73 replies to this topic

[goldie*]

I know that this is the kind of question that prompts answers like "how long is a piece of string?" but here goes anyway ...

For those of you that commute to work by bicycle - what would you say is the average speed per km?

The run into work for me is 29km with a section along a bike path and then several kms along a busy road. Considering the peak hour traffic and the number of traffic lights would it be fair to say that the commute along this section would be much the same as in the car, marginally slower or a lot slower?

Anyone with a cycle computer or garmin that would have their average speed handy?

Cheers all

[PurplePete]

harvey998,

As you say it is difficult to estimate this, as it depends on cycling ability, fitness, terrain, wind, traffic, type of bike etc.

I live in Sydney and commute on a mountain bike (with slicks) and work on about 3 minutes per km (20km per hour). This works well for me and usually gets me to my destination on time or slightly early.

You will just need to experiment, and maybe buy yourself a bike computer

Hope this helps

[Dom]

Well, how good a cyclist are you?

By comparison, i cycle at about 24-26km/hr (on a road bike,) . This is on a mixture of roads and cycle paths over a mildy undulating course. So the 27km course would be about 1hr to 1hr 15

don't know if this helps

Edited by Dom, 24 October 2007 - 06:33 PM.

[cakeboy]

I sit on around 30km/hr with no wind, maybe a touch more on the way home....But I don't average this. It's usually around 25kms/hr because of stopping for lights, etc. My trip takes me 25 minutes and I can do it in the car in 15-20 minutes (10kms) but that is against the flow of peak hour traffic.

In peak hour I reckon if you averaged 20km/hr you would probably beat the traffic in Adelaide.
You have to factor in getting changed and maybe a shower as well.

Good luck with it.

[Sunset]

I'm not sure - my 4km ride to work isn't really worth measuring

[sfGnome]

My old trip was 25k (half on a toll way, half in traffic/hills/etc) and it used to take me an hour so that one's easy to work out.

My new trip is 12.5k (downhill to work, uphill back home), and it takes me - you guessed it - an hour for the round trip. Looks like 25kph is my one-and-only cycling pace

[blair]

My trip to work is about 17.5km and takes me about 45 min so that's a pace of about 23km/hr. That obviously includes waiting for traffic lights etc.

I don't know if I am faster than in a car but I definitely pass quite a lot of them flying down Wynnum Rd from Galloway's Hill each morning.

[Hamburglar]

I have a car computer thingo and it often says that the average speed the car goes at is apx 30km/hr. This is an average of driving in peak hour traffic and on weekends.

Now I don't cycle that fast, but I am not too far behind

[MissZ]

My average speed when riding the 10k to work is around 20k per hour and my rule of thumb for (Sydney) city cycling is half an hour for 10k. That takes into account a cruisy pace, pedestrians, traffic lights etc.

My aim for my commute is to beat the train, and taking into account the time it would take me to walk to the station, I manage it.

There is a relevant article here: http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/cycl...challenge-12731

[B+]

Without this turning into a perceived pissing contest as to who goes the fastest etc, i think there are a lot of variables that will influence the speeds different riders ride at let alone even what the same rider rides at.
I ride to and from work 4 times a week if I do it directly it's 36km (some days I go around about way and get 75-80km up) and the average speed can vary from
28kph on an easy day to 36-37kph on a hard day. Overal it it is about 32-34kph from week to week.
So we are all different, but it is good to know that most of us can probably ride to work faster than we can drive in traffic especially Sydney traffic.

[goldie*]

Thanks everyone

I think if I start with 20 km/h as a guide and see how it pans out in reality.

Might try it on a weekend first I think, but it looks as though I should allow 2 hours for the ride, shower/change, cool down a bit before work.

Looking forward to the morning ride, not so sure about the ride home though - got a hunch it's going to feel soooooo much longer

[Shoesandsox]

for the sake of increasing the sample size, I average 25 minutes for my 12k ride to work. So that's 28.8 kph. Most of that is bike path, with the only really slow area being through the city (Melbourne). I always seem to get the red lights up Swanston Street.

As per B+ comments, this is faster than the car commute. But then doesn't include the time I need for a shower on the other end.

[B+]

See, this showering at the other end comment comes up often whenever either running or riding to work is discussed, but it is a misnomer as the days I drive to work I shower and shave before I leave home for work. The days I ride I just get up and leave a bit earlier and then shower and shave at work. So in the overall day the total time for grooming is the same, and I have saved myself an extra hour or so of training time that would normally be getting taken from family time.

[freddy]

I ride about 10ks each way most days to work and it normally takes around 25minutes. I work in Parramatta, when driving it can take over 30 minutes just to get out of the Parra CBD in peak hour.

I find the most difficult part about riding to work is being organised enough to ensure that I have enough changes of clothes at work. It normallt means driving at least once a week to bring in fresh clothes to put in locker.

[wobbly man]

Mine is a 24 km ride in when I could be bothered. I average it in about 45-47 mins regardless of the time I leave. In the car it is never less unless it is the weekend.

I love the ride home more than the ride in to work!

[ingrid]

Hi,
I ride 14.5km to work in about 40 mins (there are 2 really long steep hills)

I agree with Wobbly man, the ride home is much better, because you are relaxed and winding down from the day, and in the mornings, I am usually riding under a bit of stress because I have left it to the last possible moment to make it in time for a shower and still be on time!

[Slow Sue]

Oh Crap, now I see I'm slow at riding too....

[sfGnome]

Maybe, but you got to 759 posts faster than any of the rest of us...

[Slow Sue]

Thanks sfGnome, at least that's something.

[Mark Heydon]

Slow Sue, on Oct 26 2007, 01:33 AM, said:

Oh Crap, now I see I'm slow at riding too....

Just what I was thinking.
I cycle 7km to work - from Balmain to the City. My cycle computer clocks the average speed - while moving - at around 22km/h. This has been as quick as 24km/h a few times and once as slow as 19km/h (Monday after a long Sunday run). Either way, this is a lot slower than the other speeds quoted!

Cycling is quicker than the ferry or bus (the only reasonable alternatives). It also saves money - this was key in justifying my last bike purchase to my wife! Having done 6000+km it is now half paid for in ferry tickets saved!

[sook54]

My work has neither showers nor lockers available, so I am envious of those who have the freedom to run or ride. It's only 7km from home but very hilly.

[Sunset]

Do you all think that most workplaces (particularly large organisations) should have to provide showers/change facilities?

I'm looking at working for a large gov dept next year and I suspect that they don't provide these facilities.

[walshy2]

I think in this day an age employers should be doing whatever they can to attract and retain good people. My work provides showers and lockers and if I left them and went to work for another company, whether I could excercise and shower afterwards at lunch time would have a major bearing on whether I agreed to work there or not

[blair]

Sunset, on Oct 29 2007, 06:57 PM, said:

Do you all think that most workplaces (particularly large organisations) should have to provide showers/change facilities?

My work has showers but they don't provide lockers. I think that, even if they didn't have showers, I would still ride to work. It would just mean having a pommie shower at the sink in the men's room instead.

[alisonjc]

Slow Sue, on Oct 26 2007, 01:33 AM, said:

Oh Crap, now I see I'm slow at riding too....

We can have a reverse contest if you like, cos I bet I'm slower than YOU lol.
I've started riding the 16km to work once a week, would like it to be more but child pickup commitments prevent it.
We have showers at work but no lockers, but I'm pretty crumpled at the best of times

[blair]

alisonjc, on Oct 30 2007, 11:34 AM, said:

I'm pretty crumpled at the best of times

To deal with this I always have a shirt hanging up at my desk. So the shirt I brought in today I hung up to wear tomorrow. Today I'm wearing the shirt I brought in and hung up yesterday.

[Mickey]

Sunset, on Oct 29 2007, 06:57 PM, said:

Do you all think that most workplaces (particularly large organisations) should have to provide showers/change facilities?

I'm looking at working for a large gov dept next year and I suspect that they don't provide these facilities.

I work in a Government owned corporation, and we get spoilt. Within 30m of my office I have
-Bike Racks (with no public access)
-Showers
-Lockers
-Gym, complete with full time instructors

Unfortunately I live 42k from work which is too far for me to ride, given that I only got my first bike (Bessie ) a couple of weeks ago. When they finish the Gateway Bridge upgrade, I belive that there will be a Bike and Pedestrian lane which might make it doable every so often.

To add some relevance to the original post, I guess your speed also depends a bit on how you want to feel for the rest of the day. You would probably want to get to work feeling reatively fresh, therefore drop back on the pace a bit.

Mike

[Slow Sue]

Hey guys did you see the price of petrol is going to go up again, more incentive to ride and save money.

I also work for the government and are very spoilt with great shower/locker facilities, a pool, great gym and instructors that do spin classes, pump classes, boxing classes. Very lucky indeed. And I do appreciate it all.

[wombatoutofhell]

people work for the government? you learn something every day!
I haven't riden to work in ages-my bike is still undergoing a rebuild (fancy name for a coat of paint). I was riding once a week, it's a 14.5km ride and it would take about 36 or 37 minutes on my mountain bike or 30 to 33 minutes on my road bike. It's about 5 minutes longer home. In the car it takes 15 minutes in the morning and 25 at night if i leave on time-add 10 minutes if I work back. Being in a trade and working in a factory (and also leaving for my ride in at 5:15 AM) I could get away without showering when I got there. Now it's getting warm that might change though.
A new bike might help me-my mountain bike I bought on Ebay for $1.67, my road bike I picked out of my brothers dead bike pile and replaced some parts with bits from the same pile. You can imagine what both bikes are like!

Edited by wombatoutofhell, 30 October 2007 - 07:21 PM.

[wobbly man]

I'm riding into work tomorow into the CBD. I took some extra clothes in this morning. We have one tiny shower per floor but it's all you need really and because it is small hardly anyone else uses it (especially when I leave my gear in there )

[thomo]

wombatoutofhell, on Oct 30 2007, 07:21 PM, said:

A new bike might help me-my mountain bike I bought on Ebay for $1.67, my road bike I picked out of my brothers dead bike pile and replaced some parts with bits from the same pile. You can imagine what both bikes are like!

Your not related to Rohan?

[sailaway]

Sunset, on Oct 29 2007, 06:57 PM, said:

Do you all think that most workplaces (particularly large organisations) should have to provide showers/change facilities?

I'm looking at working for a large gov dept next year and I suspect that they don't provide these facilities.

Yes, and if employers and particularly Local, State and Cwth Govts are going to promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle then they should also provide the facilities to assist with those who take up the challenge.

I work for a large Gov org who "promotes and encourages employees to live a healthy lifestyle", however they fail dismally by not providing showers in my current workplace. However this same Gov org is currently completing the main HQ in Canberra which has bike storage, showers and wait for it............ a fully functional gym. Hows that for hypocracy and discrimination.

I ride to work (10km each way) and it takes me aprox 20-25min.


I have managed to locate and come to an agreement with a nearby gym whereby for $2 I can use their showers.

Edited by sailaway, 07 November 2007 - 08:58 PM.

[B+]

No one works for the goverment they are all employed by the government. At least that's how it appears given the state of Sydney's infrastructure

[crazycatwoman]

Mickey, on Oct 30 2007, 01:47 PM, said:

...Unfortunately I live 42k from work which is too far for me to ride, given that I only got my first bike (Bessie ) a couple of weeks ago. When they finish the Gateway Bridge upgrade, I belive that there will be a Bike and Pedestrian lane which might make it doable every so often...


Mike

Thats a HUGE bridge to ride over, good luck with that hehe I get scared when i see it from a distance its so steep! and thats in a car lol.

[wombatoutofhell]

thomo, on Oct 30 2007, 09:56 PM, said:

Your not related to Rohan?

will it make me as fast as him if i say yes?

[Steely]

The bike is my main from of transport. I probably drive twice a month and on those days it takes about the same time as riding. It's only 12 k so not all that far. manage it in about 20-25m depending on which bike I take.

Although most days there's a training session to be gotten to before work so the trip could be a long as 80k. Most days it's the roadie, Mondays it's the single speed MTN bike and I love just cruising on it. I used to live 3 k from work and would regularly ride 55-60k to get home.

It's a great way to unwind from the days stresses.

[Beki]

I would love to ride to work - it's not too far being 24k but the roads I would have to take are what puts me off

One of the things I miss about Melbourne is all the bike paths and tracks that just don't seem to exist in Sydney. I used to be able to cycle 17k to work without so much as a snifter of a road

[Slow Sue]

I'm on the bike tomorrow. 24 degrees woo hoo although I do leave home at 6am....brrrrrr

[wombatoutofhell]

Slow Sue, on Nov 7 2007, 07:38 PM, said:

I'm on the bike tomorrow. 24 degrees woo hoo although I do leave home at 6am....brrrrrr

Lucky you-I wish I could have a sleep in like that!

[thomo]

Slow Sue, on Nov 7 2007, 07:38 PM, said:

I'm on the bike tomorrow. 24 degrees woo hoo although I do leave home at 6am....brrrrrr

wombatoutofhell, on Nov 7 2007, 11:31 PM, said:

Lucky you-I wish I could have a sleep in like that!

Rode my bike (wifes really, she has never ridden it) to the train station at 2:50 in the morning on Monday. Saved $20 in taxi fares and got a short bike session in.

[Slow Sue]

Geeze, I got another flat this morning...........
1st my Ipod went flat,
2nd then the tyre went flat,
3rd had to have a cold shower...........

Yep a crap day all round.........

[wobbly man]

Man, that sucks SS - I'm on my treadlie tomorrow. Fingers crossed I have more luck that you had today!

[tank girl]

Beki, on Nov 7 2007, 06:14 PM, said:

I would love to ride to work - it's not too far being 24k but the roads I would have to take are what puts me off

One of the things I miss about Melbourne is all the bike paths and tracks that just don't seem to exist in Sydney. I used to be able to cycle 17k to work without so much as a snifter of a road

You just need to figure out how to mount a rocket launcher on your bicycle, so drivers give you more clearance

[Slow Sue]

Hey Wobbly Man, I thought they hadn't fixed my original flat very well but apparently after a long weekend the bike shops do a roaring trade thru flats because of all the hoons on the road breaking glass!!!
The bike shop guy showed me the rip in the tube!!!
Was slack this week and didn't brave the treadly.......

[wobbly man]

SS, what do you mean they - RACV? Don't you fix your own flats? Man it was hot on the bike on the way home last night!

[run2work]

Shhhhhh!

I have been riding to work a bit lately instead of what name suggests.

Regards
Run(Ride)2Work

[brizza]

i love riding to work,i drive on a monday and take about five sets of clothes,take over the bathroom and have a wash at the sink,the acoustics are good so i get a bit of a yodel or bebopaloolah,i'm the boss so i can do what i like,i swim most mornings and then again in the evening so it takes a bit of coordinating

[Slow Sue]

Wobbly man, I'm afraid I'm a bit of a Princess when it comes to the bike. I have even invested in that stuff you put in your tube if you get a flat so you can get to where you are going before you can get it fixed.
I'm blokeless and it's times like that I need a bloke to help fix my flats. Ummm did that come out right......
The bike shop man fixes my flats.

[wombatoutofhell]

Slow Sue, on Nov 20 2007, 06:00 PM, said:

Wobbly man, I'm afraid I'm a bit of a Princess when it comes to the bike. I have even invested in that stuff you put in your tube if you get a flat so you can get to where you are going before you can get it fixed.
I'm blokeless and it's times like that I need a bloke to help fix my flats. Ummm did that come out right......
The bike shop man fixes my flats.

Speaking from memory and not that I pay attention but they aren't exactly flats. Oh wait-I think I've gone somewhere else. Ignore me-carry on!

[wobbly man]

SS - Just in case it is not only the bike shop man who can fix things for you ...

I doubt you will find many available men here but you might find it worth going along to.

Alternatively THIS might help?