The most common range for the average cycling speed by age is between 25 and 28 miles per hour, but this depends on many factors such as age, gender, and height.
The age group with the highest average cycling speed is between 21 and 35 years old, whereas the lowest average speed is between 50 and 60 years old. This can be explained by the fact that most people in their 20s and 30s are relatively fit, whereas older adults are not as active.
In this article, we will take a look at the average cycling speed by age in order to find out how much faster or slower people are getting as they get older.
We will also look at some of the factors that affect this average cycling speed such as gender and height.
Average Cycling Speed By Age
The average cycling speed by age is a great way to compare how fast people are cycling as they get older.
The average speed of a cyclist decreases with age, reaching its lowest point in the 60-64 age group. This is due to the fact that older people have more trouble maintaining their balance and power output as they get older.
The charts show that cyclists aged between 25-35 are the fastest on average, but this is not because of their youthfulness; it has more to do with their level of fitness and experience on the bike.
Here are the average cycling speeds for different ages from 18 to 60 years old:
- 18–25 years: 27–30 km/h (17–18.5 mph)
- 25–35 years: 30–33.5 km/h (20.8–21.7 mph)
- 35–40 years: 30 km/h (18.6 mph)
- 45–50 years: 28.5 km/h (15 mph)
- 50–55 years: 22km/h (13.6 mph)
- 55–60 years: 20 km/h (12.4 mph)
Average Cycling Speed By Age Chart
Age is one of the most important factors that affect a person’s cycling speed. This is why we have created this average cycling speed by age chart.
| Age | Average Speed (mph) | Average Speed (km/h) |
| 18-25 years | 17-18.5 mph | 27-30 km/h |
| 25-35 years | 20.8-21.7 mph | 30-33.5 km/h |
| 35-40 years | 18.6 mph | 30 km/h |
| 45-50 years | 15 mph | 24 km/h |
| 50-55 years | 13.6 mph | 22 km/h |
| 55-60 years | 12.4 mph | 20 km/h |
Average FTP By Age
There is a strong correlation between age and the functional threshold power of a cyclist. This is because as we age, our aerobic capacity decreases, and our anaerobic threshold decreases.
The average functional threshold power by age is as follows:
- 18–25 years: 120-150w
- 25–35 years: 150-200w
- 35–40 years: 180w
- 45–50 years: 120w
- 50–55 years: 100w
- 55–60 years: 90w
Factors Affecting Bicycle Speed
1- Gravity
The speed of a bicycle is affected by the weight of the rider and the weight of the bicycle. The heavier the rider, the more difficult it is to pedal and therefore, the slower speed.
A heavier person would have a harder time riding at high speeds as their weight would make it more difficult for them to accelerate quickly and maintain momentum.
2- Drag
Aerodynamics is a factor that affects bicycle speed. The aerodynamic properties of a bicycle are the way the shape of the bike interacts with the surrounding air on its surface.
The aerodynamic properties of a bicycle are affected by factors such as wheel size, frame size, frame shape, tire size, and air pressure. These factors can be changed to improve speed or efficiency.
3- Rolling Resistance
Rolling resistance is a factor that affects bicycle speed. It is the force that resists motion when the bicycle rolls or slides over a surface. There are many factors involved in this, such as tire size, tire pressure, terrain, and rider weight.
This means that if you want to go faster on your bike, you have to decrease rolling resistance by using lighter-weight wheels, better tires, and using an aerodynamic frame.
4- Riding Distance
The distance you can ride on a bicycle is a factor that affects your speed. The longer the distance, the slower you will go. This is because the force of gravity increases with distance.
FAQs
What is the average speed of a 70-year-old cyclist?
The average speed of a 70-year-old cyclist is around 8 to 10 miles per hour.
Average cycling speed for beginners
The average cycling speed for beginners is about 12 mph. However, this can vary depending on the size of the person and their weight. If a person is underweight or overweight, then they will have a harder time cycling at a faster speed.
What is a good average cycling speed?
It is impossible to give an average cycling speed for everyone because it varies under many conditions. However, there are some guidelines that might be helpful:
If you are a beginner cyclist, you should start at 15-20 km/h (9-12 mph).
If you are an experienced cyclist, you should start at 20-32 km/h (12-20 mph).
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the average speed of cyclists according to their age. We have also explored the reasons for this.
We hope you enjoyed this article and found it informative and useful. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us in the comments section below.
