Bike cadence and speed calculator
In this gear you ride at 33.8 km/h at the cadence you entered. To hold your target speed you would have to pedal at a cadence of 80 revolutions per minute. Each pedal turn moves the bike 6.26 m.
Result
Speed at your cadence
km/h
Cadence for the target speed, rpm
Development per pedal turn
m
Gear ratio
Wheel circumference used
mm
How it works
On a bike that is not coasting, speed is fixed by three things: the gear, the wheel and how fast you turn the pedals. Each pedal turn moves the bike a set distance, the development, so speed is that distance times your cadence. This bike speed calculator by gear works out both directions together: how fast you go at a cadence such as ninety rpm, and the cadence for a target speed. If the cadence it asks for is higher than you can hold, you need a bigger gear for that target speed; if it is very low, a smaller one. The bike speed at cadence chart on the method page lists a whole cassette.
Formula
development = wheel circumference × chainring teeth ÷ cog teeth. Speed = development × cadence: in km/h, development in meters × rpm × 60 ÷ 1000. Cadence for a speed = speed ÷ development. Wheel circumference = π × (rim bead seat diameter + 2 × tire width), or your measured roll-out.
Worked example
The calculator opens with this example; the result above is computed from it.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Chainring teeth | 50 |
| Cog teeth | 17 |
| Cadence, pedal turns per minute | 90 |
| Target speed | 30 km/h |
| Wheel size from | The size printed on the tire |
| Rim size | 622 = 700C, 29 inch |
| Tire width | 28 mm |
| Speed at your cadence | 33.8 km/h |
| Cadence for the target speed, rpm | 80 |
| Development per pedal turn | 6.26 m |
| Gear ratio | 2.94 |
| Wheel circumference used | 2,130 mm |
Common cases
| Case | Starting values | Speed at your cadence | Cadence for the target speed, rpm | Development per pedal turn | Gear ratio | Wheel circumference used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road bike on the flat | Chainring teeth 50; Cog teeth 17; Cadence, pedal turns per minute 90; Target speed 30 km/h; Tire width 28 mm | 33.8 km/h | 80 | 6.26 m | 2.94 | 2,130 mm |
| Road bike on a climb | Chainring teeth 34; Cog teeth 30; Cadence, pedal turns per minute 75; Target speed 12 km/h; Tire width 28 mm | 10.9 km/h | 83 | 2.41 m | 1.13 | 2,130 mm |
| Gravel bike cruising | Chainring teeth 40; Cog teeth 15; Cadence, pedal turns per minute 85; Target speed 28 km/h; Tire width 40 mm | 30.0 km/h | 79 | 5.88 m | 2.67 | 2,205 mm |
| Track bike in a sprint | Chainring teeth 49; Cog teeth 14; Cadence, pedal turns per minute 130; Target speed 60 km/h; Tire width 23 mm | 57.3 km/h | 136 | 7.35 m | 3.50 | 2,099 mm |
| Mountain bike on a trail | Chainring teeth 32; Cog teeth 18; Cadence, pedal turns per minute 80; Target speed 20 km/h; Tire width 57 mm | 19.7 km/h | 81 | 4.11 m | 1.78 | 2,312 mm |
Questions and answers
How fast is ninety rpm on a road bike?
It depends on the gear. With 50 teeth in front and 17 behind, on a tire 28 mm wide, the bike moves 6.26 m for each pedal turn, which makes 33.8 km/h at that cadence.
What cadence do I need to hold my speed on a climb?
In a climbing gear with 34 teeth in front and 30 behind, each pedal turn moves the bike 2.41 m. Holding 12 km/h takes a cadence of about 83 revolutions per minute.
How fast can a track bike go at a sprint cadence?
With 49 teeth in front and 14 behind, a track bike covers 7.35 m per pedal turn. Spinning at a sprint cadence that is 57.3 km/h.
Assumptions and limits
- The speed is exact for a wheel that does not slip and a rider who is pedaling, not coasting.
- A wheel worked out from the tire size can be a percent or two off the real one, and so can the speed. A measured roll-out removes that.
- The cadence for the target speed is not capped: a figure far above what you can pedal means the gear is too small for that speed.
- This is geometry only. Whether you have the strength to hold that cadence in that gear depends on wind, slope and you.
The result is an estimate for planning, not professional advice.
Sources
- calculate.co.nz: bike cadence and speed calculator (formula and worked example)retrieved 2026-10-13
- Wikipedia: Bicycle gearing (metres of development; wheel diameter from rim and tire)retrieved 2026-10-13
- Simple Decisionmaker: bike cadence and speed calculator (formula and benchmark table)retrieved 2026-10-13
- NIST SP 811 appendix B: mile per hour to meter per secondretrieved 2026-10-13
Last updated:
Method in depth: Bike speed from cadence, gear and wheel
Cite this page: Crank Math, “Bike cadence and speed calculator”, https://crank-math.pages.dev/gearing/bike-cadence-and-speed-calculator/ (updated 13 October 2026).
Found a mistake? Email handycalc.sites+crankmath@gmail.com.