What avg speed on a flat road?

ShutUpLegs

Someone has eaten all the cake

simon_masterson

nolight wrote:

Title says avg speed but then asks for cruising speed. So not sure what you wants If you are cruising at 22mph then obviously your avg speed will be lower ?

Exactly. Someone else can give you the maths, but unless you go for a ride on a completely still day on a completely flat and straight road on which there is no traffic, for a given average speed you will have to be going quite a lot faster than that number most of the time and your acceleration and recovery (from intense bouts) have to be top notch.

But there are plenty of factors that can affect your speed on a flat road quite substantially. Group riding has already been mentioned, but drafting a line of traffic can have a similar effect; hence your speed on a busy dual carriageway may well be faster than on a country road.

displacedaussie

Bwgan wrote:

Cheers for all the useful responses guys

How flat is the flat road?
Which direction is the wind coming from?
How windy is it?
Is it a solo ride?
Is it a group ride?
If it's a group ride are you on the front?
Is the group rotating constantly to keep the pace high?
Is it the start of a ride?
Is it at the end of the ride?
How long is the ride?
Is the average speed really the average speed, or just the average speed you hit sometimes, perhaps on a good day?
What's your heart rate?
Are you on a hard training ride or just a long steady ride?
Which bike? The fast, stiff, light race one or the heavy singlespeed commuter with panniers?
How long do you keep this average pace up for?
What was your "average speed" on your ride leading up to this flat bit of road?
What was your "average speed" after this bit of flat road?

See, "average speed" by itself doesn't mean anything, that's why the answers are as they are. Now a 10 mile TT time - that's a bit more meaningful.

ps. don't ask anyone what their fastest speed downhill was either.

bompington

displacedaussie wrote:

Bwgan wrote:

Cheers for all the useful responses guys

How flat is the flat road?
Which direction is the wind coming from?
How windy is it?
Is it a solo ride?
Is it a group ride?
If it's a group ride are you on the front?
Is the group rotating constantly to keep the pace high?
Is it the start of a ride?
Is it at the end of the ride?
How long is the ride?
Is the average speed really the average speed, or just the average speed you hit sometimes, perhaps on a good day?
What's your heart rate?
Are you on a hard training ride or just a long steady ride?
Which bike? The fast, stiff, light race one or the heavy singlespeed commuter with panniers?
How long do you keep this average pace up for?
What was your "average speed" on your ride leading up to this flat bit of road?
What was your "average speed" after this bit of flat road?

See, "average speed" by itself doesn't mean anything, that's why the answers are as they are. Now a 10 mile TT time - that's a bit more meaningful.

ps. don't ask anyone what their fastest speed downhill was either.

Useful list, but you forgot to add the variability in the ICF (Internet Correction Factor) that is always applied when speeds are quoted in forums. Which is, of course, the main reason for all the sarcastic replies.

displacedaussie

bompington wrote:

Useful list, but you forgot to add the variability in the ICF (Internet Correction Factor) that is always applied when speeds are quoted in forums. Which is, of course, the main reason for all the sarcastic replies.

I believe the formula is:

actual speed + (how big I wish my willy was - how big my willy actually is) ^ 1.08

Mystique

Trying to be sensible and honest...

Riding solo for a couple of hours in decent weather on a rolling but not especially hilly route, not rush hour, usual traffic lights/ junctions etc:

Actual Average - Usually 27.5-29kph

Flat road "cruising" speed - 30-32kph

simon_masterson

Since no-one's said it yet, no-one 'cruises' at 22mph.

phiadad

30 kph=18.63mph,32kph=19.872mph

pipipi

Teisetrotter wrote:
Arthur Scrimshaw wrote:
CiB wrote:
104.

105

106

107

107.2

arthur_scrimshaw

pipipi wrote:

Teisetrotter wrote:
Arthur Scrimshaw wrote:
CiB wrote:
104.

105

106

107

107.2

Modest and yet impressive at the same time.

nolight

I got an idea. Take a helicopter to the top of a hill. Bring out the bicycle and start cycling from the top of the hill. Average speed will be near cruising speed.

jonomc4

I normally do 69 mph on the flat - any more than that and I might get stopped for speeding - it very easy to do on my special puncture proof tyres. I generally achieve 38 mph in reverse

briantrumpet

Incidentally, I aim for 7-10 inches, but I'm a bit off form at the moment. And anyway I don't normally pay any attention to the tape measure. Too many variables.

simon_masterson

Now remember son, size isn't everything...

Ginjafro

With or wthout a helmet?

thescouselander

Shouldn't we be measuring speeds in metres per second anyway?

pride4ever

If I lived in Milton Keynes Id be looking for 22mph but here in West Yorkshire an hill is only ever a few miles away so conserving your energy is paramount. 18-20mph is what I average on the flat sections of the rides I do round here.

rolf_f

thescouselander wrote:

Shouldn't we be measuring speeds in metres per second anyway?

Inches per hour gives a much more impressive number.....

briantrumpet

Rolf F wrote:

Inches per hour gives a much more impressive number.....

My inches won't last an hour.

southdownswolf

briantrumpet wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

Inches per hour gives a much more impressive number.....

My inches won't last an hour.

I'm sure LA has a tablet for that...

Bobbinogs

pride4ever wrote:

If I lived in Milton Keynes I'd be looking for 22mph

Whenever I have been to MK I have always wished for a much quicker speed leaving it.

16mm

13.4 is a good cruising speed.

briantrumpet

16mm wrote:

13.4 is a good cruising speed.

Depends if you're expecting to pick up anyone.

Mikey23

@bt... Do I pick up an insulting vibe?

rozzer32

Mikey23 wrote:

@bt... Do I pick up an insulting vibe?

Think she would be more pleased with a rabbit.

briantrumpet

Mikey23 wrote:

@bt... Do I pick up an insulting vibe?

No, just base humour. Sorry.

MattC59

Depends on lube, WD40 being thinner offers less resistance in the chain and bearings, so higher 'cruising' speeds can be attained. Obviously, this approach is only good for about 0.25 miles.
(Honest)

DavidJB

Lol at people reckon they 'cruise' at 22MPH who are you trying to fool. Cruise = zone 1 or zone 2.

16mm

22mph.

johnny25

There aren't any 'flat' roads where I live.

On an average road with average undulation, average wind, average clothing and bike, about 18mph average.