Bike Forums

Bike Forums (https://www.bikeforums.net/forum.php)
-   Commuting (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/)
-   -   Commuting speed (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/1256238-commuting-speed.html)

Azriel 08-03-22 05:44 PM

Commuting speed
 
Whats your guys average commuting speed?

pdlamb 08-04-22 07:26 AM

Riding speed or average distance/time including traffic signals and stop signs?

BobbyG 08-04-22 08:45 AM

Usually from 11 mph to 13 mph depending on which bike, and the weather and wind conditions. Much slower in deep snow.

Then there are variances in stamina from day to day dependent on sleep and diet, etc.

Also, what's happening at the end of the commute? Do I need to take it easy to be fresher and more energetic afterwards, or can I give it my all?

Steve B. 08-04-22 09:28 AM

My computer was set to stop recording when the bike was stopped, thus my avg. was usually 12 mph over 27 miles. This was Brooklyn onto Long Island so lots of lights.

jakez 08-04-22 09:35 AM

Round about 15mph for 24miles

Korina 08-04-22 10:42 AM

My top cruising speed was 14mph.

Jedneck 08-04-22 10:52 AM

15-21mph. Depends on mood. 16 mile one way with only 2 stop signs. I luv livin in the sticks

gringomojado 08-04-22 11:48 AM

Chicago: Residential neighborhoods where I stop or slow almost every block and many alleys= 9mph
main streets with stop lights= 12 to 14 mph

gm

Bearhawker 08-04-22 12:00 PM

My commute is 16km each way. Back when I was riding a road bike I shot an average of 30 km/h each way.

On the fatbike it's closer to 20-22

Chinghis 08-04-22 02:11 PM

Let's see, I did my fastest commute yesterday, in fact: Road bike (vintage), 800/600 feet of climbing/descending; 3 miles on a MUP, 5 more miles on LA streets. I averaged just over 14 mph, including stops and everything. Rather happy with myself that I was under 40 minutes for the first time.

Over time this year, including a few rides that were not commutes, I seem to be averaging about 12 mph. Vintage road and MTB (what they call a 'hybrid' these days).

Maybe I'll set my tracker to stop recording when I stop. Might get me an extra half-mph or so, right?!

caloso 08-04-22 02:29 PM

12-13 mph. The biggest factor on my commuting speed is how many stop lights I happen to make.

sean.hwy 08-04-22 05:48 PM

another 10-13mph for a short less than 5 mile commute. Wearing work clothes, backpack with 14 inch mac laptop, hybrid bike.

Unless you're lucky to have a good route to work with little lights and you can take a shower and change clothes can't really go much faster than that.

Gresp15C 08-04-22 06:05 PM

12 mph when in motion, 0 when not. I take it pretty easy on the way to work, so I don't get all sweaty. I'm also not a fast cyclist.

rivers 08-05-22 02:10 AM

Depends on which bike I take, the route I take, how I'm feeling, and the weather. If I'm on my road or TT bike (sometimes I have a TT after work) and decide to commute all the way from home to work (circa 21 miles), it can be 15-17mph if I'm feeling pretty good and the weather is on my side. If I'm doing my normal bike-train-bike, 12-14mph no matter the bike. And, like the other day, I was on my gravel bike, fully loaded (testing out kit set-up for upcoming bikepacking trip), it was about 9mph off-road over 25 miles.

BrenZan 08-05-22 09:56 PM

20km/hr if conditions are good - don't want to work up a sweat if I don't have to

SalsaShark 08-05-22 10:22 PM

Average speeds on hilly terrain. Riding bagged-out touring or gravel bike. Studded tires when appropriate. I try to keep efforts below the sweat threshold in temps less than 45°F or so (Typically December through March). I sweat like crazy in the humid summer months, and that's fine with me.

Winter with snow & ice: 11-14 mph
Other seasons: 15-17 mph.
1-2 times/year on bag-free road bike: +/-18mph

mschwett 08-05-22 10:26 PM

Takes me about 7 minutes to get there in the AM, 1.7 miles, 200’ of descent. works out to a bit under 15mph. With all greens it would probably be more like 5 minutes, 20mph.

On the way BACK, it’s a bit over 12 minutes, or around 8mph, due to the 200’ of climbing. On about one day out of five i ride an e-bike, which is the same speed to get there, but about 3 minutes faster to get back.

dcole300 08-12-22 08:46 AM

12 - 15 mph is my typical range.

Smokinapankake 08-16-22 07:57 PM

16 mph average on a 17.5 mile one way route. I usually get to work in an hour flat or maybe 1 or 2 minutes over, and going home it usually takes an hour and 6 or 7 minutes. I don't reset my cyclometer between leaving for work and returning home so it averages my speeds for the full 35 mile route. I ride either a hybrid outfitted with a dynamo hub or an old mountain bike with slicks, both carry a rack and a single pannier to haul my junk around.

burritos 09-10-22 09:00 PM

16 mph to work. 13 mph back home.

tFUnK 09-13-22 02:01 AM

About 13-14mph on a SS with flat bars, a handlebar bag, and one rear pannier.

rumrunn6 09-13-22 04:02 AM


Originally Posted by Azriel (Post 22597721)
Whats your guys average commuting speed?

13-14.5 mph over 22 miles

holytrousers 09-13-22 05:10 AM

I commute 90 km and depending on conditions, it takes 3h30m on my best days (25km/h) and sometimes up to 4h30m (20km/h) when i haven't slept enough or there are strong headwinds. But i would say that i average 22~23km/h.
I wonder if i can get any faster, it's a lot of time on the saddle. Is 3h an achievable goal (30km/h) ?

raqball 09-13-22 03:32 PM

I mainly ride in the City so that includes a lot of slowing and stopping. I average about 12-13 MPH on most of my rides. Many times if I see a red-light ahead I'll start slowing long before I reach it in the hopes it will turn green before my arrival..

On longer rides when I get outside the City my average ticks up a bit. Depends on how much of that was in the City and outside of the City..

I mainly just pay attention to my distance ridden daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and don't really care what my average speed ends up being.

blingshock 09-15-22 11:38 AM

I carry 1 rear pannier on my bike. My commute is 14 miles each way. I usually go 13-15 mph on the way to work to not get too sweaty. I usually just use a wet hand towel to wipe myself down when I get there and bring a change of clothes. On my way home, maybe a little faster like 16mph since I do not have to worry about sweating. Stopping at stoplights and stop signs is the biggest factor in slower average speed (even with my tracker auto-pausing).


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:43 AM.


Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.