m@Robertson
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
AVERAGE speed on the flats. Which means the peloton sustained much higher speeds as well as lower ones. I googled the same stuff you did and saw that. Its a deceptive number. You also have to realize that one day's ride will easily be longer than 100 miles. Sometimes in the 150's. Lots of room to change it up. Especially if the peloton is subject to a breakaway and they speed up to reel it in (and the breakaway group itself will be hauling ass). You will see extended runs in the mid 30's. Come August, set your DVR to watch the unedited versions of the TDF that are broadcast live and you will see and hear everything I am saying above. Hopefully Phill Liggett is still able to do the announcing this year (he's getting old) as he is a real icon in the sport and really fun to listen to.average speed on flat terrain in the tour is 25-28mph… in the peloton/pack. yes, huge benefit of riding in groups but the idea that anyone is riding a self powered bike on flat land at a sustained 30mph? not even peter sagan!
agreed on the fancy bikes - the bike is such a simple machine, so efficient at converting pedal movement to forward speed that all the tech really is pretty incremental. a mph or two here or there. the big difference is how great a really light high tech bike feels, rather than some big boost in speed. things like more compliant carbon frames, electronic shifting, wider tubeless tires at lower pressures really make the ride more pleasant/satisfying. not much faster
And I have been clocked at 34 mph on that bike I described. I was probably doing it for about 5 miles at the time. A chase car next to me did the clocking and yes I was pretty beat at the end of it. I'm not a superman although I was a very strong rider. Small upper body and long, strong legs. Perfect for the sport. Unlike the pear shape I am now. Get off the internet and into actual riding circles and you'll find the numbers I am passing along aren't out of line.
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In 2021 Mark Cavendish was clocked at 70.2 km/h during a sprint to the finish and it was suggested he was only the fourth fastest of the riders in that particular sprint. 70.2 km/h is 43.6 mph and while an end of race sprint is far from a long distance (a half mile?) but the lead out train of the team supporting the sprinter leading up to the final dash is a freaking juggernaut for a much longer distance. This is a good example of how you end up with a 28 mph average speed over an entire day, but you have segments that are well over this.
ah here you go watch this. Much better than just reading about cycling. Watch some with speed displayed real time. but... there is a tailwind. Still.
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