What is your "common" riding speed
11-26-10, 09:34 PM
#101
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 95
Bikes: Specialized Allez
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
When I look down at my Garmin, it's either saying in the 18-24mph range, or 6-10mph range, depending on uphill or flat/down.
That said, almost all of my rides end with a total avg of 14-15
That said, almost all of my rides end with a total avg of 14-15
11-28-10, 10:07 AM
#102
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: South Florida
Posts: 726
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Whatever happened to a known distance, point A to point B divided by actual time? All stops and slow downs have to be figured in for an accurate accounting.
11-28-10, 10:39 AM
#104
Я люблю суп
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,244
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
On flat with no wind 18-21mph. On flat with head wind 14-17mph. Down hill anywhere from 25 to 50mph. Up hill 2-12% ave grade 3-17mph. All solo riding speed.
11-28-10, 11:15 AM
#105
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Colorado-California-Florida-(hopefully soon): Panama
Posts: 1,059
Bikes: Vintage GT Xizang (titanium mountain bike)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You guys and gals are all reporting your speeds on road bikes on hard surfaces, right? And I assume most of you are younger with good legs?
I'm age 63 with a bad left knee, riding a really good mountain bike with Schwalbe touring tires (26x1.5). I think my speeds are about half of yours. Yet, I do tend to push myself except into headwinds or steep grades uphill. I think I do pretty well at 12-18 mph on the level, 25+ mph downhill, and 4-12 mph uphill or into a headwind. Dirt or gravel seems to slow me down a lot, vs. smooth concrete or asphalt. Mud or sand is a killer.
I'm age 63 with a bad left knee, riding a really good mountain bike with Schwalbe touring tires (26x1.5). I think my speeds are about half of yours. Yet, I do tend to push myself except into headwinds or steep grades uphill. I think I do pretty well at 12-18 mph on the level, 25+ mph downhill, and 4-12 mph uphill or into a headwind. Dirt or gravel seems to slow me down a lot, vs. smooth concrete or asphalt. Mud or sand is a killer.
11-28-10, 07:50 PM
#106
Senior Member
The higher numbers, yes I'd guess they're mostly roadie bikes. Younger? Not necessarily. I'm 55 and on a recumbent. I know some pretty fast 65-year olds.
11-29-10, 12:01 PM
#107
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 605
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
I would say 30 to 35mph on the flats, 20mph uphill and 50 to 60mph downhill.
//flexes muscles
Really, my common speed on a road bike is close to 12-16mph. My aging nearsighted eyes prevent me from safely going much faster now days.
//flexes muscles
Really, my common speed on a road bike is close to 12-16mph. My aging nearsighted eyes prevent me from safely going much faster now days.
11-29-10, 01:00 PM
#108
Bikaholic
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Western, Michigan
Posts: 1,461
Bikes: Trek Fuel 90, Giant OCR, Rans Screamer Tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Road bike 16 - 19 mph depending on wind etc.
Tandem 14 - 18 under same conditions.
MTB 9 - 16 offroad depending on hills and trail surface
Tandem 14 - 18 under same conditions.
MTB 9 - 16 offroad depending on hills and trail surface
11-29-10, 02:47 PM
#109
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,366
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6219 Post(s)
Liked 4,220 Times
in
2,367 Posts
SocialCow's original post
says it all. OP was asking about 'average' speed.
I have seen several threads on average speeds, what I can't seem to find in this forum is... Apart from going for rides, when you get on your bike and go to the store, work and back home, how fast do you normally go I'm not asking for an average speed, I'm asking about the looking down to your speedometer and how fast are you going right under normal conditions.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
11-29-10, 02:50 PM
#110
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
11-29-10, 05:11 PM
#111
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,366
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6219 Post(s)
Liked 4,220 Times
in
2,367 Posts
However, generally speaking, instantaneous speed is a pretty dumb measure of 'common' or normal speed. If I'm going uphill, my instantaneous speed is going to be much lower than if I'm going downhill. If I'm going downhill with a Front Range wind howling at my back, I'm going much, much faster than at any other time. Considering that a couple of weeks ago I was coasting at 25 mph up a hill with a 60 mph wind at my back, I could say that that was my 'cruising speed'.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
11-29-10, 05:14 PM
#112
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 28,387
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
However, generally speaking, instantaneous speed is a pretty dumb measure of 'common' or normal speed. If I'm going uphill, my instantaneous speed is going to be much lower than if I'm going downhill. If I'm going downhill with a Front Range wind howling at my back, I'm going much, much faster than at any other time. Considering that a couple of weeks ago I was coasting at 25 mph up a hill with a 60 mph wind at my back, I could say that that was my 'cruising speed'.
. rm-rf had a nifty graph that showed (IIRC) average grade at each speed, but it was only for a single ride.
11-29-10, 05:19 PM
#113
Arizona Dessert
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: AZ
Posts: 15,030
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
Mentioned: 76 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5345 Post(s)
Liked 2,169 Times
in
1,288 Posts
11-29-10, 08:03 PM
#114
Senior Member
11-30-10, 11:45 PM
#115
Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Diego,CA
Posts: 29
Bikes: GT GTR PRO 2008
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
On a 100 miles ride with 1 cat2 climb and 5 cat5 climbs, my average speed is 16.8 mph-max speed is 43.6 mph. the completion time with breaks is 6.1 hours
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Peter_C
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
89
03-26-10 03:55 PM
