Average road bike speeds ?

aindriu80

hi

What are the average speeds for cyclists here ? Excluding commuting with traffic that you have to deal with and mountain bikes what is your average kph over the distance covered on a road bike ?

I am averaging 30 kph in short and long cycles. Today I just did a 107km cycle and wanted to know how quick people go on a bike.

lizzylad84

recently been averaging between 24/25kph....probably pittyful by some standards

kerry4sam

aindriu80 wrote: »

hi

What are the average speeds for cyclists here ? Excluding commuting with traffic that you have to deal with and mountain bikes what is your average kph over the distance covered on a road bike ?

I am averaging 30 kph in short and long cycles. Today I just did a 107km cycle and wanted to know how quick people go on a bike.

My average changes now from week to week due to prolonged back injury and two knees that tend to bruise when under any long-term pressure cycling.

I wouldn't push myself to an average that others are reaching as I may not walk right again if I do; so I am just doing my own thing cycling.

If you are happy and content with those averages, or feel you can increase then do so for you and not because others are reaching greater averages. Just do what feels right for you

DirkVoodoo

Average speed will tell you very little.

Terrain, weather, road quality, etc. all matter.

Either go out with a group and see how you fare if interested in racing, or compare yourself against others on Strava, but even that can be misleading.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. Wear it as a badge of honour if it makes you happy.

aindriu80

kerry4sam, good point. Your body releases endorphins so its probably best to go with that as opposed to anything that might cause possible damage. I wouldn't want any damage just for a speed reading.

lizzylad84, I was averaging those speeds until I inflated my tyres ultra hard 120psi . It took me a while to get used to a super light bike but I got to 30 kph average over the cycle without any more effort than I what I put into when I was going 25 kph. 25 is fine if its not hard on morale.

MungoMan

aindriu80 wrote: »

kerry4sam, good point. Your body releases endorphins so its probably best to go with that as opposed to anything that might cause possible damage. I wouldn't want any damage just for a speed reading.

lizzylad84, I was averaging those speeds until I inflated my tyres ultra hard 120psi . It took me a while to get used to a super light bike but I got to 30 kph average over the cycle without any more effort than I what I put into when I was going 25 kph. 25 is fine if its not hard on morale.

i only average around 22km/h on my 72km Saturday cycle.
But then again, my road bike weighs nearly 14kg, 28mm tyres, downtube shifters, cage pedals, and I cycle with a pair of jeans.
Also there are quite a few traffic lights on the trip, and a few sections through towns where i need to slow down...........and I'm the same age as Lance Armstrong, which isnt young.

brayblue24

MungoMan wrote: »

...........and I'm the same age as Lance Armstrong, which isnt young.

...but more likely to win a Tour de France so that's in your favour:D

Amprodude

When i had the use of my body and when i was at my best about 28.5km/h on a 10.5kg racer. New wheels since but never got a chance to try them out.
At the moment 0km/h.

Darkglasses

Just over 30 kph on my commuting days, probably around 23kph on my day off spins. Although it's a pretty meaningless statistic.

belcampprisoner

2 miles up hills 30 miles down hills

petethedrummer

throw your cycle computer in the bin

elduggo

27km/h pre-EPO
47km/h post-EPO

lizzylad84

[QUOTE=aindriu80;84359760
lizzylad84, I was averaging those speeds until I inflated my tyres ultra hard 120psi . It took me a while to get used to a super light bike but I got to 30 kph average over the cycle without any more effort than I what I put into when I was going 25 kph. 25 is fine if its not hard on morale.[/QUOTE]
cheers for the tip mate, ill give it a go and see how i get on.

how much of a difference does frame material make to your average speed? i ride a trek 1.5, shop spec i.e no upgraded wheels.

Seaneh

lizzylad84 wrote: »

how much of a difference does frame material make to your average speed? i ride a trek 1.5, shop spec i.e no upgraded wheels.

Feck all.
The bike you have now is a grand bike, it's a very good Aluminium frame with decent componentry, I'd imagine it's in and around 9kg in weight, it's a really good starter bike as it's designed to be very comfortable over mid-long distances.

smacl

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Average speed will tell you very little.

Terrain, weather, road quality, etc. all matter.

Either go out with a group and see how you fare if interested in racing, or compare yourself against others on Strava, but even that can be misleading.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. Wear it as a badge of honour if it makes you happy.

Yep, and whether you're solo or a with a group also seems to make a big speed difference, though as I typically ride solo I'm not sure by how much. The only way it matters to me is planning how long I'm going to be out, or how long a journey will take. For me that comes out at about 5 hours elapsed per 100k on hilly terrain / into heavy wind, or about 4 hours on flatter terrain / calmer conditions. Slower on a hangover or poor breakfast, rarely any faster unless I've got a very kind tail wind. Also a bit slower after a lazy winter.

Arthurdaly

As other have mentioned there are significant variables involved ~(Weather and and route). If you can ride 100km at 30km/ph then you are a very strong rider. Personally there would be very few solo rides where I would exceed 30km/ph over that distance. I ride with the fast group with a big cycling club and we would rarely average over 30kph the last two years I've been with them.

Dermot Illogical

aindriu80 wrote: »

I am averaging 30 kph in short and long cycles.

Don't worry about it. Keep putting the miles in and you'll improve.

aindriu80

lizzylad84 wrote: »

cheers for the tip mate, ill give it a go and see how i get on.

how much of a difference does frame material make to your average speed? i ride a trek 1.5, shop spec i.e no upgraded wheels.

IMO the frame makes a massive difference . I got an all carbon frame (Cannondale Supersix) and although it wasn't ultra expensive compared to what is available on the market today it makes cycling so much easier and quicker. The hills are all passable, the ride is stiff so if I lean one way and push another there is no wobble etc. Its very light and that seems to help speed and feels responsive.

The only thing really is the wind. I can put up with average to poor road surface but any wind is a knock back. I was out today and completed 107km but the wind made some of the ride miserable.

Dermot Illogical wrote: »

Don't worry about it. Keep putting the miles in and you'll improve.

Dermot Illogical, I intend to. With summer not far off I will see what my averages are in the better weather.

pelevin

aindriu80 wrote: »

Dermot Illogical, I intend to. With summer not far off I will see what my averages are in the better weather.

I'd say he's just rising you, Andriu.

aindriu80

pelevin wrote: »

I'd say he's just rising you, Andriu.

Probably : P Will still try to push things out in the sun though : )

triggermortis

I'd say the weather has the biggest effect on ave speed. I try and keep my speedo around the 30 mark as that's just how I gauge how I'm going. I've tried cadence and HRM readings but always come back to speed. Some days I find it easy and others impossible to do, but if my average speed is around the 30 mark then I'm happy enough