Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

by **mikesbytes** » Mon Jun 30, 2014 8:09 pm

Tonight I was walking along a shared bike path which would of typically be used by cyclists with longer commutes and I noticed how slow the commuters were. Roll back to 2000 when I first started commuting most of the riders were sports riders, but what I am seeing now is a wider variety of rider types due to improved facilities

by **BNA** » Mon Jun 30, 2014 8:37 pm

by **queequeg** » Mon Jun 30, 2014 8:37 pm

I have stopped watching speeds and just ride. I get a fast section on
the way to work where I hammer it (2 lane rd, downhill), and coming home I get a 10km stretch along the motorway cycle lane where I can go as fast as I want. Outside of those two sections I just ride and enjoy.

by **diventare** » Mon Jun 30, 2014 9:19 pm

Agree, I took the computer off the bike about 3 months ago for a repair and haven't missed it. Thinking I won't worry about the repair now.

Getting to work is getting to work, probably fast on their way home!

by **KGB** » Mon Jun 30, 2014 10:13 pm

I think it will vary with time of day as well. Depending on when I leave work, I see faster riders or slower, more casual riders. I assume the slow guys ate knocking off at a similar time and making a shorter journey.
I'd consider myself one of the faster riders (no speedo though) and generally I'm riding before the episode all come out. My commute is 26km each way.

by **Daus** » Tue Jul 01, 2014 4:43 am

I have been commuting for the last 8 years and have slowed down myself and not just a result of ageing

When I first started riding I would leave late, race to work and always felt in a rush- likewise for the trip home. I slowly discovered the joy of cycling for the fun of it, looking around, the various cooking smells from houses on the way home etc. Now I leave early and stop at my favourite coffee shop on the way, relax with other regulars and life slows around me- very good for stress levels.

by **Lurkin** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 8:48 pm

Also depends what day it is... definite difference later in the week..

by **98octane** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:20 pm

Time of the day and weather play a big part. Early, wet or cold - more hard core fast commuters. After 830am, or warm sunny weather - lots of slower recreational or occasional cyclists.

by **TraversW** » Tue Jul 22, 2014 9:24 pm

Possibly also depends on facilities at work and also what is the motivator for commuting.
I have a shower and locker at work so I lycra it up and shower when I get there plus I do it for the training and fitness rather than just transport even though I enjoy not needing to get in my WRX to sit in traffic. I love thrashing myself and getting to work in a lather of sweet, plus I do about 300m of climbing in just a 13km journey so route probably plays a big part, but generally unless I am cruising because I am sore I am going flat out wherever I go.

by **westab** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:22 am

To me I ride how I feel most the time and there usually is no big rush. Most the time I simply ride to enjoy the ride; sometimes I have to be at work or home by a certain time so I have to go quickly (my ave speed then will usually go from 22km/h to about 30km/h for my 10km commute)

If I know I have to be somewhere in the afternoon and will need to raise my speed then in the morning I will take it very easy to ensure there is enough energy for the afternoon ride.

by **casual_cyclist** » Wed Jul 23, 2014 4:43 pm

You guys are fast compared to my efforts (or lack thereof :lol:

For my last 4 commutes my average speed has been: 17.8, 16.8, 18.4, 16.4. Let's see, saving my legs for run training? :lol:

Technically "bricks" is not where you soft pedal all the way home so that you can do your run training when you get home :mrgreen:

by **rdp_au** » Thu Jul 24, 2014 2:03 pm

For me it's 26km each way, with ~ 230m climbing on the way in at 28-29kph, and ~440m on the way home at 22-23kph. Can be a bit of a slog, that homeward trip, especially when the nor'easter kicks in over summer..

by **Storm Boy** » Thu Aug 07, 2014 4:36 pm

I have a 14km daily commute each way, -90 metres elevation on the way to work, average speeds between 29-34 km/h, normally around 31-32. On the way home, +90 metres elevation, average speeds 26-30, normally around 27-28. The route has about 6 stops on average, but free flowing for the most part. This is on a basic road bike, clipped in, with backpack etc. Some days are fast and other days I just wonder what happened. I have definitely noticed a correlation between speed and what I eat during the day. Having break days, i.e. weekends, makes a difference too.

Regards,

SB

by **QuangVuong** » Thu Aug 07, 2014 8:01 pm

I dont normally commute, but times when I choose to ride the 60km/300m elevation return trip, I average about 23-25km/h. Half the trip is on the Cooks River Path where Id be trvalling about 30km/h, and the average speed suffers a bit from the hills from my place to the Cooks path, and from the path to uni as well as the kids, walkers, and slow cyclists on the path.

This takes me ~1hr 15mins each way and Id be fine(no excessive sweat, tiredness, etc). If I didnt have to carry a heavy bag I wouldnt be as tired on the return trip, and prob be a little faster too.