What is a good average mph for commute?

[Fuzzball]

I have just got myself a cycle computer for the bike and am currently commuting using my road bike (not enjoying this as i prefer pannier to rucksack).

SO i am left wondering what is a good average mph for commuting, i go right through the centre of glasgow, over squinty bridge, along A8 past Rangers down past Braehead, through Renfrew and then to airport down Abbotsinch Road.

I want to build up to a level i could join a club and not end up tagging on the end on club runs. The commute is 10.8miles each way and i do it every other day, on the days i don't cycle i go to the gym for a run and weights.


I am sure this has been covered before but i couldn't find anything in recent posts

 

[fossyant]

Better off judging speed and averages from a training run. Not commute due to lights/traffic etc. If you can do 17mph on a training run, you'll be OK on a club run. Endurance comes in though.

 

[daSmirnov]

Really depends on traffic levels. 15mph is a decent average in light traffic, busier traffic can see you down to about 12mph. Club runs will typically be on the open road though.

A lot of clubs have a range of groups, and they might have one day every few weeks where people can try tagging onto faster groups and they'll wait up if required. The one in Horsham has 5 or so different groups at different speeds and distances. From 10mph to about 18mph.

 

[gaz]

13mph is a good average for my commute, but that sees me cycling 17 miles through London at rush hour with over 100 traffic lights.

 

[Norm]

I'll start saying that I think it is of little relevance to ask what others do, unless they do the same route at the same time as you. Commuting isn't a race, and shouldn't be treated as such, as there should be nothing which compromises safety, IMO.

That said, I was always happy with 15-16mph for a commute just under 10 miles, but that was mostly rural and flat with no traffic lights.

That would be 40-45 minutes for 10.8 miles, although it depends on traffic, junctions and terrain.

 

[Adasta]

13mph is a good average for my commute, but that sees me cycling 17 miles through London at rush hour with over 100 traffic lights.

Agreed. You're quicker than me though, so I'd be alright with 11-12mph.

 

[BlackPanther]

I average around 18 mph, but on a good day if the lights are right, 20 mph is about the max I aim for. It's better to just concentrate on pedal revs, get into the zone and keep it up.

As for the rucksack.....I've only tried it once on the road bike, never again! Way too sweaty. I use a quick release seat post mounted rack and panniers, and they're great. Well worth the price.

 

[Moodyman]

12mph over a 12-mile commute (800 feet of climbing and a dozen lights).

 

[Fuzzball]

I know what you mean about lights and junctions affecting times, but i live in town and don't really know of anywhere near me to go for a run without lights.

Any suggestions of a good 10miler near centre of glasgow

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

With traffic and lights and everything, I normally do 16.5 on my 17 mile commute. On Friday, I got green lights all through the city and a tail wind, so managed 18 mph. Well chuffed, home on 55 mins, which is about the same as a mate who goes home by car !

 

[fossyant]

I know what you mean about lights and junctions affecting times, but i live in town and don't really know of anywhere near me to go for a run without lights.

Any suggestions of a good 10miler near centre of glasgow

Just get on the bike.

I have a great 10 mile tester from home, only 4 lights 2 out, and the same back, but it's lumpy. TBH I don't judge any of my commutes on time/average etc - as folk have said, be careful, open up the speed when conditions are safe. I only judge speed over 20/30 mile routes I have for weekends - that and Garmin data keeps me happy.

 

[fossyant]

I see many folk going for the quickest line past traffic or lights. Tell you what, stopping for lights, then getting back up to speed does huge benefits for fitness. Your ability to stop, recover, power on helps massively. Lactic acid processing at it's best. It's a killer at first, but do the stop start, really improves fitness. Interval training without thinking about it.

 

[gaz]

I see many folk going for the quickest line past traffic or lights. Tell you what, stopping for lights, then getting back up to speed does huge benefits for fitness. Your ability to stop, recover, power on helps massively. Lactic acid processing at it's best. It's a killer at first, but do the stop start, really improves fitness. Interval training without thinking about it.

Especially in a city filled with other cyclists, every light change is a sprint to the next red.

 

[2wd]

I average 12mph, thats in the evenings,light traffic but plenty of hills

I'm 48 and only been cycling for 4-5 weeks after a 30 year break, so not sure if thats good or bad, but it's the best I can do at the moment

 

[DCLane]

My 11-mile commute from Dewsbury to Leeds is about 30 minutes (20 mph ave) into Leeds, but around 40 minutes (15 mph ave) back. I think I'm doing OK, but still get passed by the odd one or two full-on road bikers (got one back on Friday who's been passing me regularly since May).

Basically, it's all dual-carriageway (40/70mph) or lights - there's 25 of them to go through!