00 | 4:50 | 2:30:00 | 5:00:00 | 8:02:48 |
| 21 km/h | 13.0 mph | 2:51 | 4:36 | 2:22:51 | 4:45:43 | 7:39:49 |
| 22 km/h | 13.7 mph | 2:44 | 4:23 | 2:16:22 | 4:32:44 | 7:18:55 |
| 23 km/h | 14.3 mph | 2:37 | 4:12 | 2:10:26 | 4:20:52 | 6:59:50 |
| 24 km/h | 14.9 mph | 2:30 | 4:01 | 2:05:00 | 4:10:00 | 6:42:20 |
| 25 km/h | 15.5 mph | 2:24 | 3:52 | 2:00:00 | 4:00:00 | 6:26:15 |
| 26 km/h | 16.2 mph | 2:18 | 3:43 | 1:55:23 | 3:50:46 | 6:11:23 |
| 27 km/h | 16.8 mph | 2:13 | 3:35 | 1:51:07 | 3:42:13 | 5:57:38 |
| 28 km/h | 17.4 mph | 2:09 | 3:27 | 1:47:09 | 3:34:17 | 5:44:52 |
| 29 km/h | 18.0 mph | 2:04 | 3:20 | 1:43:27 | 3:26:54 | 5:32:58 |
| 30 km/h | 18.6 mph | 2:00 | 3:13 | 1:40:00 | 3:20:00 | 5:21:52 |
| 31 km/h | 19.3 mph | 1:56 | 3:07 | 1:36:46 | 3:13:33 | 5:11:29 |
| 32 km/h | 19.9 mph | 1:53 | 3:01 | 1:33:45 | 3:07:30 | 5:01:45 |
| 33 km/h | 20.5 mph | 1:49 | 2:56 | 1:30:55 | 3:01:49 | 4:52:36 |
| 34 km/h | 21.1 mph | 1:46 | 2:50 | 1:28:14 | 2:56:28 | 4:44:00 |
| 35 km/h | 21.7 mph | 1:43 | 2:46 | 1:25:43 | 2:51:26 | 4:35:53 |
| 36 km/h | 22.4 mph | 1:40 | 2:41 | 1:23:20 | 2:46:40 | 4:28:13 |
FAQ
What is a good average cycling speed?
On a road bike over mixed terrain, 20 to 25 km/h (12 to 16 mph) is typical for fit recreational riders and 30 km/h or more is fast. Commuters on upright bikes average 15 to 20 km/h including stops.
How long does it take to cycle 100 km?
At 25 km/h it takes 4 hours of riding, and at 20 km/h it takes 5 hours. Add breaks for food and water; a sportive with a few stops usually takes an hour longer than the moving time.
What cadence should I ride at?
Most road riders settle between 80 and 95 rpm. Lower cadences push harder on the muscles and knees, higher ones lean on the heart and lungs. Shift gears to keep cadence steady rather than grinding.
What are gear inches?
Gear inches are the diameter of a penny-farthing wheel that would travel the same distance per pedal turn: ratio times wheel diameter in inches. 50 x 15 on a road wheel is about 88 gear inches; under 40 is a climbing gear and over 100 is for sprinting.
Why does my bike computer show a different speed?
It measures wheel turns times the circumference you entered. If the circumference is wrong by 2%, every speed and distance is wrong by 2%. GPS speed can also lag or jump under trees and between buildings.
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