Question 1

What is the ideal cycling cadence for most riders?

Accepted Answer

Most recreational cyclists ride comfortably between 70-90 RPM, while trained road cyclists typically maintain 85-100 RPM. Professional riders like Chris Froome have famously used cadences above 100 RPM on climbs. The ideal cadence depends on your fitness, riding style, and terrain — higher cadences reduce muscle fatigue but increase cardiovascular demand, while lower cadences are more muscularly taxing but feel more powerful.

Question 2

How does gear ratio affect my cycling speed?

Accepted Answer

Gear ratio is the number of chainring teeth divided by the number of cog teeth. A higher gear ratio (e.g., 52/11 = 4.73) means each pedal revolution drives the wheel further, producing higher speed at the same cadence but requiring more force. A lower ratio (e.g., 34/28 = 1.21) is easier to pedal but produces less speed per revolution. For example, a 50/17 gear on 700×25c tires at 90 RPM produces about 34 km/h.

Question 3

What cadence should I use for climbing hills?

Accepted Answer

For climbing, most coaches recommend a cadence of 70-85 RPM in a lower gear rather than grinding at 50-60 RPM in a hard gear. Higher climbing cadence reduces peak muscle force per pedal stroke, delaying fatigue in your legs. Shift to an easier gear early when approaching a climb and let your cadence rise rather than waiting until you are already struggling.

Question 4

How do I calculate my speed from cadence and gearing?

Accepted Answer

Speed = (chainring teeth ÷ cog teeth) × wheel circumference × cadence × 60 ÷ 1,000,000 (for km/h). For example, with a 50-tooth chainring, 17-tooth cog, 700×25c wheel (2,111 mm circumference), and 90 RPM cadence: (50/17) × 2.111 × 90 × 60 ÷ 1,000 = 33.6 km/h. Our calculator handles this math instantly for any gear and wheel combination.

Question 5

What wheel and tire size should I select in the calculator?

Accepted Answer

Select the wheel and tire combination that matches your bike setup. Road bikes typically use 700×23c, 700×25c, or 700×28c tires. Gravel bikes commonly use 700×35c to 700×45c. Mountain bikes use 29×2.1-2.3", 27.5×2.1-2.5", or 26×2.1". The tire size affects the wheel circumference, which directly impacts your speed — larger circumference means more distance per pedal revolution.

Question 6

What are cadence zones and why do they matter?

Accepted Answer

Cadence zones help structure your pedalling effort: Economy (60-70 RPM) is used for easy spinning and recovery; Tempo (80-90 RPM) is the endurance sweet spot for long rides; Race (90-100 RPM) is optimal for sustained high-intensity efforts; Sprint (100-120+ RPM) is used for short bursts and sprints. Training across different zones improves pedalling efficiency and neuromuscular coordination.

Question 7

Why do professional cyclists pedal at high cadences?

Accepted Answer

Professionals pedal at 90-110+ RPM because higher cadences shift the workload from slow-twitch muscle fibers to the cardiovascular system, which recovers faster. This preserves leg muscle glycogen stores for accelerations and sprints later in a race. Research from the European Journal of Applied Physiology shows trained cyclists are more efficient at higher cadences than untrained riders.

Question 8

How does tire size affect speed at the same cadence?

Accepted Answer

A larger tire has a greater circumference, so the wheel covers more distance per revolution. For instance, at 90 RPM in a 50/17 gear, a 700×23c tire (2,098 mm) yields about 33.4 km/h, while a 700×32c tire (2,155 mm) yields about 34.3 km/h — roughly 0.9 km/h faster. However, wider tires are heavier and have more aerodynamic drag, so real-world differences depend on many factors.

Question 9

What cadence do I need to ride at 30 km/h?

Accepted Answer

The required cadence depends on your gear ratio and wheel size. In a common road setup (50/17 chainring/cog on 700×25c), you need about 80 RPM for 30 km/h. In a harder gear like 52/14, you only need about 57 RPM. In an easier gear like 39/17, you need about 108 RPM. Use our calculator to find the exact cadence for your specific gear combination and target speed.

Question 10

How can I improve my cadence and pedalling efficiency?

Accepted Answer

Start by finding your natural cadence using a bike computer, then gradually increase it by 5 RPM every few weeks. Practice single-leg drills on a trainer to improve pedal stroke smoothness. Use cadence-focused intervals: ride at 100-110 RPM for 3-5 minutes, rest, and repeat. Indoor trainers are excellent for cadence work because you can focus on form without traffic concerns. Most cycling coaches recommend spending 80% of training time in the 85-95 RPM range.

Gear	Ratio	Speed @ 80 RPM	Speed @ 90 RPM	Best Use
34/28	1.21	12.3 km/h	13.8 km/h	Steep climbing
39/21	1.86	18.9 km/h	21.2 km/h	Moderate climbing
50/17	2.94	29.8 km/h	33.6 km/h	Flat cruising
52/14	3.71	37.7 km/h	42.4 km/h	Fast flats / descents
52/11	4.73	48.0 km/h	54.0 km/h	Sprinting / downhill

Cadence (RPM)	Speed (km/h)	Speed (mph)	Zone
60	22.4	13.9	Economy
70	26.1	16.2	Economy
80	29.8	18.5	Tempo
90	33.5	20.8	Tempo
100	37.3	23.1	Race
110	41	25.5	Sprint
120	44.7	27.8	Sprint

Gear	Ratio	Speed @ 80 RPM	Speed @ 90 RPM	Best Use
34/28	1.21	12.3 km/h	13.8 km/h	Steep climbing
39/21	1.86	18.9 km/h	21.2 km/h	Moderate climbing
50/17	2.94	29.8 km/h	33.6 km/h	Flat cruising
52/14	3.71	37.7 km/h	42.4 km/h	Fast flats / descents
52/11	4.73	48.0 km/h	54.0 km/h	Sprinting / downhill

Cadence (RPM)	Speed (km/h)	Speed (mph)	Zone
60	22.4	13.9	Economy
70	26.1	16.2	Economy
80	29.8	18.5	Tempo
90	33.5	20.8	Tempo
100	37.3	23.1	Race
110	41	25.5	Sprint
120	44.7	27.8	Sprint

Speed & Cadence Calculator

Understanding Speed, Cadence & Gearing

Cadence Zones Explained

Economy Zone (60-70 RPM)

Tempo Zone (80-90 RPM)

Race Zone (90-100 RPM)

Sprint Zone (100-120 RPM)

Common Gear Combinations & Speeds

Frequently Asked Questions

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