lets talk speed here!

[MadoneRider1991]

average 17.2mph on my way to college

 

[4F]

Last years average 14.6 mph. this year to date 14.25. Normally find that the winter spring commute is slower due to wearing more, colder and often windier weather. The summer / autumn commute is usually around the the 16 - 18 mark

 

[mr_cellophane]

I cycle daily from Beckenham to Canary Wharf (flat 10 miles) and back on an old MTB with rubber pedals and average 15-16 mph. I use some sh1tty cycle paths and have to carry the m/c up and down @ 20 flights of stairs using the Greenwich foot tunnel, so that slows you down a bit.

There are lifts you know . It is the walk through the tunnel that gets me, especcially the second half when it is slightly up hill.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

My average for this year is a little over 12mph .. February was better than January and March is shaping up to be better than February. I've now got the slicks on in place of the knobblies and should soon be able to use the quicker (and wetter!!) route through the woods on the way to / from work so that'll help too. Plus, I find my legs work better on warmer mornings.

Course, day to day there's a difference in my average per trip to / from work: some days I'll be over 14mph for the 7 mile commute, others I'll be below 11. Depends on the weather, the route I take and stuff like that.

I also tend to be rather lazy and so if I don't keep reminding myself to keep pushing will tend to bimble along enjoying the day.

 

[Halfmanhalfbike]

I did a Cat 4 race at the weekend and got blown out the back by the end of the first lap. The course was lumpy and had a good headwind on one of the legs. I averaged 19 mph. The winner managed 21 mph over a 40 mile course. So, low level amateur riding needs a pace of at least 20+ mph.

Was that the Gifford race?. I was down spectating. I thought some of the course was really exposed into the wind that was blowing

 

[Halfmanhalfbike]

forget speed sit back and enjoy the ride

Best advice so far.

PS My average is 16mph on a Tourer. Getting a new cannondale soon. If the average doesn't go up to 20mph I'll be P*ssed Off

 

[J4CKO]

Dont know about you lot but I dont feel like I am moving unless I am doing 15/16 mph, someotmes quite happy to dawdle below that but I try to keep at least 15 mph on the computer as a cruising speed, 16/17 feels nice and any faster than 20 is wonderful but rare on the flat, I can do it but the law of diminishing returns kicks in big stly much after 17 mph.

I am on a Cannondale Bad Boy 700 with panniers, it weighs 39 lbs laden with all my gear, or 51 with my laptop and accesories, I am on 32 mm Michelin hybrid knobbly on the side and some tread in the middle. I think my Altura Night Vision slows me down as I went a size larger than I needed and it sometimes feels like a sial.

I am dying to do my commute on a nice drop barred road bike with no additional weight (apart from the fat lump sat on top) and and less sensible tyres.

 

[Wigsie]

+1 for "Forget Speed sit back and enjoy the ride"

But for the record (ha ha yeah i know), 14.5mph on way too work, 22.3mph average on way home!

 

[4F]

+1 for "Forget Speed sit back and enjoy the ride"

But that's all well and good until you see another cyclist and then as much as I try to resist I turn into "commuter racer man"

 

[J4CKO]

But that's all well and good until you see another cyclist and then as much as I try to resist I turn into "commuter racer man"


Yes, always reminds me of that bit from the film Bullitt where they guy in the Black Charger clock Steve McQueen, put their belts on, downshift, boot it and the chase is on,

Only much, much slower......

 

[Halfmanhalfbike]

But that's all well and good until you see another cyclist and then as much as I try to resist I turn into "commuter racer man"

It's a Law of Nature. ANY cyclist in front of you is automatically your enemy until (if) you pass them. Then they become your best mate

 

[iacula]

I am essentially a runner who came to cycling having been made redundant i took a job that did not involve car travel hence my daily commute. At the age of almost 53 i can do a half marathon in approx 1 hr 35 mins the bike is my main source of training

I am also a runner of sorts, (no talent and age 52). I did a fairly recent Half marathon pb of 1h50min, but my 10 mile hilly country lane commute best is around 13mph, slow by the standards of the others on this thread. I'm fairly new to cycling I think it takes time to build those cycling muscles to the level that will stress the cardiovascular system to the same level that running does. Good luck with the Plantar Faciitis my PF injury took about 3 months to repair.

 

[Wigsie]

But that's all well and good until you see another cyclist and then as much as I try to resist I turn into "commuter racer man"

You got me there FatFella, but thats not technically commuting, if there is another cyclist in your sights its racing! ha ha in my case 10mph slower and 3 stone heavier version of racing... but then average speed goes out he window and its all about speed bursting past them and trying to maintain it long enough to get out of eyesight without throwing up!

 

[goo_mason]

Have been known to average 18 - 19mph on my 10 mile commute when I'm feeling fit and alert.

Usual is 16 - 17mph though.

May get better over the summer as I tried out an alternative section on this morning's commute. Although there are some shortish climbs on it, there are some lovely, long and fast downhill stretches

 

[Plax]

I average 12-14 mph, but I do have an awful lot of hills. On the flats I can maintain a steady 18-20ish mph. The hills take the wind out of my sails.