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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

315.0. "How Fast?" by COBRA::BFITZ () Thu May 14 1987 15:16

    This may seem like a silly question to all you professional
    biker-types out there but, I'm pretty new to this and I was
    wondering, what is the average speed one travels on a bike?
    
    I'm planning a 13 mile trip (this afternoon) and just realized 
    that I don't know for sure how long it will take me to get there.
    
    I figured about 15 mph which means 1 hour and 15 minutes.
    (That's without considering things like hills and stop signs)
    
    Can anyone help me out?
    
    - Bonnie
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315.1And PS - enjoy it!KIRK::JOHNSONMatt's Towing ServiceThu May 14 1987 15:335
    You're probably underestimating the trip a little.  If you're 
    a casual rider, you'll only average 10 mph.  Give yourself an
    hour-and-a-half to finish.
    
    MATT
315.2It all depends ...PEANO::BLACKThu May 14 1987 15:3711
Bonnie:

    It all depends - on the wind, weather, terrain, total distance, bike
... but most of all on YOU.  If you have to ask, but are otherwise
reasonably fit, and are out to enjoy the sun, I'ld guess 12 mph.  If you
are out to get aerobic, I'ld guess 16.

    When you get back, you'll know for next time.

        Andrew
315.3Hmm...(13/15)/60 = 1.15?COBRA::BFITZThu May 14 1987 17:459
    Thanks,
    
      I did my math wrong by the way.  If I was going 15 mph
    for 13 miles, it would be less than an hour traveling time (only
    too obvious, right?) I'll figure on 10mph instead.  It's been awhile
    since I've done any real biking, in fact 13 miles sounds scarier
    every minute.  
    
    - Bonnie
315.4have a ballNOVA::FISHERFri May 15 1987 11:276
    yes, you have every possibility between "world-class athlete (=
    28 minutes more or less) and "takes a breather at the top of every
    hill/bump" (=90 minutes mores or less).
    
    As one who is anticipating a 400 km event this weekend, I can only
    say, enjoy yourself and be careful, it's a jingle out there.
315.5the miles drift by quickly on a bike....SUSHI::KMACDONALDMacarooned on a Dessert IslandFri May 15 1987 12:0413
Might add that picking a pace that you can comfortably ride for those 13 
miles and staying with it will get you there quicker than riding hard 
and stopping to rest every few miles..... 

The first time I ever rode with someone that had a giz-giz
(odometer) we just went for our usual evening ride around town for an
hour or two. End of the evening he announced we had ridden over 20
miles; had no idea it was that far! And I went riding this past weekend
with someone who could "never" do 10 miles on a bike. We rode for around
an hour, checked the mileage with a car, and she had done 9.8 miles. 
Maybe someday she'll be able to do 10, after all!

                                                     ken
315.6How fast and how far!MAGIC1::GRACESat May 16 1987 02:0311
    I was wondering how much car mileage and bicycle mileage might agree.
    Assuming the car's odometer is right on the money, for the sake of
    discussion, do you think that the two distances measured would be
    within + or - 10%? 
    
    Also how accurate is the Cateye II or any of the cycle computers
    at measuring approx., 5% or 10%? I'm thinking of buying one at $39
    from Nashbar mail order and wondering if it might take the fun out
    of training or make it more fun? BTW, I like gadjets but don't like
    when the go south during a training run!
    
315.7RICKS::SPEARThe Culture PenguinSun May 17 1987 11:237
I measured my Cateye on a measured mile on Rt. 9 in Westboro.  I was within 
1% of the correct distance, and 50% of being run over :-)  I would assume that 
5% would be very easy, if you get the tire size correct.

For more info, do a DIR/title=cateye, computer and other stuff.  

cbs
315.8exEUREKA::REG_BHusqvarna Sonata fur A# saw und voodTue May 19 1987 13:369
    
    	re .6	*DON'T* assume car odometers to be spot on, many are
    >10% high (read 11 for 10 travelled).  If you get a chance sometime
    check your car against the highway markers, but do it over a 50 or
    100 mile trip.  Then you can calibrate your cateye, the constants
    in the book are very close.

    	Reg
    
315.9Is .04% accurate enough?RAINBO::WASSERJohn A. WasserWed May 20 1987 14:259
> how accurate is the Cateye II or any of the cycle computers

	With the CatEye Solar (and probably the other CatEye products)
	you enter the distance traveled per revolution of the measuring
	tire in millionths of a mile (or millionths of a kilometer if
	you are set for metric).  Since a millionth of a mile is about
	1/16th of an inch and the circumference of a 27" tire is about 
	85 inches, the CatEye can be calibrated to about one part in 2700 
	or .04% .