I am new to the forum and considering beginning commuting as the weather gets a little better. My commute would be 10-11 miles each way.

Anyway, I was curious. How would you describe the pace of your commute?

Sprint? Touring ride? Joy ride?

Just curious how fast most you ride when you commute.

Hell on Wheels! California is notorious for having horrible drivers. Some areas are worse than others.

in the summer it's a pure, joyous sprint of 8 miles (avg. 21mph). in the spring and autumn it's a calculated hustle and delight (avg. 17mph); and in winter it is a slow, meditative going---but still going (avg. 8mph)!

I usually average around 10mph on my way to work (early in the morning and lots of climbing). And then I average about 15 mph on the way home (I'm now wide awake and there is A LOT more downhill).

I commute once the snow is gone. Usually a slower paced ride (18 km/hr avg) into work so I can enjoy the morning ride through our path by the river. Coming home I pick up the pace (26 km/hr avg) to work off frustration from the day. I commute on a hardtail MB.

If we're talking about road environment as well, mine's also pretty "Hell"ish (though probably not as bad as in calif.) - I commuted on rural roads where most traffic drives in excess of 45mph.

I avg'd 15mph in the summer-fall - I commute in regular clothes so I'd rather not get them too sweaty.

Me too!

Slooooooow.

The pace I like to keep is around 13 mph (this is on a heavily laden 700c Hybrid) and the mental image I keep as I spin is a light trot.

On the way to work it's a delicate balance between not sweating and making sure no-one overtakes me.

On the way home it's a desperate battle to overtake anyone I can see no matter how far away and regardless of if we've gone past my house.

For me it's the training for the weekend rides. I try to push it within reason, and don't care how sweaty I am when I get there. I just clean up in the bathroom

Snails pace. I don't get sweaty though.

I would describe my commuting pace as generally slow, but variable depending on circumstances.

I'm a racing car passing by like Lady Godiva
I'm gonna go go go
There's no stopping me!!!

20mph-ish, depending on wind. Fast as I can otherwise.

Wow that's quite impressive. Do you usually have tailwinds both ways?

Isn't New Orleans almost completely flat? I can quite comfortably keep 18-19 mph on the flat* and I'm well over racing weight.

*For no more than 30 miles.

Same here, though since i commute on a fixed gear i need to keep a good pace. I find it easier to keep 20-25mph than on my geared bike.

Sprint? Late for work
Touring ride? Normal pace
Joy ride? Nice weather/off early with time to go ride by the lake.

Slow Slog Into a headwind (with rain or ice pellets to the face for added enjoyment)

I seem to remember averaging 15 MPH during warm weather. Now? Around 12 MPH. It all varies on terrain, wind, traffic, and lots of other variables.

Most days, this time of year anyway, I average anywhere from 11-14 mph overall for the day (I usually ride home for lunch) depending on weather/wind. I have averaged as much as 17 mph when pushing it (there some decent hills, no matter which route I choose), but I don't do that too often. I'm in this mainly for the fun of it, and when I'm pushing myself hard I don't pay much attention to the world around me, and that's when it stops being fun. So I usually just pedal at a medium pace and enjoy the ride.

A fierce headwind might spank me down to 18. Same tailwind I'm near 25 or more. Still air 20-22. Unless I am pressed by traffic from behind - then I might approach 30 briefly.

My current commute is only 4-5 miles depending on route. So I can press pretty hard the whole way.

Frenetic.

To: Ugh
From: WEEEEE!!!!

The pitch isn't terrible, but the fact that I'm always, always, ALWAYS fighting a headwind on the way to work makes a big difference.

Mine is 16 miles each way, with substantial hills in between. I average 19 mph, but I have a shower/gym at work, so I can change and stuff. My commute is also part of my triathlon training.