mgw4jc

Interesting. Is it just because weekday rush hour users are mostly focused commuters, or is there some actual rule against the zoo types from using it at certain hours?

mgw4jc

I average between 15.5 - 16.5 most days. A good tailwind or a shorter route and some determination can bump me up to almost 18mph. It's mostly hills that slow me down more than traffic or stop signs/lights.

Many days keeping a 16mph overall average is a challenge. Because the first half of my commute is primary downhill (both directions) I'll usually get up to 16 overall in the first 5 or 6 miles but begin to go under on the uphill second half. My motivational mantra becomes a line from a Mellencamp song: "Hold on to 16 as long as you can..."

Hypno Toad

No specific rules, it's really just that everybody 'gets it'. I've used greenways and multi-use path in other cities and found that this is not the case everywhere. I think it basically comes down to Minneapolis being one of the top bike cities in the US, and much of the greenway etiquette is understood.

Even in surrounding suburbs we have good trail etiquette, for example, Lisa likes to ride the suburban rail-trails. When riding these trails, I'm good to announce our passes, and the walkers will typically give a quick over-the-shoulder wave with their left hand to let you know that they heard you; or the simple move to the right. I've never seen this in other cities, in fact, you won't find this level of etiquette if you get to the non-bike-friendly parts of the Twin Cities.

caloso

Weekday mornings it is mostly commuters and people riding for fitness or for many, combining both. So folks know how to call out a pass, hold their line while being passed, be attentive to wildlife and other trail users.

On the weekends (especially during the summer) the mix changes towards more novice riders including kids, Cat 6 MUP racers, dog walkers, and drunk/stoned teenagers dragging their rafts down to the river.

wphamilton

It is the same way here. Weekday early mornings are populated by commuters, skilled road cyclists, dedicated runners and a few pedestrians who know the score. On the weekends, especially with nice weather, forget about it.

Psychopasta

I do 15-17 MPH on my commute, and this one guy does just blast past me. So, I'm sure they (super-fast commuters) do exist, but they are pretty darn rare.

no motor?

Same here. I'm more concerned with how long it takes me to get somewhere instead of how fast I'm going. I spend a lot of time waiting for lights to change or other traffic to know that whatever average I have would be higher without the waiting.

I do remember seeing one of those Big Brother trailers once with the radar gun and speed display on it, and was pleased to notice I was able to hit 20 MPH without a tailwind or going downhill. But I can't maintain that for long.

caloso

How do you know how long it takes you to get somewhere if you don't know how fast you're going?

RubeRad

By using a stopwatch without an odometer.

Besides, Heisenberg guarantees you can't know both your position and velocity simultaneously...

alan s 

no motor?

I used something even less precise, a watch. And then padded the answer to allow for stuff to happen.

InOmaha

I average about 24 mph to and from work. If I drive. Since part of that is a large highway I can get that up to 30 mph by leaving a half hour earlier.

Riding a bike I can average 14 mph but the trip is almost 4 miles longer too.

aplcr0331

As you can see avg speed is a worthless metric to track. Especially when it comes to commutes.

I have a total of 2 stop lights (that I never have to stop at) on my commute plus 9 miles of the commute is on a MUP with no cars. There's no way I could average 20mph for the whole thing.

carlos danger

its the same here too. I think i can make it to work in about 28 minutes regularly. but maybe 22 if i push it. but a car takes 15 minutes (but theoretically should take 5 minutes).

carlos danger

I never stop. if i have to stop, i regard my commute a total failure for that day. and will be pissed off until lunch at least. i regard commuting as an extreme sport such as base jumping.

aplcr0331

carlos danger

yeah actually stopping is not one of my faves.. what can i say.

CliffordK

I think what everyone is saying is that if a car can average > 20 MPH, then a bike theoretically could too.

Lights and stopping can be a problem. But, for example, on one of my rides, there are about 10 blocks of traffic lights, all timed at around 20 MPH. I think they may have been timed at about 25, but they slowed them down to the speed limit. Anyway, if one can hit the first one right, then one can hit all of them... unless one gets messed up in traffic.

Anyway, to get a 20 MPH commute with a reasonably through route, one must simply be able to ride at about 22 MPH... well within the grasp of the average TDF rider.

Clyde1820

I've got a sub-6mi (~12mi total RT) commuting route I frequently take, but at hours where there aren't a lot of cars on the road. I generally do about 11-12mph or thereabouts.

Once did a ~65mi out-and-back route along a river, on 95% MUPs and paved trails. Averaged 25mph for the trip ... and couldn't walk very well for the following couple of days, with the legs having stiffened up. This, during a time when I was typically doing 3-4 45mi trips a week at ~15mph average speed. That 25mph run was a one-time deal, and it was plenty.

Around my neck of the woods, I do occasionally see folks pairing up along a flatter stretch of road where they're doing ~25mph or so, but up through town that speed gets cut in half on most streets. And these are "racers" I see frequently doing the local club runs and "fun" races. Can't imagine the average good "commuting" cyclist does 20mph+ very often.

wolfchild

Hitting 20+++ mph occasionally under favourable conditions is easy but that doesn't make it a daily average for most people, it's not something that's done every single day...The type of bike you riding has a lot to do with how fast you can go... I can hit 20 mph on my fixed gear with skinny tires, but there is no way I could ever do that when I commute on my singlespeed MTB with big fat tires. I really don't care about numbers anymore, I don't care who passes me or who gets passed by me. I just ride for fun, enjoyment and for low-medium intensity cardio.

Gresp15C

For commuting, I don't even bother owning a bike that can sustain 20+ mph at any reasonable cadence. Why carry those gears around?

robertorolfo

I mean in terms of maintenance. It's a handy way of knowing the mileage each of your bikes has done. Sure, some people don't care about that, some people do...

Leebo

Commuting, last time I checked, my house and work place have not moved. Still 17.5 miles away. Sure I mix up the loops once in awhile, but not by much.

robertorolfo

Not everyone is the same. I rarely ride straight home after work, and different destinations can have significant variations in mileage. Some people simply like keeping track of certain bits of information. I don't see what there is to demonize.

Cyclist0108

My commute to work involves a net elevation loss of about 1500ft, with one stop sign and no traffic signals, and I don't get anywhere near 20 mph.