When you start out cycling, it’s absolutely natural to want to benchmark your typical speed.
There are a number of factors that can affect your cycling speed, including your age, your fitness level, your experience, the terrain, the weather, traffic – and even the type of bike you’re riding.
If you want to just convert distances you can look at our tools for Miles to Kilometres and Kilometres to Miles calculator
But if we assume that all things are equal, the terrain is flat, and traffic signals don’t stop you – how long does it typically take to cycle certain distances?
How long does it take to cycle a mile?
The average cycling speed for a beginner cyclist is around 20km per hour, which is approximately 12.5 miles per hour.
On this basis, it would take the average beginner cyclist just under 5 minutes to cycle one mile.
So, the next time you go for a ride, see how long it takes you to cycle a mile and use that as a benchmark!
How long does it take to cycle 5 miles?
If you’re able to maintain the average 12.5 mph pace, the average cyclist should be able to cycle 5 miles in approximately 24 minutes.
How long does it take to cycle 10 miles?
If you’re able to maintain the average cycling pace of 12.5 mph, it’s likely that a beginner cyclist could cover 10 miles in around 48 minutes.
However, especially if you’re a beginner it might not be feasible to keep up a consistent pace for this long.
A reasonable target would be to complete a 10 mile bike ride within an hour.
How long does it take to cycle 20 miles?
At the average pace of 12.5 mph, a cyclist should be able to cover 20 miles in around 1 hour and 36 minutes.
But a lot depends on your fitness level and experience – if you’re a beginner cyclist and you’re covering 20 miles in less than two hours, you’re on the right tracks.
How long does it take to cycle 100 miles?
If you’re just starting out cycling, we wouldn’t recommend attempting a 100 mile ride without taking sufficient training first.
Over such a long distance, it’s highly unlikely you’ll be on flat terrain all the way – but if you were, it would take the average beginner cyclist approximately 8 hours to cycle 100 miles at a speed of 12.5 mph without any stops.
In reality, a beginner cyclist is not going to maintain a 12.5 mph speed across a 100 mile distance and a more realistic time to aim for is around 10 hours.
How do I track my cycling speed?
Cycling computers are a great way to track the distance you’ve travelled, the time that had elapsed and your average speed.
There are a number of different cycling computers on the market, so it’s important to do your research before choosing one that is right for your needs. There are a wide range of cycling computers at Tredz to suit the needs of all experience levels.
