Average speeds for a Roadie

[Mikeoupe]

Hi, After riding a hybrid for several years I finally bit the bullet and bought my first road bike. I'm completely new to this road bike thing and did my first ride this evening. According to my iPhone app I added 3.5mph to my usual average around a local 16 mile circuit, taking me up to 17.5mph (including stops etc) I don't set out on a ride to beat my last time or catch the bloke half a mile down the road (okay I've done that a couple of times) I'm just curious what sort of averages others are doing, what's good, what's average? I appreciate there will be all sorts of variables such as distance etc, it's just a general question. Apologies if this is a boring question ... Mike

 

[perplexed]

Depends very much on terrain.

I did 25 miles on my road bike today, at an average speed of about 15mph.

This doesn't sound that fast, but:

I live in Sheffield and my ride was in the Peak District. Yes, there are downhills, but you can only go so fast, and that ride today includes a few miles of climbing with various gradients.

If I'd have done that ride on my hybrid, my average would have probaly been at least 3 or 4 mph slower!

The wind is a big issue too. I've a loop which I do at about 17 mph average. A moderate headwind going uphill will easily knock this down to 13mph.

 

[delport]

A slowish average for me, about 12 mph, the roads down here are mainly flat with few hills.

So i should be higher than 12 mph really.
I use a hybrid.
thin tyre on the front 700x25 thicker tyre on the back 700x35.

 

[Hacienda71]

Have a look at Cyclogs you will see average speeds vary dramaticaly. Beware logging rides can become addictive.

Terrain, distance, temperature etc all play a part.

 

[GrasB]

17.5mph door to door is respectable but not blistering for the area, you're certainly not the fastest on the road but you'll rarely be overtaken by anyone.

 

[Mikeoupe]

Thanks, I'm interested as I don't have anything to compare myself to, I tend to cycle alone for fitness and fresh air. Historically I average 14-ish mph on my hybrid on fairly flat terrain (it's certainly no peak district round here) and it was quite a revelation seeing that increase so much with just a change of bike.

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Sounds good I average 13.5 mph on my Secteur commuting to work. It is pretty hilly and I have a dodgy left knee (had an osteotomy 1 year ago). If the hills were not there I know it would be way faster, as on the steepest hills my speed is currently down sometimes to below 5 mph

 

[edindave]

On my hybrid I find it relatively easy to keep up with *slower* groups uphill - windy or not, but on downhills they leave me for dust, probably cos I have the aerodynamic properties of a shed. Ecpecially with my 'windcatcher' baggy shorts

 

[Bayerd]

Thanks, I'm interested as I don't have anything to compare myself to, I tend to cycle alone for fitness and fresh air. Historically I average 14-ish mph on my hybrid on fairly flat terrain (it's certainly no peak district round here) and it was quite a revelation seeing that increase so much with just a change of bike.

Your road bike will be faster. I switched from a heavy hybrid to an entry level tourer at the turn of the year. To begin with I could feel the difference, my avarage went up from 13.5 to 16 for the first few days. I think some of this may have been down to novelty factor. I'm still quicker, but my longer term average is now about 14.7 as opposed to the 13.5 on the hybrid. Some of this is down to lighter bike (quicker accel) and some is down to riding position. There's a downhill section near me where I used to get to about 31mph on the hybrid, on the new bike I hit 44mph the other day without pedalling and I put it down to the more aerodynamic position.

 

[Mikeoupe]

17.5mph door to door is respectable but not blistering for the area, you're certainly not the fastest on the road but you'll rarely be overtaken by anyone.

That's put a smile on my face, respectable sounds good to me!

 

[thelawnet]

Thanks, I'm interested as I don't have anything to compare myself to, I tend to cycle alone for fitness and fresh air. Historically I average 14-ish mph on my hybrid on fairly flat terrain (it's certainly no peak district round here) and it was quite a revelation seeing that increase so much with just a change of bike.

My local cycling clubs have a variety of speeds:

CTC
monthly sunday all-abilities inc. families - 8mph for 15-20miles
monthly sunday 10mph for 40 miles
monthly wednesday 10-12mph for 40 miles
fortnightly sunday 10-12mph half day
monthly sunday all day 11-13mph
weekly sunday 11-13mph 30 miles
weekly wednesday 11-13mph all day
weekly sunday 'over 14mph' 60-90 miles

Cycling club:
19mph moving average, but they note that 17mph solo is equivalent to 20mph in a group

 

[Mikeoupe]

On my hybrid I find it relatively easy to keep up with *slower* groups uphill - windy or not, but on downhills they leave me for dust, probably cos I have the aerodynamic properties of a shed. Ecpecially with my 'windcatcher' baggy shorts

The final decision making factor in my getting a road bike was following a couple of roadies on my hybrid down hill for 2 or 3 miles, I was having to pedal to maintain their coasting speed, I thought " I want that!"

I should add that today's ride was in my MTB gear, baggy shorts and flappy top! haven't got round to buying the roadie gear yet, I'm a bit worried about it TBH as at 41 I've been shapelier ....

 

[JonnyBlade]

Cycled 104 on Tuesday up to, in and around the New Forest and back averaging 17.2 with an overall climb of some 3800 feet.
Today was 17 miles at 18.7

Most normal days though average between 15 and 17 depending on weather, terrain and whether I can be bothered to put the effort in or do I just want to enjoy the scenery and the sunshine

As long as we all enjoy it it wouldn't matter if we pootled at 10 mph

 

[edindave]

I was having to pedal to maintain their coasting speed, I thought " I want that!"

I used to console myself by thinking they are faster downhill due to gravity cos they are fatter and heavier... that's true isn't it? yeah right!

 

[GrasB]

That's put a smile on my face, respectable sounds good to me!

You might want to take a look at www.mycyclinglog.com (though I've had problems logging rides recently ) to see the sort of averages. Just don't pay much attention to the top of the table