wheel circumference
#2
Senior Member


Joined: Feb 2004
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From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
I generally just use whatever number the computer manual gives for my tire size. That's plenty close enough for my purposes.
#3
Sua Ku
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Hot as hell, Singapore
Bikes: Trek 5200, BMC SLC01, BMC SSX, Specialized FSR, Holdsworth Criterium
#6
Prefers Cicero

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From: Toronto
Bikes: 1984 Trek 520; 2007 Bike Friday NWT; misc others
Once you re calibrate you can check it by riding 10k (or 10 miles) according to your computer, and then mapping your route on gmap-pedometer.com to see if it actually measures 10 whatever.
#7
Prefers Cicero

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From: Toronto
Bikes: 1984 Trek 520; 2007 Bike Friday NWT; misc others
Fortunately that doesn't translate to much difference in real terms. If you think your average speed was 21.1 mph, and it was actually only 21.05 mph, it's not off enough to worry about. It's accurate to 0.25%, or 1/400.
#8
that would be approximately 4 places in some time trials I have done recently.
also your math is wrong.
calculate the rollout of the wheel per revolution * gear ratio * 100 (rpm) * minutes in a time trial
I got the following for a 30 minute time trial in 53/15 at 100rpm
at 2095mm = 13.798 miles
at 2110mm = 13.899 miles
approximately 528 feet difference at the line (pretty far at the end of a time trial.)
also your math is wrong.
calculate the rollout of the wheel per revolution * gear ratio * 100 (rpm) * minutes in a time trial
I got the following for a 30 minute time trial in 53/15 at 100rpm
at 2095mm = 13.798 miles
at 2110mm = 13.899 miles
approximately 528 feet difference at the line (pretty far at the end of a time trial.)
Last edited by Grumpy McTrumpy; 04-04-10 at 09:20 AM. Reason: 53/15 not 53/16
#9
Sua Ku
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Hot as hell, Singapore
Bikes: Trek 5200, BMC SLC01, BMC SSX, Specialized FSR, Holdsworth Criterium
#10
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From: The Darkside......
Bikes: 2001-Brodie Spark, 2005-Trek 2200
#11
the point is, all my computer readings and subsequent data would be off enough to make me wonder if the official timing or distance was off. it is easy enough to peg the start and finish of a TT by watching the power chart. As long as the chart shows the correct number of seconds (as recorded by the official timing) then I know exact speed and distance.
#12
Sua Ku
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Hot as hell, Singapore
Bikes: Trek 5200, BMC SLC01, BMC SSX, Specialized FSR, Holdsworth Criterium
the point is, all my computer readings and subsequent data would be off enough to make me wonder if the official timing or distance was off. it is easy enough to peg the start and finish of a TT by watching the power chart. As long as the chart shows the correct number of seconds (as recorded by the official timing) then I know exact speed and distance.
I just wondered if people are monitoring their speeds that closely in a TT. I work off HR in TTs. I have tried riding without speed completely but it was a step too far.
usually the gaps are much bigger at the back of the field
#13
EDIT: I also watch my stopwatch. It helps me track timing waypoints (If I expect a TT to last 24 minutes, then I know the 12 minute mark is important, and may also mark the turnaround. Also It helps me gauge when to fire all the rest of my bullets)
#14
Prefers Cicero

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From: Toronto
Bikes: 1984 Trek 520; 2007 Bike Friday NWT; misc others
#15
Senior Member


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From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
#17
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From: Miami, FL
Bikes: 08 Giant OCR C2, 05 Specalized Hardrock Sport Disk
High school geometry class gives the formula for the circumference of a circle as:
C = 2(pi)R
pi = 3.142
R = radius.
If you measure diameter instead of radius, then use the formula C = piD
Since pi is a ratio, circumference will end up being in whatever unit you measure the radius or diameter in.
Do not forget to take your measurements from the center of the hub to the edge of the tire itself (for radius), or from the outer edge of the tire, across the center of the hub, then to the outer edge of the opposing outer edge of the tire (for diameter) - and not simply the edge of the rim.
Or if you do not want to mess around with math, just use a quick reference table. It will be accurate enough for what you want to find out.
My GPS bike computer uses magic to guess my wheel size by counting revolutions and comparing that to the speed as measured by the GPS. It guessed correctly, even in spite of the error in GPS signals and possible errors in circumference tables. Nifty.
C = 2(pi)R
pi = 3.142
R = radius.
If you measure diameter instead of radius, then use the formula C = piD
Since pi is a ratio, circumference will end up being in whatever unit you measure the radius or diameter in.
Do not forget to take your measurements from the center of the hub to the edge of the tire itself (for radius), or from the outer edge of the tire, across the center of the hub, then to the outer edge of the opposing outer edge of the tire (for diameter) - and not simply the edge of the rim.
Or if you do not want to mess around with math, just use a quick reference table. It will be accurate enough for what you want to find out.
My GPS bike computer uses magic to guess my wheel size by counting revolutions and comparing that to the speed as measured by the GPS. It guessed correctly, even in spite of the error in GPS signals and possible errors in circumference tables. Nifty.
Last edited by Seagull01; 04-04-10 at 12:12 PM. Reason: math issues
#19
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From: Michigan, USA
Bikes: 2009 Trek Madone 5.2 Pro, 2010 Motobecane Le Champion Team Ti, 2011 Motobecane Fly Team Titanium MTB
Make that 2090 on one bike, 2103 on the other. Go figure. Bontragers on one bike, Conti 4000's on the other.
#21
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From: Boulder
+1. If you are going to do a roll out, you need to test it like this at the PSI you ride with.
This is not necessarily a good way to test it... You can't ride in a perfectly straight line, as it will be measured on a map. In addition, what lane you are in will also affect the total distance when you compare it to a map(you cover more distance to make a left turn than a right turn, etc). Even though these differences will be small, they are still going to invalidate any type of precision you want.
This is not necessarily a good way to test it... You can't ride in a perfectly straight line, as it will be measured on a map. In addition, what lane you are in will also affect the total distance when you compare it to a map(you cover more distance to make a left turn than a right turn, etc). Even though these differences will be small, they are still going to invalidate any type of precision you want.
#22
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From: Madison, WI
Bikes: '08 Trek 7.3FX
Usually the difference between the number supplied in the manual and the rollout measured is very small. If I bother doing a rollout, I'll use that but otherwise close enough is close enough.
#23
Prefers Cicero

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From: Toronto
Bikes: 1984 Trek 520; 2007 Bike Friday NWT; misc others
That's true, although I guess that raises the question of how you want to measure distance cycled. Is it more valid to measure it in miles of road distance covered, or miles of wheel track contact?
#24
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Vancouver, BC
Even if it was as lowas 2095 it still doesn't make any difference in riding or racing.




