Originally Posted by
sourdoughT
What is an average time going around the lake? I'm thinking of setting aside a whole day for this trip.
It's roughly 50 mi.
It's mostly flat; there can be a fair amount of pedestrian traffic on the Burke Gilman trail that will slow you down; there is a good-sized hill to climb in Kirkland.
But it all depends on:
- how fast you normally ride over long distances?
- how many breaks do you like to take?
To be safe, I would think any rider who *thinks* that riding 50 miles in one day is fun is probably experienced enough to average at least 12 mph on the bike. Counting breaks, rest stops, etc., 5 hours would be plenty of time.
On the other hand -- if it's your first long ride -- budget the day, take lots of breaks, stop to eat, and enjoy yourself. And let us know how it goes!