I'll be going on my first tour in July and was wondering, with a fully loaded bike, how many miles do you average per hour?
How about miles per day?
How many hours per day?
I'm just wondering what I should expect from myself so I can plan my trip in a realistic fashion. I've got a "go at your own pace" mentality, but I would still like a general idea. I know now that I won't be in the best shape possible. I am unable to go on any over nights between now and then--instead, I'm hiking as much as I can and riding on an inner city bike trail (insert yawn) about 15 hours a week.
Some journal entries I see indicate that some bike as much as 110-115 miles per day. This is impressive, from my stand point. While I'm sure I'll will become stronger as time goes by, I'm setting the bar low. I'm figuring I will start out with a goal of 50 miles per day for the first couple of weeks.
Personal experience, advice or comments would be appreciated.

A few weeks ago I made a 150 mile round trip over a weekend. The road was almost perfectly flat, but the trip up was hampered by constant 20mph headwinds with gusts up to 30. I had already planned to make regular stops, but I had to stop even more often to re-fuel myself. The trip up took about 10 hours, including stopping for food and rest, catching a ferry, and a mechanical problem.

The return trip the next day was about 7-8 hours because I had a tailwind pushing me for part of the way.

Except for the times I was struggling up some short, steep hills into the wind, I was basically cruising and looking at the scenery.

A couple weeks later I did 100 miles on a crushed rock bike trail in 8.5 hours. But towards the end I wasn't enjoying it too much. It was more a test of endurance and my willingness to inhale rock dust.

I think the idea is to enjoy yourself. If 50 miles a day will allow you to have fun, then that's what you should do. If you need to do less to enjoy yourself, then do less.

Hi -

How many miles you can do comfortably varies according to many factors - - experience, age, physical condition, road or mountain bike, amount of gear - - plus local conditions - - wind, heat, rain, gradient, traffic conditions. Generally speaking 50 miles is a light day appropriate for beginners, 75-80 miles is tops for most people touring, some people do 100 mile days, but you are biking all day, can't stop to smell the roses, and have little leeway for unexpected weather.

On level to slightly rolling terrain - when it's not too hot or cold - you can do about 10 miles per hour which allows time for banana breaks and photos - maybe a little more with a road bike - a little less with a mountain bike. The biggest variable is wind - you just can't beat a headwind - hunker down and take it slow even if you can only average 7 to 8 mph. If the wind is really howling - call it a day - - therefore build in flexibility to have days or half-days off. Rain can be a bummer, too - a light shower on a hot day is refreshing, but a steady drizzle is nasty to ride in plus can be dangerous if oncoming cars can't see you well. Instead, consider stopping at that corner cafe with great homemade pie and coffee.

I'd only do 25 miles or so my first day - that allows you time to readjust things that don't seem to be in the right place - maybe a last minute tune-up at a bike shop. Then do a few 50 mile days before you consider doing more. If you have a good tailwind you can do 15 even 18 mph fully loaded! And it's fun zooming along. But never count on it. Mountain riding is much slower - even if you go up and down the same number of feet. Never fight a long climb - just ease down to your granny gear and enjoy the scenery. Since the scenery is usually great - stop often.

My first tour I did 60 to 70 mile days - now I'm comfortable at 80 - but I still build in lots of leeway for the unexpected - whether its weather or a little town that begs me to stop and stay a little while.

Have a good trip - - John

johnegan@vcn.com

Most of my tours have been with sag. With sag, I rode some pretty isolated roads across the desert of Nevada. Longest day. 113 w/sag. The last 7 miles were all uphill with a real steep grade. I was in pretty good shape..I find, if you have to do it- you do it.?The end of that day was exhausting. We limped into camp that night.
Most difficult unsupported tour was Big Sur..Had average 7,000 ft. of climbing with about a 50 lb. load..Again, if you have to do it, you do it.
I really hit the road, do a local overnight tour before the big event. Longest ride ever in one day was 143 miles in Central California.
Maybe, 7 hours a day is average. Longest day, about 9-10. If you have the will you will do it..I find really long tours..You need a break of one day out for each week..
Average length of touring day. For me 7-8 hours..I find stopping for lunch/snacks helps you to recoup from the pain,so the next many miles are easier.
Most of my tours have been for about 5 days on the road.

I wondered the same thing when I did a tour over in Thailand a few months ago. Before I left I would bike as much as possible, maybe 4 times a week, mostly a 9 mile circiut then once a week I'd go for 3 or 4 hours. The most I rode was 34 miles. And thats in the last 5 years.

I wondered the same thing when I did a tour over in Thailand a few months ago. Before I left I would bike as much as possible, maybe 4 times a week, mostly a 9 mile circiut then once a week I'd go for 3 or 4 hours. The most I rode was 34 miles. And thats in the last 5 years.

The first day of my tour was 90K, the second day was 144K, the third day was 70K and the fourth day was 127K, I'm not sure of the miles but all of those days we're more than 34 miles. I think the most I rode was 7 or 8 hours in a day, I'd stop stop to sight see when possible. I was carrying my own stuff but I did stay in hotels so did not have all that much stuff.

From my limited experiance, I'd say the key is to not let it become like a job, you're on vacation, you go to work inorder to go on vacaation not to contimue working. The last day of my trip I think it felt too much like work, and the bus to Bangkok just looked to good.

www.thailand.crazyguyonabike.com

On my last tour: 12mph, 70 miles/day, about 6 hours/day. This was over a distance of 2100 miles.

Where'd you go, drcrash?

This is very reassuring. I also think I will be able to do more than fifty miles per day, eventually. I'm giving myself seven weeks to go 2500 miles. I've already warned myself that I must not ever be in a hurry to reach my final destination. My three rules for this trip: No hotels, no fast food and no rushing.
BTW Great photos and journal from your trip!

Loaded self-contained touring: 125-130 km per day on average.
This worked out fairly well in Newfoundland (gorgeous scenery, lots of hills and wind, but little to see in terms of museums and the like), and while touring along Lakes Erie and Ontario (fairly flat but more things to visit off the bike).

Actually, my month long tour of Newfoundland and the Maritimes was close to 5000 km, but that included a few flat days in New Brunswick and Québec where I was doing 170-180 km per day (just riding back home) and one or two "full days" of riding at 60-70 km per day (too many hills, too windy...)

Touring in Summer in Canada has one great avantage: lots of daylight. When camping, it's easy to start at 6:30-7:00 a.m. and stop at 9:00 p.m. ... still with daylight. I find it's often more enjoyable to use the full day for riding and to stop at lakes, vistas... along the road.


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Lately, I have toured with my oldest daughter (turning 8 this June). 90-100 km per day on relatively flat terrain is a better average.

That was last summer: Portland, OR, to Rochester, MN.... Up the Columbia River gorge, across Idaho to Lolo, MT, then south and east to Yellowstone, across Wyoming, and finally, across Nebraska (US 20), Iowa (cut the NW corner), and southern Minnesota to Rochester. There's nothing quite like travelling by bicycle. Have fun on your ride this summer.