Speed varies widely by cyclist, depending on fitness, road conditions and traffic. Some of my observations (cruising speed based on a flat, paved road in good condition):
20km/h (12.5mph) - many "occasional" cyclists ride around this speed
25km/h -(15.5mph) - most commuters
30km/h - (18.5mph) - fast commuters, slower roadies
35km/h - (22mph) - fast roadies
any faster than that on a long flat and they're probably a racer
(based on who I pass and who passes me when riding around 30km/h)
Average speed will usually be slower than you think, once traffic stops and hills are factored in,
especially over longer distances (like 80km). On my 21km commute I'll hit 30+ on every long stretch I can, but my average still only works out to 24km/h. For longer rides I cruise around 27-28 km/h, which is more sustainable; averaging 22-24 over a very long ride (200km) is a great pace for me.
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For Americans, 20 km/h=12.5 mph — 25=15.5 — 30=18.5 — 35=22 – Drew Stephens Sep 23 '10 at 1:00
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+1 This is a difficult question, with as many answers as there are people, but this is about the tidiest answer that I've seen anywhere. – Will Sep 23 '10 at 18:14
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+1. Bike and wind also makes a big difference - In my younger days,
I could average 30km/h on my roadie over a 1 hour circuit. A bit off wind, that would drop considerably (eve though it was a loop- you would think you would get back on the down wind what you lost on the up wind... not...). The same ride on my MTB (with me at the same fitness levels) I could just make 24km/h for the same effort. Drop 2km/h off these and it was a "leisurely cruise/all day" pace so to speak. Same ride in a bunch would add more speed. Just tire pressures are good for another 2-3 km/h variation. – mattnz Sep 16 '12 at 22:11
This matches up with my experience and the people I see on Strava.
The fastest people who aren't part of a pro cycling club average around 36Kmh.. the pro people (people who do it as a job) average anything from 40-45Kmh (they make you feel quite slow..) on the same bit of road. – John Hunt Jun 4 '15 at 10:30
Also, mean average is fairly meaningless, as said traffic lights etc make a huge difference to a mean average. – John Hunt Jun 4 '15 at 10:31