The final link between the pedals and the road is the rear wheel and the tire. The gear-set used determines the rate of rotation of the rear wheel for a given pedaling rate, and the wheel diameter determines how far the bike moves for a single wheel rotation. The overall power transmission path must therefore take into account the length of the pedal crank, the number of teeth on the chainwheel, the number of teeth on the rear cog, and the rear wheel diameter. With this information, and a knowledge of the power output of the cyclist, the bicycle performance can be estimated.

Another factor that must be included in the performance is the rear tire. The rolling resistance of the tire is dependent on its internal pressure, the form of the tire tread, and the nature of the road surface. In general, for smooth roads, the rolling resistance is lowest with a high tire pressure and a smooth tire tread.