How to Calculate a Bike Route

Calculating your bike route ahead of time can be a great way to save time and energy before a ride. There is almost always more than one way to get from point A to point B, and knowing the distance of your chosen route helps you know how long it will take you to ride it and how tired you'll be at the end. That knowledge will help you select the best route for your purpose on any given day, whether it be exercise, recreation or transit, and ensure that your ride is the best it can be.

Instructions

    • 1

      Select an online route calculator like Google Maps, MapMyRide or Gmaps Pedometer.

    • 2

      Input the start point of your route. In Google Maps, enter its address into box "A." In MapMyRide, enter its address into the "Jump To" box, click "Go," and then click it on the map. In Gmaps Pedometer, click the "Start Recording" button, enter your starting address into the "Jump To" box, click "Go," and then double-click it on the map.

    • 3

      Input the end point of your route. In Google Maps, enter its address in box "B." In MapMyRide, click it on the map. In Gmaps Pedometer, double-click it on the map.

    • 4

      Calculate your distance. In Google Maps, click the "Get Directions" button and read the distance of the shortest bike route between the addresses from the left-hand side of the site. In MapMyRide and Gmaps Pedometer, it is calculated automatically: read it from the box in the upper right-hand corner of the map in MapMyRide and from the box in the left-hand side of the site in Gmaps Pedometer.