Commuting - Commuting speed

I had an interesting experience for the second time. Commuting downhill into Boston, I came up on a peloton of bicyclists in Harvard bike team uniforms. Of course, they looked totally cut, like real bikers, on bikes ranging from carbon-fiber-racer-expensive to fixed-gear-messenger-chic. But, surprisingly, they were going only 12-15 mph. Looking at them, I'd have figured they'd be bored at anything under 30 mph.

I was hesitant to pass "real" Harvard cyclists, so joined the group from behind. My commute was probably no slower with all the lights, and I never broke a sweat. So, I discovered one can cycle to work without it being a workout.

So, do real commuters ride at a pace that simply avoids the need to shower afteward?

So, do real commuters ride at a pace that simply avoids the need to shower afteward?Some do. I usually like it fast and rough.

I don't do racer speeds, but I try to ride at a fast comfortable pace. For me, on the way in, that usually means a max of 20-21 mph and an average for the entire commute of 15 mph. A couple of days a week I try to push harder just to see what I can do and they tell me its a good training technique.

On the uphill ride home I set myself a lower limit and then try to keep the entire ride up over that minimum. At first I simply rode until my gasping for breath forced me to stop or slow down, but now that I am no longer dying on the ride I'm a little more organized. My current minimum is 12 mph, but I think before too long I might be able to set my minimum at 12.5 or 13 mph. I found that without some sort of minimum goal I would dog it too much on the ride home.

Also depends on the bicycle and the gearing. My commuter has a deore 44t largest chainring on the front crank. I personnally believe this is too small of a crank for pavement. Many times on an descent I run out of gears. Building a new commuter in February with a 105 crank and XT 12-34 cassette on the back which will provide a better range. My commute speed should increase. Right now I probably average 17 mph.

Depends. I like to mix it up.

I average 15 mph over a 12 mile, 900 foot altitude gain. I draft behind beertruck on occasion. I find that my heartrate is much higher when I commute in traffic than on the multi-use trail. (4 miles)

I especially love dodging the golf balls in Shenley Park near CMU.

"Real" cyclists and "real" commuters? The guys struggling on old MTBs because their car conked out (or because some nosy judge said they couldn't drive) are as "real" as any of us.

But to answer your question, some commuters go quickly. Some take it slow. It's all personal preference. Given the mix of bikes the Harvard guys were riding, I'd guess it was some kind of club, not a racing team. They may also have been cooling down at the end of a ride.

Well, when I go the long way - It is a little over 12 miles and it takes me 1 hr and 10 minutes. So I definitely average less than 12 mph. Of course, I have recently increased my workouts - so some improvement should happen.

I think my average speed is about 17 mph.

I'm on a Trek 2300 racing bike, doing 13.6 miles each way when taking the light rail (the short route), or 43 miles each way when riding the whole way.

On the short route, my slowest average so far was 14.8 mph when fighting an ungodly headwind. My fastest average so far was 19.9 mph. My "average average" is probably about 17.5 mph, including slowing for red lights and negotiating traffic.

On the long route, my slowest average was about 15.5 mph, and my fastest average was 18.5 mph. I haven't done the long route enough times yet to really get a feel for my "average average," but suspect it's similar to the short route. Once I get past about 20 miles, I get in the mythical "zone" and the miles just fly by.

- Warren

Depends on traffic in the trail. Since it's a multi-use trail, sometimes it's difficult to even keep 10+mph, but again, it's a multi-use trail. I like it 14mph personally. Just a light sweat.

i usually go about 15mph, but computer says otherwise: 12mph. probably because traffic lights.

I usually ride hard because I'm usually late. If I'd have come upon the Harvard Cycling Club doing 13mph, I probably would have said "Excuse me, ladies, but I've got to get to work on time. You're all welcome to catch a draft, though."

I'm on a team in the Boston area also (one that happens to hate Hah-vuhd) and we go a bit faster, but seeing how this is still a recovery month, we still keep it slow. Generally on group rides keep the pace is around 14-16 until we get out of the city. I suspect they are doing the same. I can assure you that the time for lung bursting rides is yet to come.

I guess it depends. A couple of weeks ago I had a great tail wind on the way home so I decided to push it and I averaged 20 mph. Today, I had a slight tailwind on my slightly downhill ride home and I wasn't in the mood for a workout, so I mostly coasted home. I always take it easy on the way in, don't want to sweat too bad, but still usually average around 13-14mph. I don't know about the rest or you, but my Planet Bike computer stops counting when the wheel isn't moving, so I'm not including time stopped at lights.
Adam

So, do real commuters ride at a pace that simply avoids the need to shower afteward?
Car drivers seem to be in a real hurry to get to red lights as fast as possible and are irritated when cyclists get in their way. Some cyclists seem to be the same way - in a hurry to get to the red light as fast as possible. Some hardly slow down as they illegally run reds. Personally I seem to be in no hurry to get to a red light so try to pace things and slow down if I'm not going to make the light cycle.

I definitely want to ride at a pace to avoid the need to shower as most of the places I've worked have not had showers available. And if I'm commuting somewhere other than work - to go shopping, or see a movie, or visit a friend, taking a shower at the other end is impractical. But it also depends on distance travelled too - for 45 minute or longer commutes I like to move reasonably fast and efficiently even if it means arriving on the sweaty side. My speed on my return trip home depends on my mood, since obviously a shower is an option if I want it on that segment. Sometimes its fun to push and sometimes its more relaxing to take it easy, especially when there's no hurry to get home, like there's a hurry to make it to work "on time".

So, do real commuters ride at a pace that simply avoids the need to shower afteward?

No, I ride as hard as I can ... at 12-15 MPH. :( I think I am having engine trouble. But don't worry, I am working on getting a better one, one commute at a time.

W

I go as fast as my body wants to that day. It completely vaires. But oddly enough cyclign faster doesn't always get me to work faster, and now that the school year is back on the ride is slower since there is just so much more traffic to navigate.

I try to commute as fast as possible without getting winded. My average has been going up by 0.5mph each week, I'm up to 17.5mph average now for my 13.5 mile each way commute.

I ride slower in the morining commute in order to avoid getting too sweaty and faster on the ride home to really work up a sweat.

I WANT to sweat when I commute. Spending 90 minutes each business day biking is a key part of my work out routines, so I want to get the most out of it. I always bike as hard as I can, so by the end of my commute I'm pretty much soaked with sweat.

I have noticed that in the Netherlands, where bicycles are a significant part of their transportation system, they tend to ride at a fairly slow pace. The vast majority of riders wear normal clothing (and very few riders wear helmets.) When riding there, it is difficult for me to hold back, especially in such a flat, relatively cool place. Of course, many of their bikes are large and heavy with full fenders and chain enclosures. They seem to be designed with cleanliness and low maintenance in mind rather than speed.

Between hills, traffic lights, innumerable pot-holes and probably my own cycling ineptitude, I'm averaging just over 12 MPH.

I'm in absolutely no rush to get to work. Add to that fact that my commute to work is uphill for almost the entire 6.6 miles, I hardly ever go faster than 12 mph (11 mph is my average). On my way home I go faster because it's downhill but I still keep to low-moderate speeds (13-15 mph). Sometimes I'll go up to 17 or so if I'm getting passed a lot, but generally I don't equate commuting with racing. It's nice to go slow and enjoy the ride.

I have noticed that in the Netherlands, where bicycles are a significant part of their transportation system, they tend to ride at a fairly slow pace. The vast majority of riders wear normal clothing (and very few riders wear helmets.) When riding there, it is difficult for me to hold back, especially in such a flat, relatively cool place. Of course, many of their bikes are large and heavy with full fenders and chain enclosures. They seem to be designed with cleanliness and low maintenance in mind rather than speed.

Other than the fact that I wear a helmet and don't live and ride in the Netherlands, that pretty well describes my bike and I. I think that if I rode faster and had to change and shower after each trip, it would be so inconvenient that I would give it up and drive my car all the time.

Paul

Since this whole Marfan's nonsense came up I ride pretty darn slowly. Still miles better than being in a car.

I usually average in the 14 range, according to my computer, but that includes slowing down and accelerating from lights. My straightaway, no wind pace seems to be in the 17-20 range this year, which is up from when I first started 3 years ago, when it was more like the mid-teens. I hardly ever push myself hard; I don't care for exercise that much. If I didn't bike-commute and mow the lawn with a rotary engineless mower ("reel mower"), I'd be totally out of shape! :)

I'm happier on my commute since my computer broke. I do ride home faster than I ride to work, since I have a shower at home.