I'm 49, and the best speed I did my slightly up and down ride of 14 miles in Prospect Park was 19.1 mph, including the slower ride to the park, but the return was at full speed. I always check based on the full round trip. If I exclude the start of the ride, I would probably hit 20. On the flats I usually go 21-23. I've been averaging about 100 miles/week. On longer rides I'll hold it back a little, averaging around 17. One factor that I can't control is that I ride in NYC and have to deal with traffic and lights. When I've gone away from NYC, my longer hilly rides come in around 18.

I haven't been on any group rides this year, but in past years I know how much faster they can be. I'm 5'7" and 160 now, but I started at 175 in May. I'm shooting for 150, but I think I've run out of after work daylight, so I don't think I'll make it. If I hit 150, I'll be the same weight at 50 as I was at 30!

Great job so far zacster! I hope you make your goal.

I do most of my miles on my commute. 11 miles each way all hilly, but no real net altitude change, my mph varies between 8-9 and low 40's. Garage to Door 17.7 is my best avg. With no head winds I can do 17 consistantly on the commute, but I've had avg below 14 with a stiff headwind. I just started riding again in late March and have about 2,500 miles on the bike so far. 46 yo 6'3" and 207#.

Another big variable when comparing average speeds is whether or not both cycle computers have been calibrated in the same manner. From my experience with a handful of computers, three road bikes and using two different size tyres, it is a waste of time comparing average speeds that are derived from different computers (unless they've been calibrated). First, the little wheel sizing (circumference) chart that comes with the computer is always wrong. If you set your computer per the printed instructions your computer will not provide your correct average. The second point is that your wheel circumference is smaller when a rider is mounted. You must be sitting on the bike when measuring the circumference. And, the circumference is different between a 700cx25 and 700cx23 tyre mounted on the same wheel. The printed setup instructions that I've read for computers almost always overstate the wheel circumference, thus producing an artificially high average speed. I've started and ended rides side by side with friends that averaged as much as 1.5 mph higher than I did.

I'm 20 years old, 5'10", 165 lbs. On my mountain bike (recently stolen) I had a computer and would average 17-19 MPH on flat ground...and about 14-15 MPH on hills. A year ago I would go about 10-12 MPH on the same hills and with more fatigue, so my climbing ability has improved a lot.

I'm faster on my road bike (obviously)...and while I don't have a bike computer on it, I have measured my rear tire diameter and by using my gear ratios and cadences...I have estimated that on flat ground I cruise between 20-23 MPH. I spin a pretty fast cadence, the 20 MPH cruise is at a cadence of 90 RPM and the 23 MPH speed is at about 100 RPM. I can do this in pants, a t-shirt and with a back-pack (commuting to school and work) so I figure that by wearing some tight bike clothing I should be able to drop the air resistance enough to use an extra gear and gain another couple MPH.

44, 5-11, and 190......daily routes are 30-35 miles of rolling to moderate and average at 16.5 mph. This is solo. Weekend rides are 65-75 miles, and average 17.2 mph. with another rider. I've done the same routes with a riding club and they have averaged 20 mph. Not that interested in increasing my times to turn pro, since the only sponsor would have been McDonalds and Clinton just screwed that up for me.

To add to the big guy trend I am 38 6' and down to 225. I am back to riding for the past month (I used to ride a lot when I was younger.) I generally average about 17 MPH for 20-25 mile rides on rolling terrain. This is the average calculated by my computer so it includes any stopping required to cross streets etc.

On flats I seem to be able to average 20MPH on the computer but I am slow as death up hill. I climb some hills and wonder how Lance climbed the Alps at a faster clip than I am climbing small hills.

I am having a lot of fun back in the saddle though and that is what matters.