How interesting.
No one else has responded except me.
I ride a fixed gear bike.
I formerly geared to average 19mph around town, but I geared down to 15mph for temporary health reasons, and found I liked it better as an all around gear.
Formerly, when I rode geared bikes, it seems to me I averaged somewhere around 21mph, but I didn't have as much fun as I have now on a fixed gear bike.
If I wanted to set a personal record on a geared bike, riding on flat ground with no wind, as a guess, I doubt if I could beat 24mph for an hour.
I hope I could even do that.
I ride a lot.
I don't drive a car any longer, unless my wife makes me get in her car.
I would describe myself as in excellent shape....for a 61 year-old.
Twenty-four miles per hour doesn't sound very fast, but, I don't think I'll ever do better than that in this life.
I would like to think that a real skinny 75 year-old out there rides 200 miles per week and could go much faster than that.
If so, that would give me a goal, and I might even start riding geared bikes again.