Commuting speed
#51
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,947
Likes: 1
From: Absecon, NJ
Bikes: Puch Luzern, Puch Mistral SLE, Bianchi Pista, Motobecane Grand Touring, Austro-Daimler Ultima, Legnano, Raleigh MountainTour, Cannondale SM600
5.5 miles (8.85 km) each way, very flat urban/suburban mix. Takes me about 20 minutes.
#54
Señior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,748
Likes: 10
From: Michigan
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
I have an 11 mile commute. 4 miles is gravel road, sometimes somewhat washboarded, but not terrible. The rest is paved. There are a dozen or so short hills, perhaps 40 feet of rise/drop on each. SE Michigan glacial holes, for those familiar.
In warm weather my average is about 16.5 MPH. I have made nearly 18 on really good days.
I just checked my comp, and this morning my avg was 13.9 MPH, at 13*F, the gravel road section was only mildly rutted. The worst I have done is last week after heavy snows, there was some rutting that nearly dumped me several times and really slowed me down, and the temp was -3*F; my avg then was 13.6 MPH.
In warm weather my average is about 16.5 MPH. I have made nearly 18 on really good days.
I just checked my comp, and this morning my avg was 13.9 MPH, at 13*F, the gravel road section was only mildly rutted. The worst I have done is last week after heavy snows, there was some rutting that nearly dumped me several times and really slowed me down, and the temp was -3*F; my avg then was 13.6 MPH.
#55
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
On the way to work (9.5 miles) I average 17.5 mph. On the way home it is around 14.2 mph. Uphill on the way home, obviously.
By the way, I just bought a jacket from Performance last week, and really saw a slow down at high speeds. Talk about wind resistance, and this is just a thin shell, in my size! Places where I can go 30 mph with a jersey and armwarmers are near 26-27 with the jacket!
By the way, I just bought a jacket from Performance last week, and really saw a slow down at high speeds. Talk about wind resistance, and this is just a thin shell, in my size! Places where I can go 30 mph with a jersey and armwarmers are near 26-27 with the jacket!
#56
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
I go 22 Km each way. Have to start work early and so I'm pedalling by 6am. In the morning with not much traffic, average about 23 km/h on a standard Trek touring bike. Slower if I use my mountain bike which I do if I'm going to the pool after work (I think its less attractive to thieves). Lucky to average 20 km/h on the return - lots of hills and intersections.
#57
Vegan Biker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, CA, USA
Bikes: Giant OC3, Specialized Crossroads
Originally Posted by Andre
Howdy folks,
I'm hoping to get some feedback on how fast people are going when they commute.perhaps just an average of how long it takes you from your front door to your workplace and kilometers/miles travelled.
I'm hoping to get some feedback on how fast people are going when they commute.perhaps just an average of how long it takes you from your front door to your workplace and kilometers/miles travelled.
#58
transport, not sport.
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: indonesia
I am a freelance photographer, so the commutes vary daily. most are 10 to 20km one way.
the commutes are mostly flat area, but my average speed according to velo 8 cateye, never exceeds 20km/h.
I am slow, aren't I ?
the commutes are mostly flat area, but my average speed according to velo 8 cateye, never exceeds 20km/h.
I am slow, aren't I ?
#59
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Greensboro NC
Bikes: IBEX Classic; Trek 1200
My commute is 7.5 miles in the morning and 10 miles in the afternoon. It takes me 35 minutes in the AM and 55 in the PM. It is a mix of average hills, extended inclines and flat road. I take a more direct route in the mornings and travel through more residential areas in the afternoon.
#61
Commuter
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Hoddesdon, UK
Bikes: Handsome Dog Titanium (Work) Santa Cruz Superlight (Play) Kona Stinky (Real Play)
My average is about 15mph in the winter/wind and goes up to about 17 or 18 in the summer. This is for a 4 mile ride but I can normally keep the same pace for up to 2 hours then it starts to drop.
#63
Yet another vegan biker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 965
Likes: 6
From: Trapped behind the corn curtain
Bikes: Sakae Prism, Vintage Fuji bike(S), too many bikes, one from scratch bike.
I was averaging 11 mph by my computer. That was on my mountain bike with 1.4 richey slicks.
Then about six months ago I bought a seatpost-mountable carrier for my old Fuji road bike and began flying the six mile route to work. I'll never go back to commuting on the mt bike.
Then about six months ago I bought a seatpost-mountable carrier for my old Fuji road bike and began flying the six mile route to work. I'll never go back to commuting on the mt bike.
#64
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,603
Likes: 0
From: northern California
Bikes: Bruce Gordon BLT, Cannondale parts bike, Ecodyne recumbent trike, Counterpoint Opus 2, miyata 1000
The best commute was 68 kilometers and took 3.5 hours roundtrip for a speed of 19.3 KPH
#67
I travel approx. 15 to 18 miles one way pending on the route i take. I travel between 18to25 mph (all flat ground,except for 2 overpasses) stopping for lights & such , it takes me around an 1hr10min. to make it to the shop on a MTB.
#68
Rocketship Underpants
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 328
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, GA
Bikes: '94 RS Bikes Stampede (commuter), Scattante XRL Team road bike (formerly '05 Cannondale R5000), '05 Cannondale Prophet 1000
13 miles exactly one way, 30-40 minutes on average depending on how hard I push, usually around 35 minutes though. Pretty flat, 50% rural road, 50% 4 lane divided highway (with a huge shoulder).
I'm excited to see where my next job takes me, can't wait to plan out a new commute wherever I end up.
I'm excited to see where my next job takes me, can't wait to plan out a new commute wherever I end up.
#69
My commute was about 24 miles one way. I would drive about 12 miles to the bike path and start from there. My fastest time was 1 hour and 6 minutes. Somewhere around 21 mph. Now I only live 8 miles from work but I got some hills. I haven't rode to work yet, still too cold in the morning.
#70
Arizona Dessert

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 15,029
Likes: 2,170
From: AZ
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
Over my 8.5mi totally flat commute between 20-21mph average moving time. 19-20mph elapsed time (i.e including stop time at lights)
When I was riding faster in April-05 I hit 23mph auto average, 22mph elapsed a few times.
Just as an aside over the past 22 months of commuting I just calculated I've spent a total of 27 hours and 24 minutes stopped at red lights.
Al
When I was riding faster in April-05 I hit 23mph auto average, 22mph elapsed a few times.
Just as an aside over the past 22 months of commuting I just calculated I've spent a total of 27 hours and 24 minutes stopped at red lights.
Al
#71
Arizona Dessert

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 15,029
Likes: 2,170
From: AZ
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
Originally Posted by mike
2) Most people don't really know their AVERAGE speed. They see the cyclometer reading, say 14 mph for a stretch and they say, "Ooh look, I am averaging 14 miles per hour!". I calculate average speed by dividing the distance by the time it takes to do it.
Al
#72
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
I have a 4.4 mile one-way commute with some lights. On the way out, it is 1% downhill plus a couple of overpasses and has some easy right turns. The best I have managed on my 25 yr old Centurion is 18.4mph, but a more typical speed is about 17-17.4mph. On the way back, with left turns and all that, my best has been 14.9mph, but typically I end up with 13.5-14.0mph. The speeds were the average speed readings taken at the end of the ride off my Astrale 8 computer which has an auto-start/stop function.
#75
mashtropical
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: miami
i dont have a computer on my slick tire mtb but the other day i was commuting with a friend riding a vespa he told me to ride as fast as i could and he would drive at even speed and told me i was going 20mph , i told him his speedometer was probobly a little off so i probobly ride somewhere inbetween 13-18 when i get crazy.
i dont have a defined commute route but when ride i like tours within 3 - 10 miles depending on my mood.
i dont have a defined commute route but when ride i like tours within 3 - 10 miles depending on my mood.



