Cycling Averages

[rivers]

When I first started riding a few months ago, I was averaging about 10mph. Now I average 14-16mph on up to 25 mile rides. 50 miles I'm in the region of 13-14mph.

 

[Aravis]

Have you done much cycling in Lincolnshire? The Wolds are far from flat and the wind has little to slow it in the flat area's.

On a wonderful two-week holiday in Lincolnshire a few years ago, when I was trying to rediscover my cycling heart and legs, I did five rides of around 40 miles, one of them into the Wolds. I found it tough going, and I failed in my objective. Give me hedges, rolling terrain and well-defined river valleys any day.

As with all personal measures, comparing average speed can be misleading because we use many different methods. I've always regarded time from doorstep to doorstep, including stops, as the only really meaningful yardstick, despite Strava trying to persuade me otherwise. Nowadays, over 100 miles, 13mph is the gold standard. In my youth it was 15, usually including a Welsh inter-valley road or two.

 

[Dogtrousers]

As with all personal measures, comparing average speed can be misleading because we use many different methods. I've always regarded time from doorstep to doorstep, including stops, as the only really meaningful yardstick, despite Strava trying to persuade me otherwise. Nowadays, over 100 miles, 13mph is the gold standard. In my youth it was 15, usually including a Welsh inter-valley road or two.

A kindred spirit.

I try to keep up 20 km/h overall which is 12 and a bit mph or 5 hours per 100k. But I fail if you put too many hills in my way. In between times I have to go a bit quicker to buy myself time for stops.

I'm not in it for speed, because if I was I'd just be constantly disappointed - I'm slower than most posters on here. Some unusual circumstances conspired earlier this year that meant I really had to get a lick on. I ended up putting in a "moving average" (whatever that means) of just over 16mph over 50 (unflat) miles. It wasn't much fun to be honest.

 

[MrGrumpy]

My average varies depending on lots of things on the commute, but normally between 17-20 mph on lumpy commute route. On solo rides away from traffic and hilly I can 18-19 but I do put alot of effort in. Boy racer in me unfortunately but each ride I treat as a work out. Been using a my cross bike of late just to change things a bit which reduces my average but increases the fun factor

 

[RegG]

My 'average' over most distances seems to be stuck at around 13/14 mph. I managed to get it just above 15 mph on one occasion but anything faster seems to be out of reach. Anyway, at nearly 63 and only having been back on the bike for just over a year I'm more than pleased with my progress!

 

[Nathb]

Depends so much on the route, particularly here in London as you spend so much time filtering through traffic.

But I started out on road bike a couple of years ago and started averaging at around 14mph. 30kgs weight loss and couple of years later I'm able to average 19-20mph on my favorite Sunday blast (great 53 mile route from Ealing to Windsor and back, it's only got about 300ft elevation though haha), otherwise I'm usually at around 17-19mph.

 

[Ciar]

On my commute through the gorgeousness of London town i generally average 13-14 mph on a flat bar bike, that's over 9m 18m each commute 4 days a week rarely changes, only drops during winter and headwind tastic days,where the I don't give a crap kicks in ;-)

 

[Johnsop99]

First ride nearly 4 years ago was 10.34 miles, 650 ft elevation 11.9mph av sp, 31.1mph max, est power 97W.
I was very pleased with this although I did wonder whether I'd live to see another day!
Todays ride, 21.67 miles, 1578 ft elv. 17.4mph av., 36.2mph max and est power 165W and I felt that I could happily go out and do it again without suffering too much. (Estimated power taken from Strava, actual figure probably wrong but a good relative comparison of progress made). It has been a fairly steady improvement over the four years with an average 3,000 miles per year. So keep plugging away and see the improvements over time. With all the hills around here I regularly hit speeds in the 40's but have yet to see a genuine 50mph although Strava did record a 51mph the other day but this must have been a glitch as my normal max on that stretch of road is 30-36mph!

 

[Aravis]

I try to keep up 20 km/h overall which is 12 and a bit mph or 5 hours per 100k. But I fail if you put too many hills in my way. In between times I have to go a bit quicker to buy myself time for stops.

Much the same. I have my Garmin set to miles*, with autopause off, and I always like to see an average of at least 13mph on the display, or feel I'm moving towards it. On days when I don't achieve it, there's usually the consolation of seeing a headline figure of at least 20kph when the ride is uploaded, which I regard as honour satisfied.

Years ago I had a Cateye computer which had a disconcerting quirk. When calculating average speed it ignored fractions of miles, so I got a little boost every time the next mile clicked up. This meant I was frequently obliged to put in loops at the end of rides to keep up appearances!

* My preferences are distances in miles, heights in metres. I don't believe this combination is unusual, but the purveyors of cycling software don't seem to agree with me.

 

[gav8369]

Seeing this topic inspired me to take a look back at the beggining of my Strava and reply.

When I first started riding just over 3 years ago, I'd do approximately 15 miles at a 16-17 average and it would near enough kill me.

These days I'd say my general average is 20mp-ish over 20+ miles (ride after work) with around 1200-1500 of climbing.

There's so many variables to it though, if I ride over to my inlaws which is around 35 miles give or take depending on the route, with approximately 1500 feet of climbing then I can hold a 22.9mph.

I did a recent ride of 62 miles, 2300 feet of climbing and my average was 20.6mph.

If it's a longer ride with more climbing then it'll drop down to the high 18's low 19's.

All I say is, with some genuine effort and work and as long as you're enjoying it, your average speed will increase faster than you realise.

One thing that I've noticed though, it never gets any easier, you just go faster, further for longer!

I turned 40 this year, I only wish I'd done this years ago! Plus living on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District inspires you to ride, it's great around here.

 

[jonny jeez]

I CAN average 18mph over 100 miles or so.

I LIKE to average about 14.

Over 25 miles I can average 25mph but again I prefer around 18

 

[JoshM]

I've just averaged 17mph on a flat 16km (height gain of 125 metres) on my own while deliberately keeping my heart rate in zone 3. Could probably have averaged 20 mph if I'd 'gone for it'

Hate these short distance rides, 35mins hardlybfeels worth going out for, but I'm training for a Sprint triathlon so needs must.

 

[ianrauk]

I CAN average 18mph over 100 miles or so.

I LIKE to average about 14.

Over 25 miles I can average 25mph but again I prefer around 18

I have only ever managed 1 ride of over 100 miles above 18mph. That was with @jayonabike who's an awesome cyclist so I had to step it up a gear.

I Like to average about 15.

I have never, nor will I ever manage anything round about 25mph. Unless of course I'm riding down the side of a mountain.

 

[mythste]

Also depends how you take your average, don't forget. Strava autopauses by default, Endomondo doesnt. I typically get two very different read-outs for average speed!

 

[jonny jeez]

I have only ever managed 1 ride of over 100 miles above 18mph. That was with @jayonabike who's an awesome cyclist so I had to step it up a gear.

I Like to average about 15.

I have never, nor will I ever manage anything round about 25mph. Unless of course I'm riding down the side of a mountain.

I've ridden with you back from the coast and you were flying, I reckon you could easily mange 25mph for an hour .

My ride London time was 17.4 mph (check out strava) which I was well chuffed with, given that I've not ridden 100 miles for a really long time.

You do that sort of distance regularly.

I think you are being modest.