Cyclists are often fixated on our average speed, and many of us will do anything to keep it as high as possible, such as stopping the recording of a ride before tackling the final, speed-sapping hill.
While average speed isn’t the most important thing to consider, there are a few reasons why you should pay attention to it.
Here are five reasons why average speed is important.
Read more: Average speed challenge: How hard is it to ride at 30 km/h?
It provides a benchmark
According to Strava, cyclists average around 17-20 km/h. This number is affected by many variables, be it terrain or weather, and can therefore vary significantly from rider to rider.
However, by looking back at previous rides, you should get a good idea of what range of your average speed you usually fall into and what speeds you achieve on different terrain.
These speeds then serve as a useful benchmark or tool that can be used for a variety of things, starting with route planning.
Read more: 8 Strava features everyone should know
You can use the average speed for route planning
If you’re planning routes on unfamiliar roads or traveling a set distance and want to get an idea of how long it will take to travel, your average speed provides a good estimate.
You can of course compare your average speed to other routes covering similar terrain and distances, or you can make life easier by using an app. For example, when you plan a route on Strava, it will show an estimated average time that is compared to your previously uploaded rides.
So you can set off with the confidence that you will be back in time to experience a stage of the latest Grand Tour.
You can gain trust before group trips
When joining a new cycling club, it’s only natural to be a little nervous. After all, no one wants to join a group ride that’s above their level and be the straggler in a fast-moving group.
Most clubs categorize group rides by their average speed, so you need to have a good idea of what average speed you normally reach in order to find the right group.
Some races, cycling events or Gran Fondos also require an estimated finish time when registering. This helps the organisers to stagger the starts and put riders of similar pace in starting blocks together. If you know your average speed well, you can estimate the finish time much more easily.
Average speed can help assess your fitness
There are many ways to track fitness, such as the dreaded FTP test.
These tests should only be done at longer intervals, with the average speed between tests being a good indicator of fitness. Most cyclists ride similar routes and so should have a good idea of what speed they can normally maintain. If it is higher than usual at a similar effort, you have probably made some fitness improvements.
This speed can also be affected by other factors, such as traffic or strong headwinds, so don’t rely on it too much.
For a more scientific approach, you can create short laps that you complete from time to time and record your average speed each time.
Read more: 10 ways to improve your average speed on a road bike
It can help you to target improvements
Average speed can also be a clear indication of your weaknesses. For example, if your speed drops after a certain distance, that’s a good sign that you need to work on your aerobic fitness. Or you may have difficulty maintaining a higher speed during shorter efforts.
Test yourself on a variety of terrains and over different distances to get an idea of the average speeds you can achieve and use these to guide your training.
Of course, if you just want to enjoy driving without worrying about average speed, you can go ahead. If that’s important to you, these steps should help you make the most of it, although you shouldn’t get too fixated on it.
For more cycling training tips, visit the GCN website.