Originally Posted by
ericm979
I bet that the "22 mph" commuter took his "average" speed by looking at his computer while riding with a tailwind or on a slight downhill, or both.
Why does 22mph have to be an exageration or a lie?
It's perfectly possible even on hilly terrain.
I do about 22mph on 10 to 30 miles on a hybrid with suspension fork and 35mm tyres.
The hills aren't very long here though ... one K per hill max.
That may sound incredible to you and aparantly it does ... but to others having better lungs, legs, blood vessels and heart, it may be normal.
About the hills slowing down the average ... it is indeed so but just a bit.
On the flat I cruise at about 23mph ... on a 5% not too long hill I keep at about 18mph using anaerobic power ... then on the way down I get to about 32mph while pedalling in high gear.
Overall the average is only slightly affected by hills, assuming that they are not extreme hills.
Wind direction and power is far more important in this regard.