Bike Cadence Calculator

Find your pedaling cadence in RPM from your riding speed, gearing (chainring and cog teeth), and wheel circumference.

Quick Facts

Formula
Cadence = speed ÷ (gear ratio × wheel circumference)
Gear ratio = chainring teeth ÷ cog teeth. A 700×25c tire rolls ≈ 2105 mm per turn.

Your Results

Calculated
Cadence
-
Pedal revolutions per minute
Gear ratio
-
Chainring ÷ cog
Development
-
Distance per pedal stroke
Zone
-
Typical cadence band

Ready

Enter your speed, gearing, and wheel size, then calculate.

About the Bike Cadence Calculator

Cadence is how fast you turn the pedals, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). This calculator works out the cadence that corresponds to a given riding speed in a specific gear. If you know your speed, your gearing (the number of teeth on the front chainring and the rear cog), and your wheel's rolling circumference, the cadence is fixed by geometry — there is one exact answer.

The formula

The chain links the pedals to the rear wheel through the gear ratio, so:

Cadence (RPM) = Speed ÷ (Gear ratio × Wheel circumference)

where Gear ratio = Chainring teeth ÷ Cog teeth. The key is to use consistent units. Convert speed into distance per minute and the wheel circumference into the same distance unit. Working in metres: cadence = (speed in km/h × 1000 ÷ 60) ÷ (gear ratio × circumference in metres). One full pedal turn advances the rear wheel by the gear ratio number of wheel revolutions, and each wheel revolution rolls forward one circumference, so cadence × gear ratio × circumference reproduces your road speed.

Why cadence matters

For the same speed, a higher cadence in an easier gear means less force on each pedal stroke and more reliance on your cardiovascular system; a lower cadence in a harder gear loads the leg muscles more. Most endurance cyclists find a self-selected cadence of roughly 85–95 RPM efficient on flat ground, which is why coaches often recommend "spinning" rather than grinding a big gear. This calculator lets you check what cadence a chosen gear produces at your target speed before you ride.

Common reference points

  • Wheel circumference: a 700×25c road tire rolls about 2105 mm per revolution; 700×23c ≈ 2096 mm; 700×28c ≈ 2136 mm; a 26-inch MTB tire ≈ 2050–2100 mm. Measure your own by marking the tire and rolling one full turn for best accuracy.
  • Typical cadences: climbing 60–80 RPM, endurance riding 85–95 RPM, fast flats and pros 90–100 RPM, track sprints often 110+ RPM.
  • Development: the distance travelled per pedal stroke (gear ratio × circumference). A 50/17 gear on a 2105 mm wheel rolls about 6.19 m per crank revolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good cycling cadence?
There is no single right number. Most road cyclists are comfortable and efficient at 80–100 RPM on the flats, and many professionals hold 90–100 RPM. On climbs, cadence naturally drops to 60–80 RPM, while track and sprint efforts can exceed 110 RPM. Your most efficient cadence is individual — use this tool to see which gear puts you in your preferred band at your target speed.
How do I find my wheel circumference?
The most accurate way is to roll the bike: chalk-mark the tire and the floor at the valve, roll the wheel forward one full revolution with your weight on the bike, mark the floor again, and measure the distance. Otherwise use a standard value — a 700×25c road tire is about 2105 mm. Tire width and pressure change the rolling circumference by a few millimetres, which slightly shifts the calculated cadence.
Does cadence depend on the gear I use?
Yes. At a fixed speed, shifting to a harder gear (bigger chainring or smaller cog) lowers your cadence, and shifting to an easier gear raises it. That is exactly what the gear ratio term captures: a 50/12 gear needs far fewer pedal turns to hold 40 km/h than a 34/25 gear does.

Related calculators