Your Average Bike Speed?

30 km/h (18-19mph) is pretty much my sweet spot at the moment. I can maintain this average pretty easily. Hopefully as I lose weight, this will increase.

Edited by serenityau 2009-06-29 6:00 PM

My first tri is in September and I'm on a mountain bike.  Usually with traffic I'm between 8-10mph and on a trail with no stops it's 10-13. 

New as well, I've got two tri's and a duathlon under my belt.  I use a road bike and average about 17-18 mph during training and have ranged from 18 - 20 (flat course) during events.  8 weeks out....sounds like you're on track.  I was averaging the same when I started training.  I haven't improved a ton, but I only ride 30 miles most weeks.   Next year I'll probably get fitted with aero bars.

Average speed for what distance and what kind of conditions? Flat road or hilly? Racing or training? How many traffic signals to stop for.  These things all factor in.

Our tri club did a monthly time trial. One month the winner's speed was just over 19, the next month the winning speed by the same guy on the same course was just over 40. The difference was that one month had a strong headwind and the next a strong tailwind. Makes a big difference.

Just general riding around I average between 17-18 on a hilly route with several traffic signals to stop at and usually windy. Racing a sprint is typically in the low 20s - 20-23.

I thought about getting some clip on aero bars but I dont know how that will change my bike fit.

Training 19 - 21.

Racing 22 - 25.

my first sprint a few weeks ago my bike avg was 17.2 on a mtb.  i was in the bottom of the pack for the bike.  everyone else on my AG (30-34) was 20+.  it was pretty flat with a light cross breaze for about 8-9miles.  folks were passing me the entire time.  i counted, i only passed 6 people and 3 had passed me before i passed them.

x 2 (Exactly)

training is all over the place, anywhere from 8 to 22 (lots of climbing now:-)

racing on more normal courses sprints 24-26, longer races 22-24

This question would probably mean more if it related to power output, but until power meters come (way) down in price speed will have to do...

Why?  Some 200 pound guy that averages 25 would be putting out +/- 300 watts while someone small and more aero may only be doing 225 at the same speed.

Power meters don't give the whole picture, average speed doesn't lie.  (Yes, using a power meter to train is a different story, but when you are talking about "what is your average bike speed" people can relate to a mph number much better than a power number).

Training on big mountain hills (almost always) : 15 or below on a road bike.

Training on flats: 20, if not 22 

Except for most triathlon bike courses, you would be much more interested in w/Cda.

For the OP:

Last season overall average (includes commuting) - 26km/h
Last season races (short course) - 34.5km/h

This season overall average - 28.2km/h
This season races (short course) - 35.1km/h

Shane

Edited by gsmacleod 2009-06-29 7:03 PM

X2

Of course I get that and I know what that means.  But I can guarantee that if I say I'm putting out 4 w/kg the majority of people here would go ..... "Huh??"

But if I said, I averaged 25 in my last flatter sprint they'd go "Damn, that's pretty good!"

In the 21's for sprints and olys (the 21.2mph oly distance has been unofficial in training as I have yet to do one). Last sprint was 21.3. I'd go harder on the sprints but I suck at running and need some legs left over.

mind my silly question.. I am a n00b..

why do a lot of you train at a lower speed than you race at ? 

17-20 mph in training

21-23 mph racing

Training usually consists of intervals, recovery, base miles, etc.

So for some intervals I'm up to 30mph for a few minutes, but I don't consider that "averaging 30mph on training rides."

This user's post has been ignored.

ah yeah that makes sense.. I just find when I train, I am trying to hit a spot most of the time that I would like to maintain in a race. I am a poor runner, so I am trying not to blow a gasket on the ride.