Cycling Cadence Calculator

Enter your bike's rim size, tire size, chainring teeth, and cog teeth — then provide either your cadence (RPM) or speed to calculate the other. The Cycling Cadence Calculator works both ways: find your pedaling rate from speed, or your speed from cadence. A full cadence-to-speed table is generated so you can see how different RPM values affect your ride.

Disclaimer: This tool is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any health-related decisions.

mm

Inner rim diameter in mm. Common values: 622 mm (700C road), 559 mm (26 in MTB), 584 mm (650B).

mm

Tire width (also used as approximate tire radius addition). Typical road: 23–32 mm; MTB: 40–60 mm.

Number of teeth on your front chainring.

Number of teeth on your rear cog/sprocket.

Calculate *

km/h

Your cycling speed. Used when calculating cadence from speed.

RPM

Your pedaling rate in revolutions per minute. Used when calculating speed from cadence.

Results

Result

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Wheel Circumference

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Gear Ratio

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Speed (mph)

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Distance per Pedal Revolution

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Results Table

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is cycling cadence?

Cadence is the rate at which a cyclist pedals, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). It represents how many complete circles your pedals make each minute. Most recreational cyclists ride at 60–80 RPM, while experienced and competitive cyclists typically aim for 80–100 RPM or higher.

How is cadence calculated from speed and gear ratio?

The formula is: Cadence (RPM) = Speed / (π × wheel_diameter × gear_ratio), where wheel_diameter = rim_diameter + 2 × tire_width (in meters), gear_ratio = chainring_teeth / cog_teeth, and speed is converted to meters per minute. This tells you how fast you need to pedal to maintain a given speed in your chosen gear.

What is a good cycling cadence?

Most cycling coaches recommend a cadence of 80–100 RPM for efficient endurance riding. Lower cadences (60–70 RPM) put more strain on your muscles and joints, while higher cadences (90–110 RPM) are more cardiovascularly demanding but easier on your knees. Tour de France riders often average 90–110 RPM.

How do I measure my cadence without a sensor?

You can estimate cadence with just a watch: count the number of times your right foot reaches the bottom of the pedal stroke in 30 seconds, then multiply by 2. Alternatively, count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4, or count for 10 seconds and multiply by 6 for a quick snapshot during your ride.

What rim size should I enter for a 700C road bike?

For a standard 700C road bike, enter 622 mm as the rim diameter — this is the ISO/ETRTO standard for the most common road bike wheel size. For 26-inch mountain bike wheels use 559 mm, and for 27.5-inch (650B) wheels use 584 mm.

What is gear ratio and how does it affect cadence?

Gear ratio is calculated by dividing the number of chainring teeth (front) by the number of cog teeth (rear). A higher gear ratio means the wheel turns more times per pedal revolution, so for the same cadence you travel faster — but it requires more effort. Lower gear ratios make climbing easier but reduce top speed.

Can this calculator work in reverse — finding speed from cadence?

Yes. Select 'Speed from Cadence' mode and enter your pedaling rate (RPM) along with your bike parameters. The calculator will tell you the resulting speed in both km/h and mph. This is useful for indoor training on a turbo trainer or for planning your pacing strategy before a ride.

Why does tire width affect the calculation?

Tire width increases the effective rolling diameter of your wheel. A wider tire means a larger overall wheel diameter, which means more distance covered per pedal revolution. Even a few millimetres difference in tire width can slightly change the calculated cadence or speed, especially noticeable when switching between 23 mm and 32 mm road tires.