On a one-hour ride, most riders are capable of an average speed of around 15 mph. When starting out, 10 mph is a good speed to aim for, but you should be able to reach 15 mph pretty quickly. Your average speed may increase to 18 mph if you begin training infrequently, but 22 mph may be your goal if you train consistently. In events like the Tour de France, professional cyclists can easily average 25 mph.
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Average Bike Speeds For Different Bike Types
As you are probably already aware, there are many different bike types that can be used for a variety of cycling disciplines.
Each type of bike and the advantages they provide are highlighted in a guide I’ve put together. If you’re looking for the bike that most closely matches your riding style, have a look at this article.
As you can imagine, different bikes have different average speeds, so I’ve divided the average bike speeds into four categories of the most popular bikes below.
As we’ve discovered, there are a number of variables that can affect your average speed, so you should treat these statistics with caution.
Road Bike Speed
On average, road bikes are the fastest type of conventional bike. When compared to other bike types, they offer superior aerodynamics and are built for high speeds.
When traveling on roads with a flatter elevation profile, a road bike typically travels between 14 and 18 mph (23-29 km/h).
Alternatively, most road cyclists can anticipate an average Bike Speed of between 8 and 12 mph (13-19 km/h) when riding on inclines of 5%.
I inquired about users’ typical speeds on their road bikes in the Reddit cycling sub to further explore this data.
Each respondent was also asked to describe the variables (terrain, elevation, weather, etc.) that went into calculating their average speed.), most of which were rides on flatter roads with few hills.
I got replies from a total of 28 people, and when I added their speeds, I got an average speed of 16.7 mph (27.5 km/h).
Although the sample size was small, the respondents’ average speed was consistent with the average speed of the road bike depicted above.
Mountain Bike Speed
Given the wide range of MTB disciplines, it is challenging to estimate an average mountain bike speed that is meaningful.
10-14 mph (16-23 km/h) is a good average speed when riding a mountain bike on a road with a flat elevation profile.
You can typically average between 4 and 8 mph (6 and 13 km/h) when mountain biking on extremely technical trails. For steep ascents with an incline of 5% or higher, the same speed applies.
Competitive MTB downhill riders frequently travel between 18 and 20 mph (29 and 32 km/h). However, they are capable of traveling at speeds of up to 50 mph (80 km/h) on the steepest parts of the trail.
Hybrid Bike Speed
As their name implies, hybrid bikes combine the best aspects of both road and mountain bikes.
Most hybrid bicycles have larger tires than road bicycles (typically 700c x 35-45), which slows them down on the road. However, compared to a hardtail and full-suspension mountain bikes, hybrid bikes typically use a rigid frame and fork, which improves pedaling efficiency.
A hybrid bike typically travels between 12 and 16 mph (19 and 26 km/h) on flat roads.
You can anticipate average cycling speeds of 6–10 mph (10–16 km/h) on a hybrid bike for uphill rides with gradients of 5%.
E-bike Speed
If you’re curious about an e-bike’s typical speed, you’re probably also interested in its typical assisted speed.
There are three different kinds of e-bikes, as I discussed in my guide to electric bicycles.
- Class 1: Pedal-assisted electric bicycles with a top speed of 32 km/h (20 mph).
- Class 2 – Throttle assisted e-bikes with a maximum speed of 20mph (32km/h)
- Class 3 — E-bikes with throttle assistance and a top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph).
E-bikes can travel at a faster or slower speed depending on the country. Although the majority of European nations have a 15.5 mph (25 km/h) cap on e-bike speed assistance.
The top speed at which electric bikes can be assisted is 20 mph (32 km/h) in the majority of US states.
Average Bike Speeds For The Professional Cyclists
Average Speed on Flat Ground: 25-28 mph
Professional cyclists move at an average speed of 25–28 mph while traveling over flat terrain. On flat ground, the typical amateur cyclist moves at a speed of 17–18 mph. Many professional cyclists competing in the Tour de France are able to simply stay competitive by maintaining a high speed on flat terrain. The best opportunities for peloton separation occur during the Tour de France’s climbing stages.
Average Cobblestone Speed: 22-24 mph
The cyclists must pass through at least one cobblestone section during every Tour de France, though occasionally this is swapped out for a section of gravel pavement. Even though the road’s narrow grooves and the terrain’s unevenness can make it challenging to tread, these athletes still manage to average 22 to 24 mph.
Average Speed Climbing: 12.8 mph
The cyclists in the 2019 Tour de France trudged through the infamous climbs of the race at an average speed of 12.8 mph. During this part of the Tour de France, the cyclists are literally cycling up and through the Pyrenees and Alps, creating some of the Tour’s most memorable moments.
Fastest Recorded Speed: 63.1 mph
Nils Politt, a German, set the Tour de France to record for the fastest recorded bike speed while descending the Col de Vars on stage 18. With a speed of 101.5 km/h on the stage’s second of four climbs, Politt became the first rider to ever surpass the 100 km/h mark.
Factors That Affect Your Bike Speed
Route Matters
Stop Signs Slow You Down
There is one route in particular that crosses many roads and I like it. As a result, I use my breaks 50% of the time for the first 5 miles!
I can never seem to average more than 10 mph and still be safe, no matter how fast I ride from one to the other. I must always keep in mind that the number that is logged will be significantly less than what I was averaging while I was moving.
It is crucial to be aware that some trackers or computers offer the choice to stop tracking your bike speed if it drops below a preset speed. That will show you an average that is closer to what you were expecting, but it no longer represents your “true” average speed.
Hills and Plains Change Your Ride Metrics
In Kentucky, where I was raised riding a bike, there were a lot of hills for me to ride up and down. I can still clearly recall the rush I felt when I reached 40 mph for the first time when I was around 10 years old, but I can also recall how much I hated going up that hill at 3 mph.
That indicates that I traveled at a speed of roughly 20 mph on the hill, but that is not the full picture. You can see your individual up and down speeds using a tool like Strava. My top speed was always my preferred performance indicator on those rides, though.
Riding Further Takes More Effort
Not all averages are created equal. Generally speaking, the longer the ride, the slower you’ll go. An average of 20 mph for one minute is simpler than an average of 20 mph for an entire hour. Therefore, even though you might have moved a little more slowly during that particularly long ride, you should be proud of the fact that you actually exerted a lot more effort!
Compared to endurance riders, I am much more of a sprinter. I, therefore, give my short-distance averages much more consideration than my long-distance averages.
Go Slow Around People
When riding on a busy path, you must be cautious of walkers, animals, other cyclists, and incredibly unpredictable young children. By ringing your bell or shouting to them to let them know which side you’ll be passing on, you can sometimes get past them fairly quickly. In general, people are very kind and will support you. On your way by, be sure to say “thank you.”
Other times, you’ll need to almost stop because a group is blocking the entire path or you need to wait for oncoming traffic to pass before you can get around someone. Always move at a safe speed when navigating around another vehicle. I make an effort to keep my speed to no more than 10 mph above theirs. That allows us both plenty of time to respond.
More Cars Slow You Down
The experience of riding on a road differs greatly from that of riding on a path. even more so if there isn’t much of a bike lane. You can accuse me of being competitive, but whenever a car is following me, I always try to move as quickly as possible. Simply put, I don’t want them to have to slow down or turn around.
Whenever this occurs to me, I’m typically on a road with a 25 mph bike speed limit. Consequently, it is manageable for a short while, but I quickly run out of gas and just pull over to rest. Keep your distance and obey the traffic laws at the very least.
Turns Can Slow You Down
With practice, you’ll develop the ability to quickly and forcefully lean into turns. That said, even experienced drivers must apply the brakes occasionally to make turns safely. Your need to slow down will increase as your route has more and tighter turns.
Weather Can Hurt Or Help
Weather encompasses much more than just the presence or absence of storms, and the same variables can either speed you up or slow you down depending on how they are combined.
Temperature Has A Sweet Spot
Unsurprisingly, you will always function best in moderate temperatures. Maintaining your body’s temperature and maintaining your body’s cooling takes a lot of energy.
Even though gloves do a lot to help, I don’t want to move so quickly that my hands get too cold if it’s too cold. When it’s hot, I don’t want to move too quickly lest I get too hot, but I also don’t want to move too slowly lest the wind can’t keep me cool.
My preferred riding temperature range is roughly between 70°F and 85°F, but there are still other factors that could alter that.
Humidity levels are important
Cycling outside in the midwest and southern parts of the US is frequently accompanied by temperatures of 85°F and 95% relative humidity. Although it isn’t actually that hot, you will use a lot of energy sweating in an effort to stay cool. Personally, I also just think the air feels thicker, but I’m not sure if it actually makes you move more slowly.
If you head west to the Rocky Mountains, the humidity is so much lower that you’ll stop sweating before you even realize it. Therefore, 100°F at 20% relative humidity doesn’t seem like such a bad temperature. Even though it’s very hot, you have much better control over how you cool down.
Cloudy vs. Sunny: Hurt And Help
The sun on a cold day or clouds on a hot day can save your life. Warmth, not heat or cold, is the condition in which we function at our best.
You’ll probably be able to go a little faster if the weather forecast calls for a hot day that will also be cloudy. And keep in mind that speed isn’t everything if the weather is chilly and cloudy.
Rain And Dust Make a Difference
Even though a little rain on a long summer ride might feel wonderful, it will almost certainly cause you to slow down. You should always err on the side of caution and slow down a little because of the decreased visibility and decreased traction on the path or road. Both are bad, but if there are lots of people, a dusty path might be worse than a wet one. When dust is flying everywhere, glasses can only do so much to protect your eyes.
Wind At Your Back (Or In Your Face)
On a few of my rides, it felt like there was a constant headwind, and my average speed supported this. On other rides, I look down and I’m effortlessly clocking 20 mph!
Using online resources like Windy.com or by simply looking up a wind forecast, you can schedule your rides. However, I rarely exert that much effort. A little unexpected challenge or help is something I enjoy.
Equipment To Increase Your Bike Speed
There are some more subtle differences that can exist between a rusty old bike and a brand-new carbon fiber superbike with all the bells and whistles. However, the differences between the two are night and day.
Posture = Speed
Despite the fact that this isn’t technically bike equipment, it can significantly slow you down. When I ride standing up, I find that I slow down by about 3 mph. when I ride forward-leaning.
Leaning forward not only makes you much more aerodynamic, but it also makes it slightly simpler to apply more pedal power. I also experience a slight psychological boost as a result of doing it; I feel stronger.
Computers Can Influence You
Having a computer or not will affect your speed in one of two ways, depending on your riding style. This one might be a little less intuitive. If I’m not paying attention to my speed, I’ve noticed that I tend to slow down, but you might exert more effort than you can handle. My computer helps me maintain consistency in my effort or, at the very least, detects when I start to lose steam.
Take Care Of Your Tires To Keep Your Speed Up
Make sure to check the pressure in your tires before you ride. Here are two posts that may be of assistance if you are unsure about how frequently or how much to inflate your tires. How frequently should you check your tire pressure? What pressure should your road bike’s tires be at?
Low tire pressure causes more of your energy to be absorbed and converted to heat. That will only cause you to travel more slowly and cause your tires to age more quickly.
You can slow down by using quiet tires. It is less of an issue with smooth tires, but you can get more hybrid or knobby tires that are excellent for traction but not for speed. They are sucking more of your energy from pedaling and converting it into noise instead of movement.
Clothes Catch Wind
As long as you are comfortable and don’t begin to chafe, you really don’t need to worry about what you are wearing if you are going for a leisurely 30-minute ride. You’ll need to pay a little more attention to what you wear once you start riding for longer periods of time.
I dress in my regular workout attire for rides under 45 minutes. Because I won’t be riding for very long, I don’t have to worry about them flapping in the wind or not being padded.
Make sure your clothing is snug against your skin if you intend to ride for longer than an hour. In this way, they won’t cause you to slow down by acting like a sail in the wind. Additionally, you should spend money on riding shorts to ensure that your sit bone is protected by padding.
Here is a link to Amazon so you can see some cycling jerseys and shorts if you are unfamiliar.
Lighter Bike (and Equipment) Weight Makes Things Easier
Less energy is required to accelerate and ascend hills on a bike that is lighter. In my article on the ideal weight of a road bike, I go into much more detail about why bike weight matters (and why it doesn’t) and what to do about it.
Therefore, if you switch from a heavier bike to a lighter one, you’ll probably gain a little bit of speed. But it’s important to remember that your aerodynamics will always determine your speed much more than anything else.
The majority of road bikes, regardless of price, thankfully weigh between 17 and 23 pounds. Very expensive bikes are pretty light by comparison, but none of them should be “heavy” by any means. An incredibly expensive bike can get down to about 15 lbs, but saving that much weight will really only help if you are a professional
A mountain bike, as a point of comparison, can weigh around 30 lbs empty. My road bike, a Trek 1.2, is about in the middle of the pack in terms of cost and, when loaded with all of my gear, weighs about 25 lbs. Visit the Recommended Gear page and take a look if you’re curious about the equipment I own.
Bearings and Chain Maintenance Keeps You Fast
Your speed may be slowed down if any of the machinery that propels your bike is dirty or beginning to degrade. A rusty chain will make you go slower, even if you have the world’s most aerodynamic bike and outfit. To ensure the longevity of your bike and that you can continue to enjoy your rides for many years to come, regular maintenance of your equipment is essential.
You can easily clean your chain. Simply apply some WD-40 chain lube from Amazon after cleaning your chain and gears with an old rag. Or you can choose the more upscale Park Tool chain cleaning unit.
Your Gearing Matters More Than You Think
Regardless of the gear, we are in, we all tend to pedal at a certain pace or cadence. So, by simply putting yourself in higher gear, you can accelerate quickly with little effort.
Although that makes a lot of sense, the benefits quickly diminish. Going too high will cause you to lose power in your legs, which will cause you to slow down. This post I wrote about when to shift gears while riding a bike is available if you’d like to learn more about how to choose the best gear to be riding in.
Fitness Makes A Difference
It makes sense that if you are fitter, it will be simpler for you to average a higher speed, but the type of fit you are in matters.
General Fitness Will Always Speed You Up
It should go without saying that the faster and longer you can ride, the fitter you are. So, increasing your level of activity and frequency of riding is one of the quickest and most effective ways to increase your speed.
Recognizing your type of fit is crucial, though. Despite being a sprinter, I was unable to maintain a good pace. Because of my slow long-distance speed, I shouldn’t be too hard on myself. I’ll concentrate more on the short-distance sprint speed I achieved.
Consider your riding distance and speed if you are an endurance cyclist.
If you don’t have a good place to ride outside but want to improve your cycling fitness, I’d advise looking into purchasing an Amazon bike trainer. While riding, fluid trainers feel the best, magnetic trainers are typically much more cost-effective.
Your Weight Can Make A Big Difference
Despite having a much wider range of weights, this topic is very similar to bike weight. In order to accelerate and ascend a hill, it takes more energy the heavier you are.
For instance, if you reduce your weight from 200 pounds to 150 pounds, riding will be much simpler than if you simply switched to a lighter bike. Consider your weight when examining how your average speed evolves over time.
Gender Makes A Small Difference
We form muscles differently under the same circumstances because males and females have different hormones. More so than women, men typically develop bigger muscles. They can therefore typically pedal more forcefully than women who undergo the same training.
But on the other hand, women are typically smaller. In comparison to men, they are lighter and more aerodynamic because of this. Therefore, they don’t need to pedal as forcefully to reach the same speed.
A female with comparable training will typically move at a speed of 1-2 mph less than a male. Thus, it is basically the same.
Experience Is Key
The amount of time you’ve spent riding a bike is not the only factor in experience. Technical expertise and knowledge are also widely available.
Confidence Will Speed You Up (And Tell You To Slow Down)
By getting into and out of more challenging riding situations repeatedly, one develops confidence while riding a bike. You can ride more quickly and safely if you are more at ease on a bike.
If you know how to hop over a large crack in the road, you can keep moving forward without slowing down. If you have practiced leaning hard into turns, you can take it faster if you slow down for tight turns to prevent running off the road.
Familiarity Helps
Take things more slowly if you have no idea what might be around the next corner. Therefore, keep yourself safe and be prepared to stop quickly. Keep planning your route past it by keeping an eye well ahead of you.
You’ll be able to spot potential danger and respond to it appropriately once you’ve mastered a route. For instance, a portion of one of my routes crosses a patch of unpaved road. After a few trips on it, I discovered a path through it that allowed me to travel quickly with only a few hiccups.
Group Rides Are Great
Even though some people prefer to ride by themselves, there is a lot of proof that group rides are faster.
Drafting Makes Everything Easier
When you ride quickly, you “draft”—get right up next to—another rider. It will be simpler for you to follow the rider in front because they will cut through the air. It’s the same reason that geese will fly in a “V” pattern.
Everyone can go faster when a team alternates the front position throughout the course of the ride. As a result, remember to support the team and contribute fairly as a leader. Don’t count on other people to do your labor-intensive work for you.
Motivation From Your Friends
The benefit of friendly competition, which is bound to arise at some point, is another advantage of riding in a group. We can use that competitive spirit to motivate everyone to outperform themselves, whether we’re competing with others or with ourselves.
No one wants to slow down the group, even if you aren’t particularly competitive. As a result, we all try to accelerate. When you are aware that other people depend on you to show up and perform well, it is also simpler to get out and ride.
Bike Speed FAQs
Can Cyclists Receive A Speeding Ticket?
It’s possible to get a speeding ticket in the USA while riding a bicycle, though it would be extremely unlikely.
Two cyclists were issued speeding tickets by Seattle police in 2013 for going over the 20 mph school zone limit. [4]
Cycling should follow traffic laws, according to one of the cyclists who was fined $103.
There are different traffic laws in every country and every state.
Cycling while receiving a speeding ticket is not permitted in the UK. In extreme circumstances, you may receive a fine of up to £2,500 for cycling dangerously if it is determined that you are riding dangerously.
Fastest Speed On A Bike Ever Achieved
Bruce Bursford, a British cyclist, set the record for the fastest bicycle speed ever.
The record-breaking bicycle speed was reached by Bruce in 1995 when he rode his specially built Millenium Cycle on an indoor treadmill up to a speed of 207.91 mph (334.6 km/h).
In 2018, Denise Mueller-Korenek broke the bicycle land speed record by traveling across Utah’s level salt flats at a record-breaking speed of 183.93 mph (296 km/h).
How To Calculate Your Average Speed On A Bicycle
The easiest and best way to calculate the average speed of your bicycle route is to divide your total ride distance by the total ride duration (Total Time divided by Total Distance.
For example:
Total trip distance = 13.56 miles
Total trip duration = 1 hr 30 mins
The calculation to find average speed (Distance÷Time)
13.56(miles) ÷ 1.5 (hours) = 9.04mph (14.54km/h)
