What is a good average mph for commute?

[Rob3rt]

Whatever value that gets you to work in a timely fashion whilst still maintaining safety! Only idiots TT on commutes.

 

[ianrauk]

Right on both counts Ian.

Bloody bromley hill

That Bromley Hill is a bloody enigma. Never climb that hill at the same speed everyday.
My speed up there changes from anything from 10mph up to 20mph (drafting a bus)..
And of course it's always much quicker wheel sucking..
It's even better when a lycrad up roadie overtakes me just before the hill (of course I let them over take a panniered up baggy wearing cyclist), I latch on, get a tow, wait for them to change to the low gears half way up.. then... wooosh...see ya matey...

Though I have been caught out myself a few times..

 

[sabian92]

I personally average about 10-12mph (depending on traffic, wind, how lazy I feel) over a 3 mile each way commute.

Doesn't sound great, but when you're 17st and seriously unfit, I don't think I do that badly to be honest.

 

[ianrauk]

Oh yes, my average speed over the year for my commute (35 mile round trip) is 15.4mph with about 90 sets of lights to contend with.

 

[BentMikey]

sounds obvious but this is really good advice. I took a ride up the longest hill on my commute last week and for one reason or another I did it really slowly.

I could have had a chat all the way up, was totally full of beans at the top and not that puffed at all. Compare that to a few months ago when I would have crawled up that hill in the smallest ring, wheezing and puffing all the way.

Riding slow is a real challange though (and i dont mean that in an arrogant way, I just find my ego kicks in and I *have* to get up to cruiusing speed)

Is because I made you go slow? In which case we did chat up that hill. It's not very often that I'm mentally strong enough to ride slowly, but I knew I had no choice given the long week of commuting and work ahead of me. Despite going so slowly on Weds, my legs are so sore today that I woke up quite a few times last night with the pain. Too much intensity in my lessons, I think.

 

[Jezston]

Whatever value that gets you to work in a timely fashion whilst still maintaining safety! Only idiots TT on commutes.

Quite. Don't worry about your speeds. Ditch the computer for commuting.

 

[BenM]

I average about 12mph on the 4 mile commute... either way - the out and back are a bit different. I also averaged 12mph on a 70 mile run from Bath to Weymouth taking in all the hills the route planner could find (well nearly)...

I think 12mph average is my speed; it gets me where I want to be when I want to be there - it is unlikely to change because I am too lazy to make the effort

B.

 

[Kiwiavenger]

over the last month mine has been 13.5 mph in to work and 11 mph out. ive had to swap to some heavy old steel wheels with unlubed bearings for 3 weeks after buckling mine beyond recognition and waiting on the insurers!

will see tomorrow and wednesday how the wheels affect me when i get mine back!!

 

[subaqua]

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

so its not just me then


cycle puter is currently showing 14.6 average but that includes the weekend pottering about with the kids. I might have a go at zeroing it but last time i tried this I ended up resetting the whole thing including time and wheel size !

 

[DCLane]

It varies ... this morning's was 23.5mph 21.4 mph average in 28 mins (11 10 mile commute). Why? Lots of green lights and despite heavy traffic, no real hold-ups.

Other days it can be 35 minutes just because of lights and/or traffic.

Edited - now I've re-checked the route

 

[totallyfixed]

It varies ... this morning's was 23.5mph average in 28 mins (11 mile commute). Why? Lots of green lights and despite heavy traffic, no real hold-ups.

Other days it can be 35 minutes just because of lights and/or traffic.

Am I correct in assuming you are not on a TT bike and it is not perfectly flat and this is door to door?

 

[DCLane]

Door-to-door from Dewsbury to the centre of Leeds and it's a standard touring bike, with rucksack rather than panniers.

Flat ... no. It's a mixture of hills (3 climbs, 5 descents) with the reverse in the evening - that's 36-42 minutes. The 'fun' bit is the 4 miles on 70mph dual-carriageway. That certainly gets things ... moving.

 

[totallyfixed]

Door-to-door and it's a standard touring bike, with rucksack rather than panniers.

Flat ... no. It's a mixture of hills (3 climbs, 5 descents) with the reverse in the evening - that's 36-42 minutes.

In which case you should be racing, I don't know your age but if you are young enough get yourself off to British Cycling. Certainly if you can average 23.5mph on a touring bike with a rucksack for 11 miles then you are right up there with some of the quickest men in the country

. Just goes to show the talent we have among CC'ers. My better half is seriously quick and even I am having a job staying with her, but neither of us could come close to you. I have many TT contacts around the country, please turn up to a local time trial and give it a go, the season has just finished but I can put you in touch with your local one for next year.
I think you must take the title of quickest commuter on Cycle Chat.

 

[DCLane]

I'm not that quick ! Thanks for the comment all the same. There's also a couple of people who do a shorter commute and are at least the same speed - although they ride a carbon Felt F3 and a titanium Dolan.

However, saying that I've been looking at some events. Next year I'm doing the Coast-to-Coast for charity in March/April plus I'm looking at the Trans Pennine Trail as well in May/June. I've signed up to the Etape Pennines in October and wouldn't mind a few events in between.

Racing wise I'd be interested - I'm in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire and have seen the Ravensthorpe Cycling Club guys out plus the Wakefield Cycling Club. Currently I've got standard pedals and shoes, but am going clipless after Christmas. From next year on I'm looking at a club to join (oh, and I'm 41 atm).

The Leeds ride on the 29th should see where I'm at!

 

[totallyfixed]

I'm not that quick !

Now you have gone and ruined it by saying you do it on ordinary pedals, not even clipped in. You had me going for a while there, tourer, rucksack, normal pedals = 23.5mph ave