CYCLE CALCULATORS

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

Units

Results

VAM
1000 m/h
Body-lift power
195 W

The Result is indicative and educational. It does not constitute a design, a technical opinion or medical advice and does not replace calculations or verification by a person with the appropriate qualifications and authorisations. Before purchase, installation or use in practice – in particular in electrical installations – the Result should be verified by a qualified specialist. Details: Terms of Service, point 4.

How the number is made

VAM = elevation ÷ hours, with hours = minutes ÷ 60. Body-lift watts = body mass × 9.81 × (VAM ÷ 3600) ÷ 0.98; the 0.98 allows for drivetrain loss. Example: 500 m in 30 min is 1000 VAM, and 70 kg × 9.81 × 0.278 ÷ 0.98 = 195 W.

The watt figure lifts body mass only. The bike, rolling resistance and air drag come on top: roughly 20–40% more on a 6–10% road climb, most on the shallow, fast ones. Michele Ferrari’s rule of thumb, W/kg ≈ VAM ÷ (200 + 10 × gradient %), includes them. A steep slow climb and a fast alpine road can share a VAM.

Related calculators

Questions

Why can the watt estimate feel low?

It lifts your body only. The bike adds its share of the lift, about 11% for an 8 kg bike under a 70 kg rider, and rolling and air drag add more. On a steep, slow climb drag shrinks, but the bike’s share stays.

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. To add it, multiply by (body + bike) ÷ body: 70 kg plus an 8 kg bike is × 1.11. Rolling resistance and air drag still come on top.

Example products

Product links are Affiliate Links to Amazon websites. Using them does not cost you anything extra, and if you make a purchase we may receive a commission. Details: Terms of Service, point 5.