How to use the Cycling Pace
- Enter any two of distance, average speed and elapsed time.
- Read the third value directly.
- Use elevation gain to adjust an expected average for hilly routes.
- Compare moving time with elapsed time when planning a long ride.
How the calculation works
The core relation is speed = distance ÷ time, but the interesting part is why speed responds so weakly to effort. Aerodynamic drag rises with the square of velocity and the power required rises with the cube, so going from 30 to 33 km/h on the flat needs roughly a third more power. That cubic wall is why aero position and drafting matter more than fitness gains at higher speeds.
Climbing flips the physics: below about 15 km/h gravity dominates drag, and required power scales almost linearly with weight and gradient. A rough planning rule is that every 100 m of climbing costs about 1.5–2 minutes for a recreational rider. Drafting in a group saves 20–40% of power at speed, which is why a bunch averages several km/h faster than the same riders alone.
Speed = distance / time ; power ∝ v³ against drag, ∝ mass × gradient × v on climbsSource: Standard kinematics with aerodynamic drag power scaling (P ∝ v³) from cycling power models.
Worked example
An 85 km ride with 1,150 m of climbing at a 26 km/h flat-road average.
- Flat-equivalent time = 85 / 26 = 3.27 h = 3:16.
- Climbing penalty ≈ 1,150 / 100 × 1.75 min = 20 min.
- Estimated moving time ≈ 3:36.
- Add 15 minutes of stops for elapsed time.
About 3 hours 36 minutes moving, near 3:51 elapsed — an effective average of 23.6 km/h.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my average lower on hilly rides?+
You lose far more time climbing than you regain descending, because you spend many more minutes going up.
Moving time or elapsed time?+
Moving time measures fitness; elapsed time is what determines when you get home. Plan with elapsed.
How much does drafting help?+
Typically 20–40% less power at the same speed, depending on position and group size.
What is a good average speed?+
It depends entirely on terrain and wind. Compare your own rides on the same route, not against strangers.
Last reviewed August 31, 2026. We review this page whenever the underlying formula, tax year, published rate or standard changes.