"save it for the race" amateur racer pop quiz

Imagine a rider that can climb at 16 mph and descend at 34 mph. What is the average speed of this rider:

a) 10 mph
b) 15 mph
c) 20 mph
d) 25 mph


speak for yourself.

My summer commuter build comes in at a touch under 19 and it has 20 gears.
I hit 30+ for a few minutes on the way to work and maintain 35+ for a few minutes on the way back.

Cool it, Sparky. I did not say it was Herculean, but I do actually ride bikes fast from time to time, and holding a steady speed of 25 mph or more on flat ground is a much more substantial effort than most people who think they ride that speed in traffic actually realize. As I implied, I think people are glancing at their speedometer on a slight downhill or with a tailwind and thinking that they actually ride that fast in traffic. There's a big gap between "impossible" and "unlikely."

LOL. Not on a flat road, you don't.

I ride my bike at bike riding speed. Whatever that is. I don't have a bike odometer computer thing.

What can I say...I'm a gravity doper.

My morning commute is usually "at tempo" (as my LBS likes to say). Meaning, not racing, but at a good pace (for me anyway). I feel energized when I get to the office. It is a great way to start the day.

Ride home is usually relaxed. Depends on how the day went, how much gas I have left in the tank, which way the wind is blowing. :(

Nice and calm. Rarely do I break 15kph. Riding should be stress relief, not stressful. Plus I want to arrive at work as I left, dry.

I ride so fast that I can't keep up with myself.............................................................................................

I ride so slowly than I can't keep up with myself................................................................

Relax ride for me. My work is usually busy. I don't wanna feel beat up when I get to work.

In the summer, on my way to work (heading west) I try to outpace that dark, featureless, wheelsucker (aka my shadow) who always seems to be right behind me; of course, on the way home, I'm trying like crazy to catch up to him :lol:.

In the winter, he must be doing trainer workouts, because I don't see him as much ;).

I take it easy going to work. Going home, I ride however I feel like riding. I do race, so on days I'm training, it's whatever the plan calls for that day. Otherwise, taking it easy and enjoy the ride home.

On my bicycle, with the distance I usually ride - I'm pacing to make sure I can get there. - I did get an app for my cell phone - and so far my fastest speed with just my panniers loaded was 13 mph on flat ground (unfortunately, most of my way to work is uphill).

π + e^i

My only requirement is if I'm moving I must be peddling. I'm in no hurry to get to work so the peddling is what it is.

Commuting I average about 17mph and my best day averaged 19mph.

I'm not sure a 25mph average commuting is realistic. Yes many riders can do that in a time trial but there aren't nearly as many stop signs and lights on a time trial course as there are on the way from your home to work.

There are things that could make it happen though. I don't generally use it for commuting but a nearby road has lights timed at 30mph. A quick sprint to catch up to a car, let them break the air for me, and 30mph is easy for that mile. A commuter with lots of roads like that could really fly.

I do a little of both

I usually ride at a normal, usually faster pace only because I cannot stand riding slow.

What do you sell?

Maybe he peddles pedals.

Hills? Florida? What?

following motorvehicles has a nice draft effect even at 30 feet or more. i suspect that many of those who can't imagine keeping pace with cars simply don't mix it up with urban traffic much.

Exactly. I don't even bring clothes with me when I commute to work, I just leave them there. So if I want to ride my Ridley with nothing but a seatpost bag for my commute I can.

I just go with what feels comfortable. Given that the commute is just over 22Km and I usually arrive in about an hour, I will let you do the math. There are a few lights in there to slow me down but I try to time my arrival so I don't have to stop whenever I can.