UnderDawgAl

Two days ago I commuted again for the first time in many years. My inclination on the ride to work was to ride hard because I wasn't sure how long it would take me or what obstacles I might encounter. On the ride home, with no time constraints, I still pushed myself pretty hard. Maybe I need to learn to slow down and enjoy the whole experience.

Do you push yourself on your commute, or do you just take it easy, or do you do something in between?

Of course, I realize speed is relative to many things -- road conditions, how sweaty you want to get, commuter set-up vs. normal riding set-up, etc.

PaulH

My goal is to get to work without getting sweaty. I normally go about 10 mph or so. I've never thought of cycling as either sport or exercise, so this feels natural..

wolfchild

I don't use a bike computer during my commutes, so I have no idea how fast I am riding...Most of my commutes are done in Zone 2 which is a lower intensity aerobic/endurance zone. Some days I use my commute as a recovery ride from hard exercise and I take it very easy.

Darth Lefty 

I go straight to work at an easy pace. It’s <4 miles. After work is when I will go fast and far, time and weather permitting. I’ll also sometimes take a ride at lunch if it’s going to be dark, hot, or tight schedule in the evening.

In the mileage thread I’ll count a long ride home but not a lunch ride.

Hope we are back to normal someday soon.

RonE

My commute is 17 miles each way, and I bike about 2 times per week. I normally cruise at about 15MPH and average 12-13MPH with traffic, stop signs, traffic lights, etc. Living in Florida, there is no way to keep from sweating.

I get good exercise biking and arrive at work in a much better frame of mind than when I drive. I enjoy not only the scenery, but also the sights, sounds and smells that you never notice from a car.

wphamilton

After several years, I settled into the habit of taking it easy gong into work, 13-18 mph, so that I'd arrive pretty fresh and skip the shower. On the way home it's usually 18-20 average door-to-door, which for me is pushing myself.

Chinghis

I commute fast. I track my rides obsessively, and sort of focus on average speed. I tend to average about 12 mph. But I qualify that by pointing out that I ride an old MTB with slicks and 25 pounds of crap on the back. It's a 9-mile ride each way with 600- and 800-foot climbs on each end. So, I think I do OK, at least for my purposes.

Even when I do decide to not push it, it only slows my time down by maximum five minutes. I have trouble riding slowly, honestly.

Ferrouscious 

15-16mph on the way to work. 21 on the way back. About six miles each way.

Archwhorides 

My moving speed is around 16mph and with stops I average 13mph over 10 miles inbound: 1/3 MUP, 2/3 urban stop/go. Same in winter with e-bike and studs

Gresp15C

Inbound, I take it slow, maybe 12 mph for 4 miles. Outbound, however fast I can go. Slower when I'm on studded tires.

wsgts

My strava says I do around 14mph, regardless of the bike taken (even the cargo bike). It's a pretty leisurely pace, but like the other Florida guy mentioned you learn to manage sweat, not avoid it.

alloo

12-17 mph. I ride an ebike. What I find is that I like to cruise. I cruise but I end up going faster as I get into my commute. Other days, I'm in a rush. When I rush I'm more prone to accidents and being careless. Cruising is safe. I ride a city ebike but really love beach cruisers. I used to ride my Townie more, but I wanted more consistent ride times. My commute distance is 12 miles one way. I can usually get two round trips safely. I have gotten three round trips when I first started in March with the Aveny. Fall is coming then winter, I'm thinking about using a lower assist level so I get a better workout and slow down for the snow. I will also be able to stay warmer. I guess, I go with my terrain. I also commute four days a week on the bike. Thinking about making it five days. I'm not sure.

But its me 

Average 12-13mph. I’m pokey and tote everything but the kitchen sink.

Bizman

My commute is 20.4 miles each way, 40.4 round trip. Going in I put out the most effort and make it anywhere from 50 (occasionally 48 or 49) minutes to 60 minutes with and average of 52-55. Going home can vary from about 60 to 100 minutes depending on time of year and temp, colder at 3 am takes longer. When riding a Velomobile I need to ride a fast pace because it’s much faster up hills to get good speed going down a hill and let the momentum help me up the next hill. It’s very hard to ride slow, there is a certain groove that is the most efficient and that is not a slow pace.

fooferdoggie 

I ride on my e bike but my goal is to get exercise heart rate around 130 caddice 80 and not sure on my wattage just got theater on my bike but my gingery has slowed me a bit. but I still push it a bit and do 22 mpoh and average 18 mph on a good day. 17.5 is usual. 19 if I take the bike path.

bargo68 

My commute is just under 25 miles each way. It will take me between 1 hour 20 to about 1 hour 50 depending on which bike I take and how I feel that day. I do generally push myself and a slower ride averages 15-16 mph and if I've got good energy it will be a little over 18 mph. I've been using a Wahoo Bolt for about a month now and I use it with cadence, speed and heart rate monitors and I'm having fun with all the new data.
I had to go in today to do payroll and it was 107 degrees out! Not knowing the forecast, I went out on my go faster with only one bottle. The ride was great both ways, but had to nurse a potential bonk 8 miles from home. I think I lost about 5 pounds in sweat!

caloso

I typically use one leg of the commute as a training ride most days. Whether it's the ride in or the ride home depends on daylight, weather, etc. How fast it is depends on the workout that's scheduled that day. The other leg is usually a mellow, direct ride. My average speed on that leg is pretty dependent on traffic lights.

BBassett

I don't commute on the bike, but I do ride daily anywhere between 20 and 100 miles. I ride a heavy full-suspension tour bike with mid-drive, panniers, bar-bags, and often with a trailer. When the bike is stripped down for single-track or racing across town in traffic, I can pick a speed under 35 mph (on level surfaces) and stay there. When fully loaded I never hit 35 mph and am often under 10 mph while climbing. It all depends on how much voltage and how many calories I want to burn. My average moving speed is always between 12 and 15 mph on rides over 50 miles. Anything less than 50 and I can ride at whatever speed I feel most comfortable at.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ADgC6oyPM2gyrCq27

subgrade

My commute is 6 miles each way, and usually go quite fast. I seem to just have to push myself a little bit at least. The route is all through the city, with 18 traffic lights each way, so that slows me down quite bit overall: my average moving speed is around 13 mph (cruising speed 16-20mph).

AlmostTrick

I like to push it pretty hard on my 12 mile each way commute. Probably around 70-80% of max effort overall. This nets me between 13 and 18 mph average for each ride depending on the wind. The average of all my averages is around 15.

BobbyG

In to work is downhill over 9 mile. I usually take it moderately easy and average 12-14mph depending on the bike, wind and weather (9-10mph avg in snow).
Going home it is mostly uphill so 11-13mph avg.

On the rare occasion where I do push it to my limits I have made it to work with a 15.5 mph average, and 14.5 average home, but then I am sweaty and spent.

Also, because I ride mostly in traffic I can't really race all-out, I have to be aware of my surroundings and be prepared to stop. Even on quiet side streets I must worry about cars blowing through intersections with and without stop signs.

hugorodrigo23

My average speed is 13-14 mph on my 7 miles way to work. I ride at a pace that doesn't make me sweat, and I take a kind of gravel path with a slight climb of about 2 miles on my commute that slows me down a lot. On the way back home, I actually ride a little slower on average, because of heavy traffic and red lights.

UnderDawgAl

When I commuted Friday, I realized that I had my seat too low on my old mountain bike with its street tires. But, like an idiot, I didn't stop and adjust. Instead I kept going. My knees, particularly the left, were killing me this weekend. Once I get my fit dialed in better, it should be easier.

I'm contemplating riding the road bike one day this week instead. That'll give me an opportunity to expend a lot less effort for the same speed. The only issue might be stopping at multiple streets while clipped in. I'm not as quick as I'd like getting that foot locked back into the pedal.

Chinghis

I just rode a road bike around town a little today, and I forgot how unforgiving the gearing can be at stop lights. On my MTB commuter, I always stand and sprint to get up to speed so I can shift to the big ring. Don't have those gears (yet) on the road bike to accelerate from a standing start. At least, not for me.

Germany_chris

Why would I want to hurry my alone and fresh air time.