Climb time calculator
This climb time calculator estimates how long a climb will take from its length and elevation gain, your target power, and your rider and bike weight. Enter the climb's distance and vertical gain, set the power you plan to hold, and get your estimated time, average speed and VAM, plus a table showing time across a range of power outputs.
Climb time
47:53
Time by power
| Power (W) | Time |
|---|---|
| 150 | 1:17:42 |
| 200 | 58:59 |
| 250 | 47:53 |
| 300 | 40:34 |
| 350 | 35:25 |
| 400 | 31:35 |
How it works
The calculator finds the speed at which your chosen power exactly balances gravity, rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag on the climb's average grade, using the same physical bike power model as the speed-to-power calculator (Martin et al., 1998), then converts that speed into a time for the full distance.
VAM, vertical ascent metres per hour, is elevation gain divided by climbing time in hours, a standard way climbers and coaches compare climbing performance independent of the climb's specific length or grade.
Mean grade is simply elevation gain divided by climb length, which understates how hard any steeper sections within the climb actually feel, since the model assumes a constant grade throughout.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good VAM for climbing?
Recreational riders often produce 600 to 900 m/h on a sustained climb, strong amateurs 1000 to 1200 m/h, and elite climbers can exceed 1700 to 1800 m/h on long efforts. VAM depends heavily on grade and duration, so compare climbs of similar length and steepness.
How accurate is this climb time estimate?
It assumes constant power and a constant average grade for the whole climb, so real efforts with pacing changes, wind or pitch variation will differ somewhat. It's a solid planning estimate for pacing a climb, not a substitute for on-road pacing feedback.
Does bike weight matter more on a climb than on the flat?
Yes. On a climb, gravity depends directly on total mass, rider plus bike, moved uphill, so every extra kilogram slows you down. On flat ground, aerodynamic drag dominates instead and bike weight barely affects the power needed to hold a given speed.
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Overload calculates VAM and climbing metrics automatically for every ride you log. Free on iOS and Android.