CalculatorsClimbing VAM Calculator

Climbing VAM Calculator

VAM is how fast you go up, not how fast the GPS says you went along the road. A thousand vertical metres in an hour is 1000 VAM.

Inputs

Elevation gain (m)Time (min)Body weight (lb)

Results

VAM: 1000 m/h
Estimated power: 195 W

How the number is made

VAM = elevation ÷ hours. Hours = minutes ÷ 60. Climbing watts ≈ mass × 9.81 × (VAM ÷ 3600) ÷ 0.98. The 0.98 is a small drivetrain-loss allowance. Bike mass is not included.

The watt estimate lifts body mass only, with a 2% drivetrain loss (divide by 0.98). Bike mass, rolling resistance, wind and drafting are omitted, so a shallow fast climb needs more power than this prints. A steep slow climb and a fast alpine road can share a VAM.

Related calculators

Power-to-Weight Calculator
Divide the watt estimate by your weight to see the climb in W/kg.
Calories and Carbs Calculator
A long VAM session is a fueling problem as well as a gearing one.

Questions

Why can the watt estimate feel low?

It ignores the bike’s mass and any rolling or aero cost. On a steep grade those are the smaller terms.

Is VAM the same as vertical speed?

Yes, in metres per hour. Divide by 60 if you want metres per minute.

Does the VAM watt estimate include the bike?

No. VAM watts use body mass only, with gravity and a 0.98 drivetrain factor. The bike is not in that mass.

Related gear

Power meter
Check the watt estimate against a meter on the same climb.
$400–$1000

Disclaimer — no professional advice, no liability

These calculators are simplified estimates for education. They are not a bike fit, a structural inspection, or a torque specification that overrides the number printed on a part. Confirm chain length, spoke length, tire fit and bolt torque on the bicycle before you ride.

These calculators, pages and any related content are provided “as is” and “as available”, solely for general educational and informational purposes. They are simplified mathematical estimates, not a professional bike fit, a structural inspection, a manufacturer torque specification or a training, nutrition or medical plan.

Results can be wrong, incomplete or inapplicable to your frame, wheels, tires, drivetrain or suspension. You must independently verify every figure, assume all risk, and confirm chain length before you cut, spoke length before you lace, tire and rim compatibility before you inflate, and the torque printed on the part before you tighten it.

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