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© 2006-2013 veloroutes.org

Use these online calculators to compute exactly how steep that big hill is, or how fast (or slow) you averaged on your last ride, and more.

Simple % Grade Calculator

Enter the length of the slope in feet: ft
or in miles: mi
Enter the rise of the slope in feet: ft
% Grade:
 
This is a "simple" calculation in the sense that if your cyclocomputer measures 1 mile of distance up a hill,
that's technically the hypoteneuse of the triangle, not its base. See here for more info on this.


Distance Conversions

Enter a length to convert
km:    mi:
mi:    km:
feet:    meters:

Average Speed Calculator


Enter a distance and time to calculate average speed, or distance and average speed to calculate time.
distance: miles
total time: hours (in decimal or HH:MM form, e.g. 1:05 for one hour and five minutes)
avg speed: miles per hour

Bicycle Touring - How many days?

Enter the total distance of your trip and your planned average miles per day. This tool will tell you how many days it will take to get to your location.

distance: miles
mlies/day: miles/day
total days: days

Gear-Inch Chart

(27" or 700cc wheel, x-axis:front chainring, y-axis:rear cog)

383940414243444546474849505152535455
11939598100103105108110112115117120122125127130132135
1285879092949699101103105108110112114116119121123
137881838587899193959799101103105108110112114
147375777981828486889092949698100102104106
15687072737577798182848688909193959799
16646567697072747577798182848687899192
17606163656668697173747677798182848587
18575860616364666769707273757678798182
19545556585961626365666869717273757678
20515254555658596062636466676870717274
21485051525455565759606163646566686970
22464749505152545556575860616263656667
23444546484950515254555657585961626364
24424345464748495051525455565758596061
25414243444546474849505152545556575859
26394041424344454647484950515254555657
27383940414243444546474849505152535455
28363738394041424344454647484950515253
29353637383940404142434445464748495051

Notes about Gear Inches

Gear ratio is calculated as the size (number of teeth) of the front chain-ring divided by the size (number of teeth) of the rear cog. Gear inches are calculated as the Gear Ratio multiplied by the diameter of the wheel, 27 inches for a road bike (roughly equal to 700cc tires - tire size also is a factor, but this will be accurate to within a few inches).

Recommended low-gear ranges based on strength

From "Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair" By Jim Langley:

Type of ridingTerrainGear Inches
Loaded TouringSteep hills20-27
Medium hills32-42
Sport TouringSteep hills27-37
Medium hills32-42
Flat37-47
Road RacingSteep hills47-60
Flat to rolling57-66
Mtn bikeSteep hills17-20
Technical trails17-20
Dirt roads20-27
Fixed Gear*Track80-90
Road60-70

* fixed-gear data thrown in by veloroutes.org