Bike Forums

Bike Forums (https://www.bikeforums.net/forum.php)
-   General Cycling Discussion (https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/)
-   -   Average annual miles? (https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/1090141-average-annual-miles.html)

Hypno Toad 12-17-20 07:42 AM

Over the last 10 years I've averaged just over 5,000* miles a year, this year will be down a little ... currently 4,450 and counting.

* I track indoor miles in these totals, mostly to track wear on drive train components - I typically get 500 miles indoors over the winter to keep fit when I don't have time to gear up to ride in the snow and cold (& I'm a fan of riding in the cold & snow).

Bulette 12-19-20 07:30 AM

A bit more to consider: the distribution of annual miles ridden is heavily skewed. Using the histogram from Kaplan (1975) the best approximation of the median annual miles ridden falls between 1,000 and 2,000 miles. Riding exactly 2,000 miles per year is less than the average but more than the median, or the upper half of reporting cyclists.

It's also interesting to consider elevation (and with mobile GPS, this has really only readily been available the last couple decades). We have some idea from this thread, already:

Originally Posted by rm -rf (Post 19223782)
From the 2013 "Annual Pissing Contest" thread...About 50 feet per mile over the whole season seems quite common. ... But the riders over 4,000 miles tend to be above that line, more like 60+ feet per mile.

The flattest territory ... 2.64 feet per mile!
Hilliest is ... 80 feet per mile.

If we can say that 40-60 feet per mile is "rolling terrain", that >60 ft/mi is "mountainous", and <40 ft/mi is "flat", then this contemporary BikeForums sample aligns well with a cross-tabulation provided by Kaplan's (1975) League of American Wheelmen participants:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f0865c0231.png

August West 12-19-20 10:38 AM

I'm on pace to hit about 4650 miles this year @ 93.4 ft/mi.

The first 3 months of the year I split time between the gym and riding. When COVID hit I switched to all cycling and hope to exceed 5000 miles next year and hit 500,000' of climbing.

diphthong 12-20-20 09:22 PM

usually 6k a year (125 miles a week) give or take 300-400 miles but this year, moved the goalposts several times. current goal is 8,500 miles but will likely be closer to 8,800.

wolfchild 12-21-20 07:06 AM


Originally Posted by one4smoke (Post 19223321)
On average, how many miles do you ride per year?

I stopped keeping track of how many miles I ride per year.

Thomas15 12-21-20 08:01 AM

This is my first real year of riding. Early in the year I didn't think much about mile or climbing goals I just rode. As the year progressed I became more in-tune with what I was doing.

When I add up my outside miles and Zwift miles I will finish out the year with about 6300 miles, 66' per mile ascent. I could not be happier about this.

While it's tempting to set higher goal(s) for 2021 I'm undecided as of yet if I want to set mile goals or performance goals. I think I can duplicate the miles with no real problems and still make an effort to increase my ftp and endurance capability.

NoWhammies 12-27-20 03:29 PM

I shoot for 10,000k a year. This year I managed to get in 12,800k so I'm happy with that.

Bulette 12-28-20 09:04 AM


Originally Posted by NoWhammies (Post 21850718)
I shoot for 10,000k a year.

10,000 km is a nice round goal, certainly more achievable than 10k miles. I already use 100km as my weekender 'long-ride' goal, so it makes good sense to me!


Originally Posted by Thomas15 (Post 21842193)
While it's tempting to set higher goal(s) for 2021 I'm undecided as of yet if I want to set mile goals or performance goals.

2020 will be a banister year for me. I really want to give up mile-hunting for 2021, partly to avoid setting unrealistic goals, but partly to spend more time on the mountain bike and more time in the hills.

Kobe 12-29-20 01:17 PM

The last 5 years I have averaged 4,113 per year. I can't imagine doing much more than that unless I retire.

Wilbur Bud 12-30-20 04:01 PM

Last 10+ years averaging about 4400 per year but dropping off due to office building closure 3 years ago where I work from home now and no more commuting, thus my daily distance dropped from 25+ to 14 (one lap at lunch now). But, 3900 this year due to no business travel: Flatlands here, no vertical. I still ride year-round but it's not the same as commuting. My fitness goal has always been 100 per week for the year, but I never made it in the recent 15 years where I've been riding diligently., ~4900 was my best year.

burritos 12-30-20 07:24 PM

3300 mi since covid turned me into a commuter. Hopefully it won't be just a one year thing and it'll be an average thing.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:05 PM.


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