One of the most common questions among new cyclists - and one of the hardest to give a sensible answer to - is the average speed of a cyclist.
There are lots of reasons why average speed can't be used as a reliable measure of comparison, which mostly come down to the following:
Riding conditions
If you live in Norfolk, where hills are few and far between, your experience will bear little comparison with a rider setting off to the Lake District each week. The rolling hills of the Cotswolds are not the same as the Scottish highlands.
So hearing from someone else that their average speed is, say, 20 miles per hour, means very little if you don't know where they are riding.
Some areas are naturally and frequently exposed to high winds. Wind has a very significant impact on cycling speed, even quite gentle wind. Likewise temperature is a factor, with very hot and cold weather both acting to reduce average speed.
Equipment
It's not about the bike? Well perhaps just a bit, especially where weight is concerned. Cyclists who have changed to carbon fibre bikes have told me their speed increased immediately by 5-10%. This was a greater improvement than I expected, and perhaps would only make such an important difference for cyclists in great shape.
Peripheral equipment like tyres can also make a small difference in weight and speed.
I suspect, but can't prove it, that the psychological impact of buying a lighter / more expensive bike also plays a role - if you think you will go faster...you will go faster.
But if you are overweight yourself, saving a kilo on the bike will make a smaller difference.
Distance covered
Average speed varies to an extent with distance covered. Rides less than an hour or so in length will usually have a slightly lower average speed, because the first part of a ride is slower as your legs warm up. Rides between one and two hours usually have the greatest average speed. Then for longer rides the average speed will often start to fall slightly, as fatigue plays an increasing role. For many of us rides over about three hours can become very tiring (assuming a reasonable sustained effort during those three hours!)
Cyclist age
Cyclist age is important, but often less so than the number of years experience that the cyclist has.
Over the years cyclists accumulate a greater proportion of 'slow twitch' muscle fibres in their legs. Heart and lungs will often be strong and efficient. But age counts against all of us!
Older riders will usually be less strong at fast sprints or bursts up short hills, but very good at maintaining steady speed over longer distances. There are lots of 40-50 year old cyclists who can hold their own in rides with 25 year olds.
Teamwork
Cycling in a group - paceline riding - has very significant benefits. For much of the time you will be 'drafting' the person in front ie experiencing limited wind resistance yourself. Although the benefits this provides will vary with conditions and the number of people in the group, it is often said that average speed will increase 20-30% as a result of cycling in a group, even more.
So it is very unlikely your average solo cycling speed will be comparable with the local cycling group. The Tour de France riders achieve 25 miles per hour over 125 miles, but that is very much due to the large size of the peloton (group of cyclists).
Average cycling speed - indications
Bearing in mind all the provisos above, you still want to know 'average cycling speed? Hear are some general guidelines, all for solo riders on general 'mixed' terrain (ie rolling hills about 30% of the time, and pretty flat the rest of the time):
- Beginner, short distance (say 10-15 miles): average speed 12 mph. Most cyclists can achieve 10-12 mph average very quickly with limited training
- More experienced, short-medium distance (say 20-30 miles): average speed 15-16 mph
- Reasonable experience, medium (say 40 miles): average speed 16-19 mph
- Quite competent club rider, some regular training likely, medium-long distances (say 50-60 miles): 20-24 mph
Many cyclists never get an average speed over 13-15 mph, don't worry about it, enjoy yourself. Plenty of cyclists can maintain 25+ mph over long distances, especially if conditions are flat or they are cycling in groups.






Marian Oravec makes this comment
Sunday, 23 May 2010
average speed for 60 miles was
around 18 mph, my time was 3 hours
and 10 minutes.
GeoSpectrum makes this comment
Saturday, 12 June 2010
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Saturday, 12 June 2010
Dragonwight makes this comment
Monday, 14 June 2010
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Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Tim Sturdy makes this comment
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Mary makes this comment
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Will Rudd makes this comment
Saturday, 26 June 2010
One day we met two other cyclists going the same way, and working as a train, our average got to 15 mph.
Admin makes this comment
Saturday, 26 June 2010
It's also very cool that you a doing the ride for charity - hope it works out. We just made a small donation, it would be great if other readers could do the same: see x-americaforautism.
GeoSpectrum makes this comment
Sunday, 27 June 2010
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Sunday, 27 June 2010
Cheers
Pete makes this comment
Monday, 28 June 2010
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Monday, 28 June 2010
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Monday, 28 June 2010
Stego makes this comment
Monday, 28 June 2010
Then I started grad school in Austin and put the bike away for almost 2 years, until the start of this month.
I live in a new development, and have carved out a 3 mile loop where all but two stops are for traffic in the opposite directions. The other two I have the stops, I can see long ahead if the intersection is clear or will be occupied and ride accordingly. However, on a 30 mile ride, there are between 7-10 times where I have to stop/come very close to stopping, which always lowers average speed.
I've been riding almost daily since the first weekend in June and am now up to 30 miles per day. The terrain is pretty much flat here - some gently inclines, but nothing even close to rolling hills. I started early this morning and averaged 18.2 mph. I did the same distance on the same route yesterday at high noon with wind and averaged 17.5 mph with about the same number of traffic conditions. I had to work a lot harder for that 17.5 MPH according to my heart monitor - an extra 700 calories worth.
Road biking is so beautiful with two machines working as one for the singular purpose of speed. I'm so happy to be at it again.
GeoSpectrum makes this comment
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
I agree with Pete, although average speed is not the best way of judging fitness and improvement, it is probably the easiest and as a general guide for beginners not such a bad indication and can indicate a general trend. When it stops going up then I guess you have to be a little more sophisticated about how you guage things.
Parky makes this comment
Thursday, 01 July 2010
On top of the variable mentioned at the top of the article I would add quality of the road surface. There is one hill on the route that is a steady drag for about a mile and suc is the low qualiy of the tarmac that it rides much, much harder than the much steeper hills on the route.
The final point I note is that since I hit 30, my performance drops off much quicker if I have had even a couple of weeks off the bike.
Admin makes this comment
Thursday, 01 July 2010
That's an excellent point you make about road surface and I completely agree that it makes a very big difference, both to speed and (probably more important) to the enjoyment of the ride.
James makes this comment
Monday, 12 July 2010
I have steadily increased my speed and stamina over the past 2 years. I have lost over 4 stone and have gone from 7 miles twice a week at 14mph avg to 125 plus miles a week 5 by 10mi and 5 by 15mi and the occasional added ride at the w/e around 17.5 mph avg. some days I have a headwind and It can really knock me from what I could do for instance 21mph down to 17 mph. recently I did a 40mi, 50mi, and 70mi ride which accumulatively averaged around 16mph.
I have also noticed some other things that really affect my rides except for the wind, hills and mechanicals:
Mentality, somedays I just don't feel right and struggle. Lack of sleep, sometimes it is a struggle and other times has worked in my favour. Food, if I have had a big meal the night before or eaten fatty or acidic foods before riding it really knocks my ride. also taking on carbs regularly throughout a session seems to help me. Drink, booze the night before, not loads but a little is enough to slow me down. Also lack of hydration. If I drink lots of water maybe 100mls every mile it really helps my work rate to stay stable. Stretching and warmining up, something I am bad at yet I know that when I do my muscles tend to work better and don't stiffen up so much. Traffic and stuff, well, annoyiongly if you do short suburban to urban runs, small jams, lights, road works, buses etc seems to make your avg really come down. i don't really worry about checking my avg on commutes because it is so varied. One day I can do an 8 mile route in 25 mins and other days 35 mins just from traffic.
James makes this comment
Monday, 12 July 2010
Admin makes this comment
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Your speed over a 30+ miles ride is probably a better guide than over 10-15 miles which is a bit shorter than most club riders would do. I'm guessing that losing 4 stone has made a big difference, and losing some more weight will carry on bringing improvements.
I'd try and do some more club rides, it's the best way to see how you compare with other riders and to know when you're ready to race.
Dave makes this comment
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Dilshan makes this comment
Saturday, 17 July 2010
Today morning i took it for a ride after about 2months and averaged ~25Km/h .... Usually i do around 30Km/h.
Sorry we dont have miles and MPH here, just kilometers and KMH
Roads aren't good either
dreaming about riding a road bike on a flat road
anyway, my dream vehicle is a Titanium frame 5000$ road bike lol
John makes this comment
Monday, 19 July 2010
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Tuesday, 20 July 2010
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Thursday, 22 July 2010
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Thursday, 22 July 2010
Philthy makes this comment
Sunday, 25 July 2010
Admin makes this comment
Monday, 26 July 2010
Average speed will increase with time - but don't get too hung-up on average speed for now, focus more on technique (eg cadence), riding at a reasonably easy pace but including a few burst of hard effort in each ride (eg riding hard up a short hill, or as fast as you can for 500 metres on the flat). This will probably lower your average speed at first but in the long term will make you faster.
Seth makes this comment
Friday, 06 August 2010
Admin makes this comment
Friday, 06 August 2010
By the way, did you use a bike computer to get the average? Just that they usually stop counting when you stop to mend a puncture? Might be worth getting one if you haven't already.
Ruslan makes this comment
Sunday, 08 August 2010
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Sunday, 08 August 2010
chris makes this comment
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
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Wednesday, 18 August 2010
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Wednesday, 18 August 2010
gordon makes this comment
Friday, 27 August 2010
mike makes this comment
Saturday, 28 August 2010
Robert makes this comment
Sunday, 29 August 2010
I average about 12 mph, (digital comp on bike) mostly flat here in central texas
Question I have is on equipment. Chain ring gears 48 big, I find myself running out of gears on some runs I do. Sometime I can maintain speeds with 48/16 Running out of gears. it is an 18 speed, 48/38/28, cogs 28 - 14
I am on a borrowed bike. If I was to buy a new bike, does the cost of a bike make a large difference in speed/performance? I know the old saying, you get what you pay for. I just dont know enough about buying a bike. What price change does it stop making a difference? Some prices is pure sticker shock lol lol
Any thoughts on gearing set up/ sizes? How big of a chain ring?
Thanks for any comments
Bob
jon ogden makes this comment
Monday, 30 August 2010
Julia makes this comment
Monday, 30 August 2010
I found it great to read all of your comments! I have a giant mountain bike, and I have been cycling for many years now. I am only in mid teens and I hope to get better and better at biking. I don't know my average speed , but I have been told by someone who does possess Speed sensor that I have managed to clock up about 30 mph going down a steep hill
Admin makes this comment
Monday, 30 August 2010
Admin makes this comment
Monday, 30 August 2010
I'd avoid very cheap heavy bikes but once you get to decent brands then spending lots extra on a bike does not bring enormous benefits (in the UK £400-£600 is a good basic bike, not sure how prices compare in the US, a Trek 1.1 is a decent bike and should be a guide to the price of starter level bikes in your area). of course, if you're rich or sure you're going to be cycling a lot there's no harm in paying more...£1000-£2000 bikes can be excellent!
Admin makes this comment
Monday, 30 August 2010
I'd stick speed sensor (bike computer) on your next birthday list, they give lots of useful info and trying to work out distance / speed etc without one is pretty unreliable. A basic one should only cost about £20.
Julia makes this comment
Monday, 30 August 2010
Gerald makes this comment
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
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Tuesday, 31 August 2010
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Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Robert makes this comment
Wednesday, 01 September 2010
Thanks for the reply
Great site