average speed

[Kirstie]

When touring I do 11mph when its very hilly, a bit faster when it's not
On long day rides (up to about 90 miles) I go between 15 and 16mph.

 

[HJ]

On a recent circuit of Arran I found I was averaging 12mph as opposed to my commuting average of 15mph.

 

[punkypossum]

Flipping heck - my average is about 12 unloaded!!!

 

[ASC1951]

I know what you mean. I thought of going out with a local group for one of their 'short evening rides'.

Luckily I asked about the pace first - " The average speed will, I am sure, be in excess of 17mph, so at times we'll be rattling along well above evens."

Well, I'm sure they had a cracking time.

 

[CycleTourer]

Flipping heck - my average is about 12 unloaded!!!

I'm inclined to agree with you, these averages seem a bit high to me, we normally average somewhere between 7 -9mph on an average 40-50 mile day touring. Mind you it depends on the terrain and the wind! Our best day was actually in Iceland where we averaged 11.4mph over a 50mile day and that was with a 15mph tail wind for most of the way.

 

[Disgruntled Goat]

28mph. I also have a 12" cock.

 

[yenrod]

whats peoples av speed when touring or just a long day ride?

For a chainy ride it can be around 30kmph +, but generally its about 25kmph...

 

[spindrift]

I did a ton on a laden tourer in The Loire Valley when I was young (er)

100miles I mean, not 100 mph.

 

[Nigeyy]

Depends so much on the terrain, head wind, load carried, and of course how you choose to measure your average speed, etc.

Fully loaded I average anywhere from 8-15mph, where 15mph is extremely unusual and probably only because I have a gale force tailwind down a very steep hill. I'd guess on rolling to flat roads with no headwind, around 11-12mph sounds about right. That's using a cyclocomputer that automatically stops when I stop which I would think is how most cyclocomputers work.

 

[HJ]

On a recent circuit of Arran I found I was averaging 12mph as opposed to my commuting average of 15mph.

Flipping heck - my average is about 12 unloaded!!!

Average times taken from my computer. My commute is not very long and something of a sprint, as for Arran the details (well some of them) are on my blog...

 

[snorri]

That's using a cyclocomputer that automatically stops when I stop which I would think is how most cyclocomputers work.

I think people are using different methods of calculating average speed
I would include time spent on meal breaks and sightseeing on foot when calculating my average speed for the day.

 

[ronstrutt]

I work on the basis of 12mph for time in the saddle, 10mph for planning how far I'll get in a day with stops, and 8mph if I know I'm going to be stopping to take a lot of photographs - damned digital cameras.

Add 2mph to all of these speeds if I use a GPS unit, through time saved not having to look at maps.

Add/deduct an appropriate figure for tailwind/headwind.

Deduct/add an appropriate figure to take account of hilliness or the lack thereof.

All of which means that I might be averaging nearly 20mph.

Or going backwards!

 

[CopperBrompton]

Two more correction factors:
+2mph when posting about speeds on a cycling forum
+4mph in the bar after a day's ride

Ben

 

[Keith Oates]

and 6 MPH after 8 pints!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ludwig]

I don't have a speedometer as it would spoil the look of my bike and increase the wind resistance but I would guess about 15 mph on a good day