How fast is that on a bike?
Cycling speed is almost entirely a fight with air. Above about 25 km/h, most of your effort goes into moving air aside.
89% of a club rider
25 km/h is faster than 3 of the 7 references on this page.
Reference figures are measurements and are rounded; the unit conversion behind them is exact.
| Reference | Size | Yours ÷ theirs | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| leisurely ride | 13 km/h | 1.93× | 13 km/h |
| city commuter | 15.8 km/h | 1.58× | 16 km/h |
| fit recreational rider | 22 km/h | 1.14× | 22 km/h |
| club rider | 28.1 km/h | 0.89× | 28 km/h |
| Tour de France average | 40.7 km/h | 0.615× | 40.6 km/h over three weeks |
| hour record | 56.8 km/h | 0.44× | 56.79 km in one hour |
| recumbent streamliner record | 145 km/h | 0.172× | 144.17 km/h |
Worth knowing
- At 30 km/h roughly 80% of a cyclist’s power goes into aerodynamic drag. That is why a fairing more than doubles the record.
- The Tour de France has averaged over 40 km/h for the whole race since 1999 — including mountains.
Frequently asked
What is a good average cycling speed?
For a fit recreational rider on flat roads, 22–25 km/h. Club riders hold 28–32 in a group, where drafting saves about 30% of the effort.
Why is drafting worth so much?
Because the rider in front leaves a pocket of moving air behind them. Sitting in it cuts drag by 25–40%, which at racing speed is most of the work.