no1mad 

What differences have you noticed between CC, supported, and self contained, if you've done more than one? I realize that the weight on the bike is only one variable to consider, with wind and hills being other major factors off the top of my head, but I'm curious as to how fast/far you push yourselves while on tour.

antokelly

fully loaded whice is rear panniers and bar bag for me usually 12to 13mph over 50to60miles.
i dont like going much further than that i could if push came to shove biggest distance with panniers was 110 miles but man i was knackered at the end of the day ,so i tend to keep things at 50 miles and a nice average speed.

irishbill76

11-12 mph average over a usual 40-45 mile day out with the bike club. 10-11 mph on my own. usually lightly loaded but my bike still weighs a heck of a lot more than the other guys i ride with. im gradually building up my endurance as when i got back into cycling 2 months ago i could only manage 10 miles before i ran out of steam. i can go maybe 45-50 miles now without too much trouble.

djb

16-17kph guy here too, over a full day and over diff terrain.

gorshkov

When I do self-contained touring, I generally average 12-14 mph on level terrain with no wind (but when does that ever happen?). I haven't done any supported or CC touring, but I do commute on the same bike as I use for loaded touring. I figure my commuting load is similar to what I would carry on a CC tour, and my average commuting speed is about 15-16 mph, again assuming no wind. My perceived level of effort is similar to what I do when touring. Both of these numbers are the average speed on the bike. When I tour, the average speed including stops is usually 9-10 mph.

xilios

We ride around 11-12mph, never found the need to go faster, smell the roses ;-)

nashcommguy

On an Ireland, Wales and Scotland tour a few years ago I averaged just a little over 10.5 mph @ 43.7 miles per day. My longest day was 62 miles between Kilrush and Mallow in Ireland. That leg was done in 5:05 hrs. 12.2 mph. It was largely rolling w/just a couple of stern climbs as I recall.

The climbs in the coastal areas of Erin were brutal , but so worth it. Have to say though the toughest part of my 'Grand Tour' was from Ballycastle on the NE coast to Larne on the coast to the south. The wind was unrelenting. 40 miles...5 hrs. So exhausted I took a train into Belfast and a cab to the hostel.

In Wales there's a place called Devil's Bridge located about 15-18 miles east of Aberystwyth. There's a 'small track' train that goes back and forth, but I decided to echew the train and cycle it. While only being about 15 miles I remember the relentless grind of the constant climb to the hostel. Don't recall any descends, but there must've been some, don't cha think?

djb

Nashcom, I'm familiar with the aber area and I sympathize. The hills are really quite relentless and or bloody steep (20-25% not that uncommon). I have thought of travelling by bike there but it would be on a mtn crank equipped bike!

antokelly

touring ireland later this year not looking forward to those big hill down south lol but if the sun shines i'll be a happy camper and i'll be smelling the roses as well my go fast days are well gone.

brentirvine

We tour at about 15-18 km/h when loaded with panniers, about 18-20 km/h when CC riding. Either way, it depends a lot on the wind and how much there is to see, how busy the roads and how smooth the route.

B

Yan 

19km/h on average over flat or gently rolling terrain, not including breaks. Usually works out to about 16km/h once factoring in rests and meals.

Tourist in MSN

Also in the 11 to 12 mph range. Usually use a gear that is about 5 to 10 percent lower when hauling my camping gear for a long day than I would if I was unladen.

bradtx

no1mad, My average speed at the end of the day's ride has varied from 5 MPH to 14 MPH riding solo. Average that and it's about 9.5 MPH.

My average speed when I had a dedicated century bike was higher, but my attitude on the touring bike is more lax than when I was hell-bent on grinding out the most mileage at the fastest possible speed. Weight is also a factor, but perhaps not to the extent that panniers have WRT aerodynamics.

Brad

antokelly

well just back from a windy 40 mile spin average 13.3 mph man i'm getting old lol... but i enjoyed it .

reed523

Supported tends to be about 14-15 mph. Self contained over significant distance about 10-12. Funny but I assumed after coming off a big tour and dropping the bags and gear, my speed would shoot up. It didn't happen and I'm not sure why. Was it a mental thing or the simple fact that I really don't care how fast i'm going any more?

Cyclebum

10-12 mph loaded, 50 miles/day solo, faster if with a rabbit partner. Most of my touring partners have been rabbits for me.

CCrew

I set my average touring cruise control for 10mph. I'm touring, not racing.

fietsbob

7~8.. but i have not used a computer to check .. in a long time..

Often My Air speed is greater, the ground speed drops.

djb

Dare I ask where your pitot tube is?

B. Carfree

There is quite a bit of variability in my average. Generally, we plan for somewhere in the 10-14 mph range including breaks on self-contained tours. However, put us on our tandem on the Lost Coast and it's going to be closer to half that speed. The only reason we keep any track at all is to coordinate/plan where we are going to need to get food and where we are going to spend the night.

scroca

I make a point of not pushing the pace unless I'm trying to get somewhere in time or get ahead of upcoming rain/bad weather. With hills and strong winds this past week, fully loaded and self-sustained, I was in the 10-13 mph range, varying from 30 to 50 miles a day.

I really believe it is better for overall enjoyment if you don't race around when you're touring, plus you can get in more miles more comfortably.

Machka 

I've done all three types of tour ... credit card, supported, and self-contained.

I don't push myself particularly hard on any tour. It's a tour, not a race. If I'm feeling strong that day, I might ride a little bit faster. If I feel like stopping every few km and taking photos I do. If I want a long lunch, I take a long lunch. If I decide I want to ride a century on one day of a tour, I do.

Of course this also depends on the person I'm touring with (these days, it's Rowan, of course ) but we discuss it and decide what we want to do.

Outside of randonneuring (which is timed), I don't pay much attention to speed, time, etc.

EKW in DC

lol +1

nashcommguy

Practice doing switchbacks while fully loaded...it's a good skill to have when taking on those coastal hills in S. Ireland!

Terry66

There are so many variables like hills, winds, tires, surface, etc. On flat ground and my bike loaded to about 70lbs, I do around 13-15mph on 37c tires. Try to stick to around 40-50 miles in a day, but we've done 80+