Updated on August 18, 2022
On a one-hour ride, most riders can maintain a speed of around 15 mph. Beginners should aim for a top speed of 10 mph, but with practise, you should be able to push that up to 15 mph in no time. It’s possible to raise your average speed up to 18 mph if you start training once every few months, but if you stick with it, you can get it up to 22 mph over time.
What is a good average speed?
When it comes to Tour de France racers, the average pace is 25mph/40kph or more.
Riders frequently ask this question, so let’s begin by addressing it. What’s a good average speed for driving? Many factors come into play here, as they do every time.
Even the bike you’re using is included. A road bike with drop handlebars and skinny tyres will normally go faster than a hybrid bike with wide tyres or a mountain bike suited for off-road riding.
A rider’s average speed will drop if they encounter a headwind, are riding in damp weather, or are riding in difficult conditions.
Tour of Britain pros who are used to racing in continental Europe have complained about how much slower the tarmac-and-gravel UK roads are when they ride.
Your level of physical fitness is essential, however. Over an hour or two on a road bike, beginners may struggle to maintain an average pace of around 10mph/16kph. Strava claims that the average speed of rides reported is roughly 15.5mph/25kph, so you should be able to maintain that speed for several hours if you ride consistently and get fit.
In order to reach a 20 mph/32 kph average speed, you’ll almost certainly have to put in a lot of time and effort. When you’re travelling at 20mph, you’re putting in eight times as much work as you would at 10mph to overcome air resistance.
Averaging 25 mph/40 kph over the course of three weeks, the Tour de France champion covers more than 2,100 miles/3,500 kilometres with the support of others. Find out why riding in a group is important as you continue reading.
BikeRadar’s tips to improve your average speed
1. Pedal more
Perfect for groups of 10 or more. But it’s a fact that expert bikers pedal more frequently than inexperienced riders.. The ability to read the road ahead and to feel competent on the bike is a big part of that. And a lot of it can be attributed to Coppi’s advice to get out and ride more.
It’s also critical to understand when to apply pressure on the pedal. The goal of slamming into a red light and then having to stop, put your foot down, and start over is to waste your time and energy.
2. Brake less
Another self-evident example. Experimentation and a keen eye for detail are the keys here, as they always are. It will take time and practise before you can ride faster downhill. To ensure a safe descent on a road bike, we’ve included some pointers.
A speedier descent on an uneven road can help you gain momentum for the next uphill as well. If you time it correctly, you may be able to make it to the top of the following rise without resorting to your small chainring or suffering an unacceptable speed loss. It’s more difficult and takes longer to begin a climb at a sluggish speed.
Your average speed will increase as a result of learning how to take corners more quickly. You can’t just wing it and hope for the best, but you also need to take steps to enhance your technique, such as how you steer into a bend and how you utilise the drops to lower your centre of gravity. Take a look at our tips on how to make a confident turn.
3. Ride in a group
If you want to increase your average speed, it is best to ride in a group or with another rider. The Immediate Media Group’s Russell Burton
If you want to increase your overall speed, joining a group ride is a surefire method.
If you’re riding in a group, there’s a sense of urgency to keep going, even if you’re starting to flag. The same holds true for when you’re in good shape and are able to set the pace for others.
Drafting is the primary benefit of riding in a group, but it’s not the only one. Up to 40% less work is necessary to ride in the rear than it is to ride in the front. In order to learn how to safely and successfully draught, it is necessary to put in a lot of kilometres on the road.
For those who have never watched a road race, draught is what allows riders near the rear of a group to remain loose while the front-runners are clearly exerting themselves. And that’s why the Tour de France winners are able to maintain such a high speed..
It’s also why sprinters have a lead-out train – they’ll spend most of their time riding behind their teammates, conserving their energy for the final sprint to the finish line.
A fantastic approach to meet other cyclists is to join a club. There are a wide variety of group rides to choose from, so you can find one that fits your level of skill and pace.
If you’ve never ridden in a group before, we’ve got some tips for you.
4. Work on your cadence
When it comes to speed, it’s not simply about putting in more effort. Pedaling quicker should be less exhausting because your muscles aren’t being strained as much. If you’ve never heard of cadence, it’s just the number of pedal strokes per minute.
No cadence is perfect, although trained amateur riders often ride between 80 to 90 rpm, while some professional riders may ride at a cadence close to 100 rpm. Chris Froome is well-known for pedalling at a rate similar to this, even when racing up a hill.
It’s also about creating “souplesse” — a smooth, efficient riding style that puts down power throughout the entire pedal stroke, not just when you’re squeezing the pedals together.
Hey, all I am Joe Marino I love to ride bikes and teach others how to ride them. Most of my articles are about which bike is best for others. I am passionate about cycling and it shows, whether I am writing about a $25 bicycle from any random website or a $5000 Santa Cruz.
I have always been the guy who gets calls from friends while at work asking which bike they should buy. I have written about the best city bike for commuting, the best folding bike for use on public transit, and even what to keep in mind when shopping for kids’ bikes.
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