Bike Speed Calculator
Calculate bike speed from cadence, gearing and wheel size.
About Bike Speed Calculator
Speed is the product of cadence and development, where development is the gear ratio multiplied by wheel circumference. Gear inches expresses the same thing as the wheel diameter a penny-farthing would need. Riders have a narrow optimal cadence range, so gearing rather than leg speed is what sets achievable speed on any gradient.
Formula
Bike Speed
Speed = gear ratio × wheel circumference × cadence, converted to km/h
- development
- Distance travelled per pedal revolution
- gear inches
- Equivalent direct-drive wheel diameter, a traditional comparison unit
Worked example
With the default values below, Bike Speed Calculator returns Speed of 42.220. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Cadenceaccepts 1–200 rpm
- 90 rpm
- Chainring teethaccepts 20–70
- 52
- Sprocket teethaccepts 8–52
- 14
- Wheel circumferenceaccepts 500–3,000 mm
- 2,105 mm
Results
- Speed
- 42.220 km/h
- Gear Ratio
- 3.7143
- Development per Pedal Revolution
- 7.8186 m
- Speed
- 26.235 mph
- Gear Inches
- 97.98 in
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Bike Speed
- 3Speed= 42.220 km/h
- 4Gear Ratio= 3.7143
- 5Development per Pedal Revolution= 7.8186 m
- 6Speed= 26.235 mph
- 7Gear Inches= 97.98 in
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
- These figures are estimates based on population-average formulas and are intended for training and recreational planning only. They are not medical advice. Consult a qualified health professional before starting or changing an exercise programme, particularly if you have an existing medical condition.
- This is an estimate for general information and not professional medical advice. See the full disclaimer for the limits that apply to this kind of calculator.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
These figures are estimates based on population-average formulas and are intended for training and recreational planning only. They are not medical advice. Consult a qualified health professional before starting or changing an exercise programme, particularly if you have an existing medical condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Bike Speed calculated?
Speed = gear ratio × wheel circumference × cadence, converted to km/h Speed is the product of cadence and development, where development is the gear ratio multiplied by wheel circumference. Gear inches expresses the same thing as the wheel diameter a penny-farthing would need.
Why does Bike Speed matter?
Riders have a narrow optimal cadence range, so gearing rather than leg speed is what sets achievable speed on any gradient.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 4 inputs: Cadence, Chainring teeth, Sprocket teeth, Wheel circumference. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.