Commuting times, average speeds and PBs

[karlos_the_jackal]

I do just over 13 miles in just over an hour so probably about 11.5-12mph.

I like to think that its the following reasons:-
Unfit
Previous fitness regime was running
Newbie-only about 8 weeks in.
Legs are killing me as i'm building up to full week.
100kg
Stop at all red lights (slight fib have probably crossed 2/3)
Lots of lights on route
Ride a decathlon MTB
Have beard

But yet, give me a long flat and i can motor pass slick hybrids with ease and keep in touch with roadies, got drafting down to a fine skill.

I'll only get a computer when i get a new bike and some more weight off, the harder the bike is to ride at the moment the better that weight loss is going to be. It will be like riding on a moving walkway compared to riding through custard.

So my personal best is my weight

 

[jimboalee]

Im 29 relatively fit and I averaged 13.66 this month. I do live in Sheffield which is quite hilly. I do stop for all red lights and I dont take silly risks (undertaking lorries etc.).

I do genuinely try and beat my PB most journeys though because I want to push my body and improve fitness during my commute, for me its not about just getting to and from work.

It might come as a surprise to you but you don't have to ride fast to get fit ona bicycle.

You live in Sheffield, a hilly area. Strap a 5kg disk to your bike and ride up the hills.

 

[BSA]

It might come as a surprise to you but you don't have to ride fast to get fit ona bicycle.

You live in Sheffield, a hilly area. Strap a 5kg disk to your bike and ride up the hills.

Thats would be great the first time but then on subsequent rides I would try and beat my PB with a 5kg weight attached.

 

[gaz]

I only check my clock when i'm in hyde park, if i'm sub 45 mins at that point. then i know if i get out of the saddle and push my bike up there then i know i'm going to be sub 51 mins.

 

[Molecule Man]

p.s. The near death experience: What happened was I got annoyed by thoughtless riding from another cyclist, whizzed past him and started undertaking a flat bed lorry when the lorry was forced to move left to avoid an oncoming bus. Parked cars left me nowhere to go and I was starting to be pulled under the flatbed (it was a little builders type lorry with no side bar thingys to stop you going under). I had to hop off the bike and onto the flatbed and pull the bike up after me. What a numpty! I've got the message.

Are you a stuntman for a living? That's one hell of a manoeuvre!

 

[iacula]

I guess people on this site, are on average not representative of the nation's or capital's cycling fraternity. On average at least we're a tad keener...we do define ourselves as cyclists after all, as if we were a tribe or summat!

 

[J4CKO]

I have a nice rural commute, not much in the way of junctions or traffic, usually do about 15/16 mph on a Cannondale Bad Boy, 28 mm slicks, panniers etc, im 38, about 100 kilos/6ft, bit podgy but seem to be reasonably fit after a year and a bit of this lark, done a best of 17.5 but dont always record the time/average so may well have beaten it the other night on an epic ride home.

I averaged about 10 mph today, extra ten minutes to change a puncture !

 

[HLaB]

The point of my original post was that despite the fact I average 12mph, I am still passing a lot of people. But reading this forum, I get the impression that a mere 12mph is snail-like. I don't take risks, never ever RLJ, and I am not really interested in arriving at work in a lather. My use of terms like PB was meant to be slightly ironic. I doubt my PB will change significantly.

12mph Is not really slow on a commute accross town IMO. On the heavy (37mm trod) Hybrid I only usually average around 13.5mph and I overtake plenty of people too. Like you I don't take risks (I hope) and don't RLJ which significantly lowers the average speed.

 

[potsy]

Youve cheered me up I thought I was the only sub 13mph commuter

Age and fitness levels are probably similar to yours.

On a leisure ride of about 12 miles I have averaged 14.9 once .Next time Im feeling good I'm going to try and break the 15 barrier.Usually Im not that interested in speed just like riding taking in the views and feeling good.

I have some doubts about "averages" posted on forums .There cant be that many Lance Armstrongs

I'll cheer you up as well then my average has gone from 11.65mph in May to 12.79 in July for a 9.25 mile each-way commute.
I tend to be much faster on way home too

 

[jig-sore]

my route is 11.5 or 12 miles, depending on if i use the cycle route or go through town.

on the way to work i average around 15-16 mph, on the way home it's 18-19 mph.

cheap hybrid with 700x40c Michelin city tyres.

last week i rode home in a real downpour, the 700x40 tyres were noticeably more sluggish through the water, i road through the center of rugby and still made it home in just over 39 minuets, averaging 18.1mph I WAS NOT TAKING RISKS, that's just the amount of time it takes. i can make good progress in the country side between rugby and daventry.

my one and only traffic light is under the railway bridge next to rugby station, a single carriage way bridge, and I'm NOT gonna be jumping that !!!!

quick does not mean "unsafe", come on people, this is getting a bit boring

 

[Downward]

You can't really compare with others unless your all doing the same commute.
For me - Slowest Av is 10.2mph, Fastest is 13.62mph.
In the car it's 22.08mph.

3.5mph sounds not a lot but it's 10 minutes in time over 6.5 miles.

Total Ascent is 590 feet

 

[andrew-the-tortoise]

A hilly 23 mile round commute, averaging approx. 12mph.

[On a MTB].

 

[ketka82uk]

My commute is around 10.5 miles each way and at a medium pace I'll average about 13-14mph. Still, I wouldn't say that average speed is necessarily a fair reflection of how fast you can actually travel - especially in the city.

I was riding up the Chsiwick High Road last week, riding at a medium to hard pace where possible. At Hammersmith I'd passed a girl on an mtb who seemed to be going at a pretty leisurely pace. By Chiswick Roundabout the same chick was still only just behind me! Along those 2.5 miles I'd been stopped by virtually EVERY traffic light (bar two) and she had managed to time it to perfection so that she sauntered up next to me just as the light was turning green each time. I was in awe (and really quite envious)!

OK, I might have had the better workout but along that stretch of road my average speed was no faster than hers, despite me travelling at least 8-9 mph faster between the lights. Moral of this story? Average speed on a London commute usually means absolutely nada unless you RLJ!

 

[lukesdad]

commute 76 miles a day (in summer) round trip. Dont get passed by anything let alone a cyclist and only pass sheep. Havnt got a clue what my personal best is and dont care but i do it in wellunder 3 hrs sad are nt I but then again look where I live !!!!!!!

 

[lukesdad]

Soorry whats a traffic lght?