The fastest bicycles in the world are road bikes because they are designed to be aerodynamic. More importantly, they are incredibly light, with the most lightweight bikes weighing less than three pounds.
Low weight helps the rider go faster because they don’t have to work as hard to stay in motion. How fast do bicycles go?
Most inexperienced bike riders travel between 10 to 14 miles per hour on a casual ride, however with proper training, a more aerodynamic bike and the right road conditions, can easily go up to 30 mph. Professional cyclists can sustain speeds of 25-28 mph on a flat terrain and sprint up to 65 mph on a downhill slope.
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Average Cycling Speed By Age
There are a lot of factors that can affect your overall average speed, such as your fitness level and terrain.
One of the most significant factors is your bike since a more aerodynamic model can move faster over any terrain.
I’ve created a chart below to show the average cycling speed based on a rider’s age.
Road bikes are slim and built for aerodynamic speed, while a commuter is a more leisurely ride and tends to be broader and more comfortable to ride.
Since a commuter bike often moves several miles per hour slower than a road bike, I’ve shown both speeds for comparison. At slower speeds, the difference in the commuter bike is negligible.
Average Cycling Speed By Age & Bike
| Rider Age | Road Bike | Commuter Bike |
| Under 18 | 10 – 15 mph | n/a |
| 18 – 25 | 16.7 – 18.6 mph | 10 – 12 mph |
| 25 – 35 | 18.6 – 20.8 mph | 13 – 15 mph |
| 35 – 45 | 20.8 – 17.7 mph | 15 – 13 mph |
| 45 – 55 | 17.7 – 13.6 mph | 12 – 9 mph |
| 55 – 65 | 13.6 – 11.5 mph | n/a |
| 65 & Up | 11.5 or less | n/a |
Fastest Bicycle Speed
The fastest human ever to move on a non-engine powered bicycle was Denise Mueller-Korenek at 183.932 mph.
However, that was an assisted ride where the cyclist was drafting behind a race car. Todd Reichert is the world record-holder for bicycles that rely only on leg power, setting a top speed of 82.82 mph.
How Fast Can A Bike Go Downhill
Like most aspects of bike riding, outside influences could speed up a downhill ride. Drafting behind a fast car or having a fast wind at your back would increase your speed.
The average downhill speed is only around 17 miles per hour on most bikes, but on a downhill mountain bike, a cyclist can reach speeds up to 30 mph on a downhill mountain bike.
Average Bike Speed For Beginners
A beginning bike rider can be any age. For practical reasons, I am considering a beginner to be anyone who has less than six months of bike riding experience.
Most inexperienced riders can easily reach 10 or 12 miles per hour on a casual ride and maintain that pace for at least 30 minutes.
Those who are very young, start with poor health, or have other limiting issues such as disabilities may find this isn’t the case.
Fortunately, it isn’t a contest, and a bike will stay upright at slower speeds if the rider is more tentative or less physically ready.
Additionally, this only takes into account ‘standard’ bikes and not recumbent or trike styles.
How Fast Can A Bike Go In Mph
Most people can push a bike up to around 30 miles per hour, but sustaining it takes a lot of effort.
As a professional or very experienced hobbyist, you can push that up to 45 mph and even maintain it for a while with proper training.
However, bike sprinters can get up to 60 miles per hour for a few seconds with a standard bicycle on flat ground.
How Fast Do Electric Bicycles Go
The average electric bicycle only goes around 20 miles per hour and will hold a charge for roughly an hour to an hour and a half before you need to stop, but it will go further or faster if you use a pedal assist function.
This speed is often a legal limit rather than a practical one in the US.
In Europe, the limit for most bikes is even less at fifteen and a half miles per hour on average.
However, the fastest electric bicycle ever made is the Delfast Top 3.0, which can reach up to 50 mph and goes up to 200 miles on a charge.
How Fast Do Bicycles Go In Tour De France
Bicycles in the Tour De France move at variable speeds. For example, the average rates are significantly different depending on whether they are headed downhill or along the flat ground.
I will break it down, so you have a good idea of what the averages are.
- Tour De France Cyclist On Flat Ground: 25-28 mph or 40-45 kph
- Tour De France Cyclist Uphill: 14–15 mph or 22–24kph
- Tour De France Cyclist Downhill: 65 mph or 110 kph
- Tour De France Cyclist 2022 Average Speed Before The Final Stage: 24.6038137 mph or 39.596 kph
How Fast Do Olympic Bicycles Go
Olympic cyclists participate in several events. The requirements and terrain can vary significantly, so not all Olympic bicycles reach the same speed.
That said, a fast Olympian on a good bike can easily reach speeds of 70 miles per hour in races.
How Fast Do Road Bicycles Go
A road bicycle usually only goes around thirteen to fifteen miles per hour, which is a respectable pace.
However, they can do more, especially the high-end bikes. A professional who trains regularly can get up around 28 mph on a road bike.
How Fast Do Racing Bicycles Go
Road bicycles are the kind people ride in most races, so they top out around twenty-eight for most pros.
BMX bikes are often used for dirt track racing, but there is a regrettable lack of information on how fast those smaller bikes are traveling. Though you can technically race any bike, most are not built for speed.
According to Pedal Chile, “A 2012 study of elite male MTB downhill racers who participated in the International German Downhill Championships of 2010 found the average speed (was) 20 mph (32 kph). Interesting notes from this study: The study course was one-mile-long (1.6 km) with 1210 feet (370 m) of elevation drop.”
Helpful Tips To Know About How Fast Bicycles Go
Bicycles go as fast as the rider can push them, which varies by age, style, and the conditions of the ride. Good roads, better aerodynamic posture, and other factors can give a rider speed gains.
Here are more helpful tips to know about how fast bicycles go.
- You can also measure cycling power in watts. The wattage you put out determines your speed. Twelve miles per hour costs about seventy-five watts of energy. Meanwhile, 25 miles per hour is 366 watts.
- A simple headwind can ruin the ride for even the fastest professional rider. It pushes you back and slows you down proportionally.
- Fit teenagers can match an adult for speed, but most have a slower average.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, how fast a bicycle goes depends on the rider. Different bike styles can give you a boost, which is why most races are done on road bikes.
Most riders peak in power between their 20s and 30s, but anyone can work hard and build muscle.
A more aerodynamic cycle, good roads, winds at your back, heading downhill, and drafting will all help, but you have to have the power to put into the ride.
The highest average speed will be 15 to 20 miles per hour for most people, but pro racers can reach speeds closer to thirty mph or more during downhill or sprinting.
