In the cycling context, VAM stands for "Velocità Ascensionale Media" , which means "average ascent speed" in English. It is a metric used to measure a cyclist's performance when climbing a hill. It is expressed in meters of ascent per hour (hm/h) and describes how many meters of ascent a cyclist climbs on average per hour.
The VAM is particularly used in cycling to compare the climbing abilities of cyclists. A higher VAM value means that the rider can climb a climb faster. It depends on various factors, such as the gradient of the mountain, the rider's fitness and the external conditions.
To calculate the VAM:
- VAM = (altitude climbed / time traveled in hours)
Example: If a rider climbs 500 meters in 30 minutes, this results in a VAM of 1000 hm/h (500 / 0.5).