Average MPH

[ReCYCLE]

Hi Ladies,
I'm trying to gage where I'm at in the grand scheme of things. I'm plus sized and on my hybrid (Trek Navigator) I average 12.5 mph. I got a new road bike (Trek 1.5) and am now averaging 12.1 mph : ( I break all the way down hills. There are several group rides in my area where you have to average at least 16 mph and I'm wondering what speed most people actually go. Commuters, century riders, triathletes, pleasure riders, on whatever bike, head wind, tail wind, plus size, regular size, whatever . . . I want to know what is going on with other people.

[hid558]

Hi: Just keep up with training and practice. When I started I averaged 13mph they were always making fun because that 13 never changed. Now I can keep up at 16 to 18 with the guys. I am still practicing to increase my average, but it is great to know I already left those 13mph.

[Tri Girl]

Welcome to TE.
Gosh- so much depends on so many things. Bike, wind, terrain, how heavy the legs are, humidity... Too many variables to accurately compare yourself to others.
The geometry and handling of a hybrid as opposed to a road bike is so different, so don't worry too much about your speed slowing down. Once you get comfortable you'll speed up.


Since you're looking for numbers- just for comparison, here are some of my averages (keep in mind I live in the flats- when I ride hills, it's always slower):
1. Commuter bike (Bianchi steel road bike): I avg. 12 on commutes- when I'm riding for pleasure and fun it's in the 13's.
2. Tri bike (carbon Cervelo): I average 14-16. When I'm racing it's in the 17-18 range.
when I ride centuries on my tri bike I'm somewhere in the 14-15 range.

So much varies. I have a regular ride of 30 miles at the lake near my house. On my tri bike, sometimes I'm averaging 12, sometimes 17. So much factors into those averages, so I really try not comparing my rides to myself, let alone others. Depends on whether it's a recovery ride, intervals, tempo, or just a "make it through" ride.
I'm not fast, I'm not slow, I'm just me. I keep trying to make improvements and I know I'm stronger on the bike than when I first started and that riding long distances is easier on the body- even if my pace hasn't changed much in years.
At first, riding 30 took it out of me, now I can ride 30 and not feel like I've even worked out. Even if my average speed is the same as it was in the beginning, the fact that it's easier lets me know I've come a long way.

Look at things like THAT to gauge your accomplishments- not always just the numbers.

I generally don't ride with others. Definitely not with groups. I know it would probably make me a better rider, but I just prefer to ride alone. Always have- it's my zen time to think and just "be".

[grey]

I switched from a MTB to a road bike a few years ago after riding with a group that averaged about 12 mph for a year on it. I thought for sure, once I got that nice, lightweight, carbon fiber bike I would be FLYING. Well... yes... but not right off. You use different muscles because you are in a new position, you have a new set of gears to learn, so there's this adjustment period. I went from a triple with an amazing cassette that let me climb anything to a standard double. I hit my first steep hill and hit a wall - I couldn't move the bike even in the easiest gear and had to walk!

Personally, I think you are doing great! 12.5 is nothing to be ashamed of. You get faster as you get stronger, and really it's best to ride at your own pace rather than push hard to keep up with people who want to go faster.

MPH really varies with every ride. Today my group averaged 13.5 mph, but there was
2,000 ft of incline over 37 miles for that, and we stopped and caught our breath a few times. I don't have a bike computer anymore, there are three guys who have all the fancy schtuff and could even tell what grade incline we were on. I don't care *much* because I'm out to have fun, and like watching myself improve. Today was cool because I took those same hills over a 17 mile ride 2 months ago, and had to stop and breathe FOUR TIMES mid-hill because I was practically falling off the bike. Today, I didn't need to stop. At all. That's pretty cool.

I prefer to look at those milestones and accomplishments, rather than speed. But when we average higher than before, there is that little "oh, cool!" moment.

I can't join the bigger group in the next large town because they fly along at 18-20+ all the time. But, I did find these guys (and one more girl, but she can't ride often). We have our own pace and our own goals and try to be reasonable about the goal. If someone doesn't feel up to tough hills or wants to go slower one day, that's fine by all of us. So put some feelers out there, find some folks to ride with!

[Eden]

Check the ride carefully - you may find that like our local club that the "average" speed required for the rides is the average on level ground without a head wind - so its not expected that you will average 16mph for the entire ride. If you can hold a steady 16mph on the flats you will be fine.

Example from Cascade:
Pace
Easy: Under 10 mph
Leisurely: 10-12 mph
Steady: 12-14 mph
Moderate: 14-16 mph
Brisk: 16-18 mph
Strenuous: 18-21 mph
Super Strenuous: 22+ mph

Refers to the range of speeds on level ground without breaks. Downhills may be faster, uphills slower. Note: for rides described as HILLY, consider choosing a pace one step down from your usual comfort level

[westtexas]

I second what others have said about average speeds on group rides - it's probably in ideal conditions of flat road and no wind.

One month ago I was averaging 10-12 into the wind (out here it's usually 18mph+) and 14-16 on flat roads with a 21-23 with a tailwind. I ride about 120 miles a week and yesterday when I rode, I was averaging 17-19 on the flats, 28 with a tailwind and 13-16 into the headwind in average conditions for where I live.

I've heard others say the best way to get faster and stronger is to Just Ride Your Bike.

[Becky]

On the flip side, I've been on group rides where "average" is used to describe rolling average (beginning to end), which means that the group is often travelling several mph above average for much of the ride.

When in doubt, call the ride leader in advance.

[indysteel]

Keep in mind, too, that some groups ride are in a paceline formation. In a paceline, you typically ride very closely behind the rider in front of you, either in a long single file line or, if conditions allows, two abreast. Each person takes a turn "pulling" at the front of the line for a short period and then rotates to the end of the line. In a paceline, it's easily easier to go faster than you would otherwise ride on your own. But also keep in mind that it takes some pretty good bike handling skills to ride in a paceline. If you're a new rider, you might stick to rides where people simply ride together in a loose group. It'll get you used to being around other cyclists without some of the dangers that pacelines pose. That's how I started at first. I eventually progressed to paceline riding, which can be a lot of fun (and a little scary).

[Geonz]

I second what others have said about average speeds on group rides - it's probably in ideal conditions of flat road and no wind.

I would NIX that proclamation about the average. Around here, if they tell me they'll average 16, then I'd better be able to hold 18 for most of the ride. YMMV of course, but bike culture I've mixed with has a very, very strong tendency to "aw shucks, we don't go that fast" and then have that adrenaline/competition thing happen.

This happens a *little* bit less on our slower-paced rides, but every year we battle "mid season pace creep."

What's it mean? Don't be discouraged- keep riding.

I got a lot stronger with intervals, but I didn't have a recipe. I added 1 mph or 2 mph to my speed and tried to hold onto it until it was hard for a while (I'd try to do 100 x my waltz count that comes from doing bilateral breathing in swimming... somehow it's less boring if I have a rhythm with a dominant beat... ONE two three...) and then relax for ... 'til I almost got my breath back. We have roads on the grid, so I'd kinda keep an eye on how fast I went for each mile -- but I don't really compare one day or one mile to the next seriously. Just "go a little harder for a while... okay, for ten seconds longer than you want to, get to breathing hard!"

[suzbyrd]

I usually average around 17mph on hilly terrain. Went to the beach on vacation and averaged 18.5. It is so much easier to go fast when on flat ground. Rode 135 miles in 5 rides.

[loopybunny]

Hi Ladies,
I'm trying to gage where I'm at in the grand scheme of things. I'm plus sized and on my hybrid (Trek Navigator) I average 12.5 mph. I got a new road bike (Trek 1.5) and am now averaging 12.1 mph : ( I break all the way down hills. There are several group rides in my area where you have to average at least 16 mph and I'm wondering what speed most people actually go. Commuters, century riders, triathletes, pleasure riders, on whatever bike, head wind, tail wind, plus size, regular size, whatever . . . I want to know what is going on with other people.

I'm also plus size and on my bike (same as yours!) I average 12.5-14.5 mph when you factor in stopping at lights and signs (or slowing down for signs). On the straights with no stops, I'll average 15-18 mph and about 20-25 when I decide to push myself. I ride almost exclusively flat terrain because it's what we have where I live. These numbers are based on my most recent rides. Usually I try to ride 20-30 miles, but I've actually only had 2 rides that distance since the end of February.

I had an accident at the beginning of March that took me off the bike for about 2 months (I did do one short ride on my mtb after 5 weeks, but I wasn't supposed to). I'm actually about 1 mph faster now because I dropped about 15 lbs while I was recovering. Apparently with a traumatic brain injury, your metabolism may speed up, and I was eating carefully in order to not put on weight so it was a sudden loss. Unfortunately, it doesn't remain high. Fortunately, I didn't get into the habit of chowing down on junk.

I almost exclusively ride solo for several reasons, mostly because I have only one local friend that rides and her bike was stolen. There is also a fear in me about riding with a group since my accident was caused by another cyclist that was careless at an event. (I was descending a hill at about 25-30 mph according to witnesses. Major crash.)

It sounds like you're probably about where the rest of us recreational cyclists are.

Happy riding!