Where exactly on the route to eat and drink.
Upload your GPX and generate a printable stem note with climbs, gel stops and water points.
01
Upload your GPX
Any route from Komoot, Strava, Garmin or Wahoo. The file contains your elevation profile and track geometry.
02
Set your weight and tempo
Rider weight, bike weight and how you want to estimate your speed — average pace, FTP, or from your GPS recording.
03
Physics model calculates the route
Each segment of your route is analysed for gradient, distance and power demand. Climbs are detected and rated 1–5 stars.
04
Print your stem note
A vertical strip is generated with climbs, gel stops and water points in the right order. Print, fold and tape to your stem.
Drop a GPX file here
or click to browse
Example Route Card
Preview at 1.5× · prints at 7 cm width
Colour legend
Auto-generated from your GPX file.
With FTP: gel timing based on energy expenditure, not fixed distance intervals.
Print the card on standard office paper, then laminate it or apply a strip of clear packing tape over the printed side. Cut to 7×10 cm (or to the height of your route strip) with scissors or a craft knife. Fold and tuck it under your stem computer mount, slide it into a stem pouch, or fix it with a rubber band. Once laminated, the card survives rain, sweat and water bottle spray for a full day in the saddle.
| Width | Fits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 7 cm | Standard road stem (80–130 mm) | Default from this generator |
| 5 cm | Compact stems / narrow handlebars | Scale down in print dialog |
| 9 cm | Long stems / top tube mount | Scale up in print dialog |
Guide
What is a cycling route card (stem note)?
A cycling route card is a small printed strip taped to the stem or top tube showing the key events of the route: climbs, feed stops and time markers. They have been used in professional cycling since the 1990s. Paris-Roubaix riders are photographed consulting hand-written stem notes with cobblestone sector distances and star ratings.
How do I print it at exactly 7 cm wide?
In your browser print dialog, set the scale to 100% and orientation to Portrait with no margins. The card HTML renders at 280 pixels which corresponds to 7 cm at 40 px/cm screen resolution. Measure after printing and adjust the scale percentage up or down until it matches 7 cm on your ruler.
Does it work for gravel and MTB routes?
Yes. Any GPX file works regardless of discipline. Climb detection uses the elevation profile from your GPS data, so it accurately reflects the actual terrain. Mountain bike trails with short steep pitches may generate more climb rows than a road route of the same length.
What if my GPX has no timestamps?
Without timestamps the calculator cannot use GPS recording times. Instead, choose how to estimate speed in the form: enter your FTP for a physics-based estimate per segment, or set an average speed if you know your typical pace. With FTP, the time shown accounts for climbs and descents — slower uphill, faster down.
How do I waterproof the card?
Laminate with a cold lamination pouch (available at office supply stores), or apply two strips of clear packing tape — one across the top half and one across the bottom half, overlapping in the middle. This withstands rain, road spray and sweat for a full day. Electrical tape loops hold the card firmly to the stem.
Why are gel stops where they are?
Without FTP: gel stops are placed at fixed distance intervals (every 30 or 35 km) or at hourly boundaries (every 45 min mode). With FTP: gel stops are placed when your cumulative energy expenditure reaches ~300 kcal since the last gel — so stops come closer together on hard climbs and further apart on easy terrain. In both modes, if a rated climb (3★ or higher) starts within 8 km of a planned gel stop, the stop is automatically shifted 3 km before the climb. This is the golden rule of race nutrition: eat before the hard effort, not during it — your gut shuts down at high intensity.
Can I use this for multi-day rides?
The card is designed for single-day routes. For multi-day rides, split your GPX into one file per day (using the GPX Editor at /bike/editor) and generate a separate card for each day. Print and label them Day 1, Day 2, etc.