We are being mature. We've been doing this long enough to know that the most accurate answer is ... it depends.

Right now, your average speed ranges between 12 and 14 mph. I presume that since you're a new rider you're riding pretty much the same route all the time and that the weather conditions haven't differed that much. Is my presumption correct?

OP, you are misunderstanding. Few here are trying to give you bad info, but they are saying it is very difficult to have meaningful data across a broad spectrum.

For you to use avg speed to compare yourself to yourself on a same ride, it is perfectly valid, though temperature and wind will affect it. But you'll know that, because you are experiencing it directly.

A 12-13 mph average for a recreational cyclist on a recreational ride in average terrain with normal winds and typical summer weather is within the bounds of average.

Some people are being matures. Others just want to argue like teenagers. Yes, it depends, but most people can still quote a range of speeds, but they would rather argue than be helpful. Like I said, my range right now is 12 to 14, depending. I understand that it depends, but the majority of anyone's rides will fall within a fairly narrow range, and that information would be useful.

I've ridden lots of different roads, but the terrain in my area doesn't vary a lot. I just returned to riding after being off for several years, and my average back then was 13 to 16 MPH depending on conditions - but 90% of the time, it would fall in that range. I'm sure that's true for most riders. I think people just like being contrary and argumentative. I should have known better than to ask. To those who responded maturely with useful information - and several did - thank you.

Many of ride in a whole variety of different terrain ... some of us might not ride the same route more than once a week or once a month. My average speed range is quite large ... depending.


You might want to read this thread ... especially the first post ...
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...ered-here.html

Thanks. That's the kind of information I was looking for. I using to be able to do closer to 16, and I want to get back in that range. That might not be realistic at my age, though. Time will tell, but at least I'll be in better shape.

Yes I agree that's accurate, if you are able to cruise for an hour at 12-14MPH and you are not in shape, it's very realistic to get up to 16MPH if you ride consistently over the next year or so.

Don't be too hard on us fellow cyclists. Most folks here are very experienced and the "average speed" thread has become a bit of a cliche.

FWIW if I go out for an hour and ride a slighly hilly course, I typically average 17-18.

Don't concern yourself with speed . Just ride to enjoy the ride. I could give you my average, it would be a lot lower than what others have mentioned. I ride in quite hilly areas, and don't care about speed " usually"

I could do a 17+ MPH average when I was in my thirties - if I rode all out. I hope to get back to 15 or so. I'll try to be more understanding of my fellow cyclists, but I was raised to be respectful of others, especially noobies, to be patient, and to mind my manners. The experienced folks on here need to be a little more respectful of us noobs. If you are experienced, you were once a noob yourself with a thousand questions, all of which had been asked a thousand times before.

Please read this thread ... especially the first post.
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...ered-here.html

Exactly. If I go with my wife who likes to look and enjoy the scenery and stop now and then, I average 9 to 12. She keeps telling me, “It is not a race. Enjoy the ride.”
By myself, 13 to 15. With a fast friend who I trust and can closely draft, 15 to 17. I find at 60 I am less worried about my average and just focus more in enjoying the ride.

I've read it. I stand by my original statement. There is NO excuse for rudeness, snarkiness, hatefulness, or arrogance toward an inexperienced rider - period. It's called "common human decency". You were a noob once yourself. So was everyone else. If you are experienced, and you don't want to help others, then why are you even on here?

Yeah ... when I was 6.

No one here was being rude, snarky, hateful or arrogant. "Hateful" ... that's a really strong and incredibly nasty word. We might be a little abrasive at times, but we're definitely not "hateful" ... no one here was being hateful ... and if that's how you are reading our responses, maybe this is not the forum for you.

And that somehow makes rudeness, hatefulness, and arrogance acceptable?

I repeat ... NO ONE here was being rude, hateful and arrogant, especially not hateful. If that's how you are reading our responses, maybe this is not the forum for you.

Semantics... But perhaps you are right. I've also built and flown airplanes, and am an accomplished classical pianist. Interesting that I've never run into such sophomoric "abrasive" attitudes on forums regarding those subjects. Perhaps I do need to find a more tolerant, educated group of cyclists with which to discuss this topic.

You are entitled to your opinion.

I have a Garmin GPS bike computer, that records all my rides. So I can get all kinds of statistics from the ride history.

My average speed for 2014, after 1800 miles, is 14.3 mph. But that includes a lot of different types of rides.

Average speeds really depend on the ride itself. This year: I have lead a couple of slow paced group rides at 12 mph. I survived an extremely hilly (8000 feet of climbing) 62 mile ride at 11.5 mph average. My more typical rides have some hill climbs and stop signs, and tend to average in the 15s. And I've done some 40 mile fast group rides at 18 or 19 mph.

So that's why you are getting "it depends" answers. And, if you stay on bike forums for a while, this question keeps coming up, and there's no good answer for it.

I'm 60 years old. This weekend, one of the group riders was 76, and he was pulling the group at 18 mph.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
You might try the 50 Plus forum. But even there, average speed questions have been answered many times.

See this google search: site:bikeforums.net/fifty-plus-50 "average speed"

Hey, at least you didn't just give me a snarky response that amounted to "it depends", and they cut me down for even asking the question - and for that I sincerely thank you. The numbers you gave me are EXACTLY the type of information I was looking for in the first place. Thanks for taking the time to provide it!!! Finally, a mature poster who actually wants to help instead of argue!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Other on here could learn from you. Again, thank you.

You really need more qualifiers for meaningful answers.

I've proposed a standard for average speed questions but it's never gotten any traction. I call it "googles". Google Maps with the bicycle option gives a rough estimate of how long it takes an average person on a bike to go a given route. It takes into account at least the elevation and traffic lights, and who knows what else. Time yourself on the route including stops and compare it to the google expected route time. I am typically 1.5 googles, meaning I'm 1.5 times as fast as the google estimates.

The problem is you haven't provided enough information to make a meaningful comparison. At 52, you're not old. The average age of local gran fondos is around 50. My avg speeds commuting are 28-32kph depending on wind and how I feel.

Some of the speed differences are due to rider capability but a larger component is generally due to the type of bike, tires and rider position. My guess is you are riding some type of a hybrid bike with 35+mm tires in a fairly upright position. Ride a race bike with 23mm tires in an aero position and your speeds will go up significantly.

At this point, attempting to compare your progress with others is not meaningful without a powermeter. Focus on increasing your riding time and the speed will come. See if you can work your way up to 10+ hrs/wk and you'll start to see where your potential lies.

I'm 60 and I don't use a speedometer. I know I've ridden at least 170,000 miles on road bikes and have no idea what my average speed is, or was, except when I come home and look at the clock. I usually ride with others or on known routes in the mountains with 100 feet of climbing per mile, or more.

Mountain riding = about 10 mph with food stops, etc.

Oh, a thick skin will help around here.

Actually, I'm riding a Giant Defy 1 endurance road bike with 25mm tires - endurance meaning a more comfortable, relaxed riding position. BUT I am older, I have been out of the sport for a long time, and I usually ride at a comfortable pace without pushing myself, and I ride on the hoods most of the time. For my age, condition, and experience, it sounds like I'm about where I should be. Give me a year...

For 2014: 3395 mi. / 208 hrs = 16.3 mph.