tangerine

whats the average distance done per day on tour

Old Hammer Boy

That depends upon so many variables, no one can accurately answer your question. Some of those variables include what gear you're taking, terrain, weather conditions, age, strength, etc. On my recent Southern Tier tour I averaged 61 miles/day, and I didn't feel like I killed myself. If I had had the time, I would have gone at a slower pace and smelled even more flowers.

Shemp

If you're planning, just remember to pad the numbers on the low side so you can take the time to do some side trips through towns and to sights and sites that may be a couple miles off your intended route. So if you want to do 70 in a day, plan 60-65.

If I were solo, I'd probably aim for 75 a day, more some, less others, but with my wife, 50-60 is about it due to time constraints (we're not early risers, we'll stop for a short hike and she's got one speed... hers.)

cyclezealot

about 75 miles. Max ever 143.

martianone

IMO, 80 km/day is a good guideline when planning a trip.
this allows plenty of time to "smell the roses" and take
in the surroundings.

Losligato

It is important to have time off the bike to enjoy a place. Getting 60-80 kilometers completed before lunch then roaming around town for the afternoon is idea for us.

permanentjaun

Argh, my max is 134 on a loaded bike. I can't wait to get a real road bike with no load and do double centuries.

Typically, though, I started my tour around 80 miles a day and was eventually able to get 100 pretty much any time I had a full day of riding.

cyclezealot

I think 75 is about right. For long tours. Take time to enjoy the ride. Unless the 75 miles was with tough climbing, we'd get there with plenty of time to look about and enjoy camp.

Bekologist

rule of thumb - 10 miles an hour.

Tom Stormcrowe

Depends, in June, I had a tough time making 30 miles a day across the back country section of my tour on the Upper Peninsula, but I was on sandy dirt roads with a road touring bike pulling a heavy trailer.

Bek can tell ya a bit about where I was as well!

cyclezealot

I freind of mine crossed the US from San Diego to St. Augestine, FL. He did not want to burn out, had unlimited time. His wife for some reason did not mind. He paced himself generally at 50 miles a day with every sixth days off. He did not burn out. Even spent like a week somewhere in Arkansas in route. Certainly no RAAM tour.

tarwheel 

I've only ridden on supported bike tours, so I'm not sure what kind of distances are typical for loaded touring. However, most of the bike tours I've ridden we've averaged about 60-70 miles per day. That is a good distance because it allows enough time to stop a see the sites along the way, while still getting to your destination before it gets too late in the day. I've ridden as far as 105 miles in a day during a weeklong tour, but that tends to wear you out for the next day -- unless it's an easy route. Riding 60 or so miles a day leaves you enough time to relax, enjoy the sites and drink a few beers at the end of the day. If I was trying to average 100 miles a day, I think that would take much of the fun out of touring, plus I would get worn out.

Alot depends on your fitness and speed, as well. If you are a slower rider, you will have to spend a lot more time on the bike riding 60 miles than someone who is faster. For very fit and fast riders, 100 miles might not be that big a deal. BTW, we typically average about 15-16 mph on tours, and average speed tends to decline as the days go by unless the terrain gets flatter. On typical weekend group rides, we average 17-19 mph, but it's much harder to sustain those speeds riding long distances day after day. I'm sure it is much more difficult with loaded touring.

BigBlueToe

I think it depends on lots of factors. There's topography. In hilly country like the west coast, 50 miles a day might be plenty. Climbing mountain passes, 30 might be good. In flat country 75 or 80 might be better. There's the kind of shape you're in. For the first few days of a tour my mileage is pretty pathetic. But after I get used to it, the miles I can ride happily in a day increases. On a one-week tour, half of the tour is spent getting used to it. Weather is a factor. On rainy days with a headwind I don't feel like being very ambitious. On sunny days with a tailwind my goals increase dramatically. Weight is a factor. There are always going to be hills. You'll go up faster with a light load. Add up a days worth of hills and a difference in load can make a big difference in miles pedaled.

My experience: on a four week trip down the west coast I averaged 55 miles per day. On a ride across Iowa I averaged about 85. On a recent trip where I climbed over several mountain passes I averaged around 35 miles per day.

RB1-luvr

when i was in my late twenties i did three tours through upper new england and upstate NY - we averaged 80-100 miles per day.

now that I'm in my 40s and only doing training rides of 30-40 miles, when i return to touring, hopefully this fall, if not, next summer, i see myself shooting for 65-75 mile days, riding from 9 am - 5 pm.

spinnaker

Why? Even at an average 25 MPH that is 8 hours in the saddle. If you want to do all of those miles, it seems to me that it would make more sense making trips from home and save lots of money.

To me a tour is about the whole experience, taking time to meet people, check out interesting places and things and generally taking time to smell the flowers. Who cares if one day you do 50 miles and another day just 10 miles? The important thing is to enjoy yourself and experience another part of your world.

permanentjaun

That's what I'm doing. I was merely commenting on my transition from touring to road cycling. Riding a 100 lbs bike for 2 months has me itching to get on a 15-20 lbs bike and go fast. I will be riding merely around my city for the miles, and won't be touring for some whiles.

valygrl

"ymmv"

tomg

40 to 55 miles per day, average/tour including rest days and longer "gotta get there" moments.

jakuma

Here, Here!!!

In my humble opinion a bike is a tool to tour.

cyclezealot

Why not. They have wheels, same as cars do. and lots more fun.

wiles9

On my tour with my GF, we were FULLY loaded with extras most likely.... we toured for over a month.

We planned a tour, and a distance, and worked out we needed to do 44km a day to make it, this was NO days off... but we had planned to take of lots of days in anywhere we decided was nice to stay...

This low number was ridiculous to be honest, we are home 12 days early, and we have lots of days off..

From the experience we learnt what was possible. If you know your terrain, plan higher or lower numbers accordingly, if you dont go for the middle. We crossed the pyrenees for example, this slows ya down a bit lol...

Our average on OK roads ie. no mountains, we could do 90kms in a day before we started feeling it. My favourite number would be 70km, because it doesnt seem too tedious or tiring, and you can still arrive at a place early and explore somewhat... take into account our maximum was 110km, so were not as hardcore as some of the above!!!

I didnt read this whole thread, but if your new, plan low numbers, im glad i did, now i 100% of what do plan next time, especially the fact i know to add 10km extra through i dodgy looking city, just cause you know you will detour somewhat and waste time, things like that....

Sebach

My average across Canada (solo) worked out to just under 100km per day but that includes like 18 'rest days.' My longest day on tour was just over 255km and my shortest was around 30km. Play it by ear but around 100km/day sounds pretty good to me.

jakuma

Why not. They have wheels, same as cars do. and lots more fun.

The 3 biggest problems I have had with touring is 1) getting my bike to my starting destination 2) sometimes finding a place to park my bike overnight and lastly but most frustratingly 3) parking my fully loaded bike while I am visiting the sights-- with a car you can lock your things up out of sight but not with a bike.

raybo

I have found that when I do more than 60 miles in a day, I feel it the next day.

I try to keep my daily mileage to 50 and try to plan my routes so that for every day I go over 60, I do less the next day to prevent burnout.

Ray

gpsblake

The best answer is to go to www.crazyguyonabike.com and read their journals. The average mileage per day is all over the place. Mine is around 65. I've seen them low as 20-25 and has high as 150.