Average Speed

[aces_up1504]

How much is average speed affected by right hand turns traffic lights etc?

Do people see a big jump in average speeds on "longer straight runs" without the interefence of traffic lights etc.

Currently I do a short route (5-7 miles) but it includes a busy roundabout ( motoway junction) to traverse, 3 sets of lights and a few right turns.

While at the moment i am not to worried about average speeds but would be nice to get a "true" average speed for cycling.

So if changed route which included some longer straight runs, would i see much of an increase?

 

[steve52]

true average speed? includes stops starts lights ect, and would only be comparable if all the delays were the same for all parties,

 

[redcard]

It doesn't matter. Your average speed will go up the longer you cycle and the fitter you become. Look at monthly stats rather than your daily stats. You'll see a gradual increase.

Changing your route to get a higher average speed kinda defeats the purpose.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Most cycle computers auto stop when stationary thereby giving an average moving speed, this is different to overall average speed which will vary run to run traffic dependent. I have a few segments on strava that can be effected by traffic lights ect, but I have them as a guide to see how I am doing.

 

[SquareDaff]

How long is a piece of string? There are so many factors that can affect it it's really not worth bothering with as a potential measurement of improvement. But to answer your question: yes, if you alter the route to include more riding at speed and less stopping/slowing/accelerating/traffic filtering then your average will increase. The amount of increase willdepend on the setup of your computer as some stop registering when you're stopped/below a certain speed. Thus your average only includes slowing/filtering and accelerating differrences. As I said - there are a lot of factors!!

 

[snorri]

If you were nearing the end of your journey and noticed that you were on target to finish with your highest ever average speed, then on the last 100 metres you spotted a tenner in the gutter, would you stop to pick it up or go for the speed record, and would you give the same answer if it was a fiver or twenty in the gutter?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

It doesn't matter. Your average speed will go up the longer you cycle and the fitter you become. Look at monthly stats rather than your daily stats. You'll see a gradual increase.

Changing your route to get a higher average speed kinda defeats the purpose.

Mine didn't I got faster till Aug then I slowed down and so far I am slower this month than last month.

 

[Hacienda71]

I slow down in the winter months.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

How do you calculate "difficulty"?

Yes, I wondered that too, unless it's the number of expletives per mile. But I've never seen an expletivity index. And nor has my spell checker.

 

[Rob3rt]

Want to benchmark how fast you are, race a time trial.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I use the formula CLIMBBYBIKE-INDEX (H*100/D)*2 + H²/D + D/1000 + (T-1000)/100 Whereby: H = difference in height; D = distance in meters; T = top of mountain in meters
This usually gives a figure in 1,000's so I divide it by 100 to give a usable figure, then you can divide by miles to work out difficulty per mile, as the difficult figure is a final figure for the whole course. If you tot up for the week you and divide by days you get a comparison over time that shows if the rides you do are easier or more difficult, I have done some 30 miles rides that are more difficult than some 50 mile rides.
This is a list of my top 20 difficult rides using the above formula.

Top 5 high lighted, shows that the longest ride I have done of 63 miles is not the most difficult. and one of the shortest listed is in fact the second most difficult.
This chart shows trends.

Whilst my speed hasn't really improved (its gone down since Aug), everything else has including gear length, it also shows a comparison of cadence with speed.
It also shows why my speeds are lower.

 

[Licramite]

It's a sad fact but whatever your average speed is , - it will always be to slow.
(mine certainly is - what and my average was only that ! - thats rubbish)

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Want to benchmark how fast you are, race a time trial.

Just one problem with that Rob, I have difficulty with people and groups of people, besides i am only really interested in my improvements over time not racing against someone, or time.

 

[aces_up1504]

Just to get a little idea of how average speed is affected by traffic lights:

For example say a cyclist can cycle consistantly at 10mph for 10 miles, if obvious it would take me 60 mins to complete the journey.

If i throw in 3 sets of lights and it takes 2 mins for the lights to change at each set ( if catch all red at the wrong time). It will now take me 66 mins to complete the route: My average speed is now 9mph.

I have lost 10% of my average speed and thats without taking account of acclerating or breaking away or to lights.

 

[AndyPeace]

My average speed varies a lot, depending on route and purpose. On my commutes I can make avg of 12mph to 15mph.... on local loops I am making 16-17mph avg. Many factors influence this, level of traffic, rab's, shared use paths and my state of mind (If I'm grumpy I end up slower). It also depends on the distance I am covering... I haven't tried but doubt I could make my best avg speed of 17mph over longer distances like 30+ miles. I am tracking my progress by doing regular loops and comparing these times.

The 17mph avg is recent (first time this month) and was a pleasant surprise, as I'd been aiming for 16mph, but I have made a lot of changes this year particularly to my diet, which was really poor, so I think that has played a significant part too.