whats the speed of a road racer
- Thread starter photography27
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
oldroadman
Veteran
- Location
- Ubique
In a sprint, 65-80kph depending on conditions.
On a flat stage, average around 40-45 kph. In the big mountains, average about 30-35kph (whoever said 14mph - 22kph was a bit out - don't forget 80-95kph descending and the flat bits betwen climbs!).
In any flattish road race there will be times when the line is moving at 60+kph, but only for a few km.
All this in high level races, not your average Wobbly Wheelers RR in the countryside, the pace will be a tad gentler (but feel just as bad when you get older and less fit!!).
On a flat stage, average around 40-45 kph. In the big mountains, average about 30-35kph (whoever said 14mph - 22kph was a bit out - don't forget 80-95kph descending and the flat bits betwen climbs!).
In any flattish road race there will be times when the line is moving at 60+kph, but only for a few km.
All this in high level races, not your average Wobbly Wheelers RR in the countryside, the pace will be a tad gentler (but feel just as bad when you get older and less fit!!).
iAmiAdam
New Member
By 14mph I meant on the way up, not the whole stage.
oldroadman
Veteran
- Location
- Ubique
Wish I could have climbed some of those passes at 14mph average...the autobus is a bit steadier than that, thank goodness.
I'm interested as to what your racing background is if it's not too invasive to ask?
I'd be interested to know how quick I could go on a bike. I've got no experience of cycle racing at all, but I used to be a sprinter (track & field). I managed a 100m time of 10.9s when I was 17, although I only did it once!
Not sure if that would have any relevance riding a bike at the age of 44, but I still think I could go quite fast. I can still run fast, n'all...
Not sure if that would have any relevance riding a bike at the age of 44, but I still think I could go quite fast. I can still run fast, n'all...
Will1985
Über Member
- Location
- South Norfolk
Get yourself to Manchester and have a go on the track. There is usually a timed sprint lap at the end of CC sessions.I'd be interested to know how quick I could go on a bike. I've got no experience of cycle racing at all, but I used to be a sprinter (track & field). I managed a 100m time of 10.9s when I was 17, although I only did it once!
Not sure if that would have any relevance riding a bike at the age of 44, but I still think I could go quite fast. I can still run fast, n'all...
oldroadman
Veteran
- Location
- Ubique
Years back and ancient history, but a modest living was made. Looking back better than an ordinary job, though there were days....!
Belgium/Nederland can be very wet cold and unforgiving, France the same up north, and just hard down south. Spain sunny (mostly) and bloomin mountainous, Italy, well, just a bit of a madhouse, but they do start steady and get quicker, so the last 50km it's at the front or nothing - plenty of shoving your way about, and being shoved.
Just don't start me off about DS's and the payment practices of certain outfits and race organisers..!
oldroadman
Veteran
- Location
- Ubique
Averagesover 10 miles, 30mph means about 33-35 most of the way, but in a road race the speed on flat can be over 40 when the pressure is on, which is why Gordon can produce a sustained speed for the 10 miles, as he has the strength gained from all that pressure riding.
Speed isn't something you can reliably compare as there are too many variables. Power output (Watts) over a certain distance or length of time, or Watts per kilogram bodyweight over a distance or length of time is more meaningful.
Of course, power output alone doesn't make a good bicycle racer, but it's a better way of comparing riders than how fast they are.
Of course, power output alone doesn't make a good bicycle racer, but it's a better way of comparing riders than how fast they are.
Smokin Joe
Squire
- Location
- Bare headed cyclist, Smoker
Just to add... power to weight ratio is really only important for climbing, simply because climbing involves working against the gravitational force exerted upon your mass (i.e. your weight). Power is a measure of how much work you are capable of doing. Obviously the greater your mass the more work you need to do to overcome that gravitational force to maintain a certain speed, so if you are capable of doing more work than someone else who has the same mass as you, or you have less mass than a bloke who can do an identical amount of work, then you will climb faster...
Apart from aerodynamics, overall power output is most important for flat stages as your weight doesn't really come into the equation. Big muscular riders are capable of doing more work overall than the skinny climbers, hence they're usually better at time trial stages. Their power to weight ratio is usually not as good, hence the heavier, powerful riders not being able to excel at climbing.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
I i remember
