ScarcelyAware

I was looking at some pictures of touring set ups here and couldn't help but wonder what the average speed (in mph/kph) on any of those are.

I would have made this a poll, but I'm sure you pack lighter/heavier for different distances.

The Smokester

People, including me, will generally allow about 10 mph for planning purposes.

JohnyW

In Canada I get 15,7 km/h average. (It's a bit higher than normal, because of good roads [no gravel] and some long flat distances). Normal is 13-15 km/h.

In details you can see the statisics on my homepage: Click on "Reisen" - "Kanada" - "Statistiks"

Thomas

elduderino12

10-12mph, fully loaded that is, also dependant upon terrain and weather conditions.

Weetbix

11

TheBrick

Remember what one mans "average" is not another mans average.
In my experience people tend to have three ways of referring to average speed.

1. Average speed as. daily distance / time taken from start of ride to end of ride, (including all stops for food e.t.c)

2. Average speed as daily distance / riding time.

3. Average speed as their modal cruising speed, which of course will be alot higher.

I think most people on bike tour will use definition 1 as it's good for planning purposes and it dose not matter if you are flying along for 2hr but then take a 2hr lunch, it's all about the where you end up, how you manage it is up to you.

On road rides for training people will tend to use definition 2 which is a truer actual average speed and more useful if your just out training so stopping will be minimal. Although 1->2 in this case also.

Definition 3 tends to get used by people who have not properly worked out their average speed but look down frequently see they are doing 20 mph consistently when cruising and feeling good so take that to be the average, tell everyone they average 20 mph on a bike then can't understand why when they first do a century it does not take 5 hrs..

staehpj1

This is right on the money. I addition there are wide variations due to the mood of the trip or day, whether riding alone or with someone (and who that someone is).

Definitions #1 and #2 are both useful and depending on what you are trying to quantify one or the other may be more applicable. One addresses the question "how fast do you ride?" and the other in more useful for planning how far you will go in a day or how many days a trip will take.

Both need to be taken into account if you are trying to determine how compatible you are for riding with someone else. For example two riders may each do 80 mile days, but one may spend 4 hours actually on the bike and another may spend more like 8 hours on the bike. Still they might both take 9 hours from start to finish. My point is that they aren't going to actually ride together very well without major accommodations even though they have the same number for definition #1.

For #1 on my recent solo tour the average was about 12 MPH including stops for breakfast and lunch and well as stops to take pictures and even an afternoon siesta some days. I think it was probably similar but more variable day to day on the Trans America when riding with Erica and Lauren. On the TA are breaks were more frequent and varied a lot more in length from day to day.

For #2 it was about 14-16 on my recent solo tour and probably a bit higher most days on the TA with Erica and Lauren, mostly since we tended to draft each other and maintain a good pace while actually riding, but take more/longer breaks.

For #3 it is pretty subjective. I would say that on my recent solo tour it would be the same as #2. When with Erica and Lauren it would depend on when you looked. We hauled ass and went 20-22 for fairly long stretches at times, but at other times relaxed more and rode at 12-16. Of course climbs are the rub here and being much slower and in the mountains they make the number #3 figures pretty meaningless when it comes to average speed.

tarwheel 

TheBrick's take is right-on. My cycle computers have a function that will calculate average speed while riding, not counting the stops as described in #2. That is what I go by, but some cyclists count their entire time including stops in their average.

neilfein

10mph, minus whatever time I spend looking at stuff, having lunch, et cetera. I'll add to that somewhat in very hilly areas.

I've had days where I spent more time "wasting time" exploring than riding. I consider those my most enjoyable days touring.

Cyclebum

I average 11-12 mph when cruising solo on level ground with no wind factor and 40 pounds of gear. If I have a faster partner, my competitive spirit kicks in and I can manage 14 for long stretches.

Lots of climbs and/or moderate head winds slow me down to 7 or 8 mph.

kayakdiver

Faster than you.

rodar y rodar

Miles and kilometers shrink or grow depending on the conditions, so I measure in breaks per hour. I generally average about 1.8 BPH before lunch, much better in the afternoons- sometimes as much as 3 BPH.

JohnyW

It's always number #2.

For number #1 take the day distance / 24.
All other things (e.g. including/excluding diner) are not defined - or how would rate this: dinner at 8 PM after that 2 hours cycling?

#3 okay: But I'm on tour so reduce it. On a race bike I go with > 30 km/h (so I can increase the cruising speed)

xyzzy834

Between 10 and 11 miles/hour as calculated by my bike computer for actual time moving.

I'm on vacation when I tour, not in a race. The journey itself is the goal, not the finish line.

Jerseysbest

All day average is about 10-11mph including stops, traffic, etc and is what I expect to do when I plan rides.

nun

Loaded I ride at between 12 and 15 mph on level ground. Over an entire day with stops etc I average between 10 and 12 mph. I plan to do between 50 and 75 miles each day. If it's mountainous I might be happy with 30 miles. If it's flat I could do 100.

Black Shuck

22km/h for multiple days, but i did an accidental double century(i ment to camp half way and ride the rest on day2) fully loaded doing 24km/h a couple of weeks ago.

Edit, i've done about 110km/day for my 3 tours, planning to do a bit more this year as I'm almost getting in shape :-)

Chris_W

I didn't think that I was all that fast, but it appears that I do a bit more than others who have responded.

Fully loaded touring = 20-22 kph while riding, dropping to around 15kph if stops are included.
Lightweight touring = 23-26 kph, and if I keep the stops short then I can average 20 kph for the whole day (12 hours) including stops.
Even when my wife is with me, we average about 18-19 kph while touring on single bikes, or over 20 kph on the tandem.

cyclezealot

One bike tour, my load was about 30 lbs.. I did not notice much difference on the flats. but going up hills, It slowed me down considerably. It seemed like real work.

Cave

15km/h

bikerchris

Hi
Am just back to seriuos biking at age 69. You guys are making my day, I was worried at my average speed of 19 kmh, say 11.5 mph, with people telling me I should be at least at 22 kmh!
Thankx

valygrl

I averaged 10.6 mph (rolling, not including stops) and 55.6 miles/day on my last tour, which was in the rockies. averaged 2300 feet of climbing and descending per day (averages up and down days together, min/max -5400 / +5700).

I'm about 112 pounds and the bike is about 65 dry weight, plus another 5-15 food/water.

Wow, I'm slow.

gcottay

No, I am faster.

Kyakdiver and I are suggesting that speed responses do tend to be a bit inflated. This, of course, is just a general statement to which most posters in this thread are exceptions.

Big Lew

I personally calculate my average from when I start until I stop for the day which includes any and all rests etc. I can usually plan around 8-10 miles per hour in the mountianous west, to 10-12 miles per hour elseware.

LeeG

average? 10-12mph. It's the same as when I started riding at age 17. When I was in my early 20's and I was making every ride a marathon ride maybe 14-16 but I wasn't riding with more than 20lbs of stuff and no panniers.10mph is a good number, divides easily.