Another factor is method of measuring. Most digital measurements (Strava, many on board computers, etc) measure "moving time" as noted in [MENTION=413198]prj71[/MENTION]'s graphic above. Thus, your average speed is limited to only those times you're actually moving. Others may measure average speed in total, including stops.

Say you left your house at 9:00 and rode 10 miles in 30 minutes. Then you stopped to take a rest for 30 minutes. Then you rode 10 miles back home in 30 minutes, and got home at 90 minutes later at 10:30. Your moving average speed would be 20 mph (20 miles rode in 60 minutes' time). Your total average speed would be 13.3 mph (20 miles rode in 90 minutes' time).

This is especially relevant if you stop for water or snacks along a longer ride. Three of us on this forum recently rode 30 miles on the C&O canal towpath. I think it took us well over 3 hours. Our total average speed was under 10 mph. But we stopped along the way to chat, use the potty, look at our bikes, take a picture of the water fall, etc. Our moving average speed was somewhere in the 12-14 mph range, as that's the pace we rode when we were moving.

Your Giant FastRoad is a flat bar road bike. The geometry is a road bike geometry with a road bike posture and road bike tires. Many hybrids are more like mountain bikes with cyclocross tires. The more up right position limits speed because of wind resistance. Bike is a limiting factor.

I was able to ride the same average speed on my Specialized Crosstrail that I used to own.

The Fast Road and Crosstrail have similar geometry. A Roll Comp or a Cypress would reduce your average speed. The more upright you sit the slower your times. That's why road bikes have drops.

That's a reasonable goal. My point was that as a general rule, the more you ride, the faster you'll get, so focus on doing things to keep longer rides comfortable and interesting, and the increased speed will take care of itself as your endurance increases.

If you ride frequently, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised by how fast this happens. All goals are arbitrary, none of us are going to win the Tour d'France, so just pick interim ones that are manageable for you and don't make you so miserable you want to quit. The main benefit of biking over other forms of fitness activity is it's actually fun.

Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Will do, my goal is to ride 100 miles a month so we'll see how it goes.

That's not much at all. That's only five 20 mile rides per month.

If you want to keep up with other riders in the pack you should be shooting for 50-75 miles per week. 100 miles per month isn't going to increase your fitness level very much.

I understand that but I have to ride when I have the opportunity. I feel that my goal while low is very doable. My hope is get to a 10 mile ride at least 4 days during the week and then something of the 25 to 50ish mile ride on Saturdays. I just have to see how it all works in my schedule. I've been pretty busy with work lately.

If you do that consistently, your speed should gradually increase, and as it does so, you'll be able to do more miles in the same time.

The lack of a better schedule means that it will take longer to reach your goals, but don't let that discourage you!

oh I wont, for now I'm pretty comfortable with my performance. I'm on no time frame. I think I'll be able to do what I want to do by January or so of next year. Having alot of fun learning all I can for now.

+1. Keep it fun.


Beyond that, given that it sounds like you might not have a lot of time to ride, you might check out HIIT, or High Intensity Interval Training, which many find to be not as much fun (me included), but a very effective way to increase fitness level in less time.


When I get on a 'gotta increase my fitness level' kick, I have to remind myself to dial it back when I get to the point of disliking any and all exercise. But that's me, not necessarily you, or anyone else.


Keeping it fun, though, and I am now on my third year of commuting (partially) by bike; that's about the longest I've keep to something healthy for me, and I've done it by paying attention to Rule #1 : Keep it fun.

I'd love to commute but I'm an appraiser for an insurance company, so that's out. I ride as much as I can. I'm not overly concerned about numbers so I really enjoy the ride. Just got my first road bike. That helps too. Lol.

last week thought I was gonna crush a ride & wound up getting smoked by more riders than I cold count. just ride your ride

but to answer your question, I wouldn't commute 22 miles 1 way or the full 44 round trip with my hybrid. I'd use my drop bar road bike

I used to own a hybrid (Pinnacle lithium 3) I swapped the stock 42 tyres for some 28 slicks, and my average speed over 29 miles with 2000ft of climbing was about 14-14.5mph, i bought a road bike (btwin triban 520) i swapped the stock tyres for some 28 gp4 seasons and riding the same route i average 14-14.5mph! I do however, enjoy riding the road bike more!

This. If you've never ridden drafting someone, it makes a huge difference.

Going across NY on the Erie Canal trail, there is about 100 miles worth of road riding. We (4 of us) were riding 20 mph drafting each other on fully loaded hybrids. My bike weighed over 80 lb. and I'm a Clyde at 240ish. No problem riding along at 20 mph drafting.

dang that's crazy.