Whether you are someone who regularly goes out to cycle or a beginner who is just starting to get the hang of riding a bike – do you know how long does it take to bike a mile?
When I initially began to cycle, I never kept track of my average cycling time per mile. However, after meeting other cyclists, I realized this was often a subject of interest for many.
Want to know why?
If you are interested, you may want to keep reading.
How long does it take to bike a mile on average?
Each individual might bike a mile at a different time. The time you finish a mile in is also dependent on many varying factors. You might not want to get worried if other cyclists bike a mile before you.
Average time taken to bike a mile
The average cycling speed of a healthy person who has a decent bike is approximately 17 to 18 miles per hour. How long does it take to bike a mile, then? As mentioned earlier, the answer might be different for everyone, but generally, it takes about four to five minutes for people to bike a mile.
An experienced biker who is in good shape might cover the same distance in half the time, though. A large part of it is dependent upon your health and stamina. That is why a healthy person might be able to ride a bike without feeling tired too quickly.
There are other factors as well that should be taken into consideration before you determine the average time to bike a mile. For instance, if you are cycling on a steep surface, you might end up taking longer than usual to cycle a mile. The place you cycle in is just as important.
Let’s consider unique scenarios now and how they impact the time in which you finish cycling a mile.
Everyday Ride
If you are going for your usual ride, you might ride your bike at the speed of 10 miles per hour. How long to bike 1 mile, then? It is a considerable speed that will help you bike a mile in approximately six minutes.
This speed is perfect for a casual ride where you are cycling without any pressure. For this reason, the time in which you finish cycling a mile might not have any significance for you. You are cycling for leisure – not to see how fast you can go.
Fitness of The Rider
The rider’s health plays a crucial role in determining the amount of time a rider would take to bike a mile. It all depends upon how fit you are, and how much stamina you have.
Initially, I struggled a lot with cycling as well.
It is a strenuous sport that requires a great deal of effort from someone who is just beginning to get used to it. From constantly moving your legs to sitting in an uncomfortably hard seat – in the start, you might feel like you cannot cycle.
However, with constant effort, you begin to feel the thrill of it. Once that happens, you will make sure you incorporate cycling into your daily life. It will also allow you to be physically fit to bike a mile in shorter durations as well.
Similarly, someone who regularly exercises and works out can cover long distances in a much shorter time. A person’s health plays an important role in deciding how long it takes to bike a mile.
Average Speed of Different Kinds of Riders
Professional Cyclist
As a professional cyclist is physically fit and capable of cycling for long durations, they might not find it hard to cycle a mile at all. Their average bicycle speed would also be much more as compared to that of a regular cyclist.
You might be disheartened to hear this, but the truth is that every professional was once a beginner as well. If you compare your six to seven minutes – the time you take to bike a mile – with the time of a professional cyclist, you are being unfair to yourself.
Cycling, as mentioned earlier, requires patience.
If you, do it frequently, you will witness that as time passes by, the duration within which you bike a mile will also seem to decrease.
Professional cyclists do not feel the need to ask themselves: how long does it take to bike a mile? The fact that a professional rider covers the same distance as that of a regular cyclist in half the time proves the importance of health and fitness when it comes to cycling.
Beginner Cyclist
A beginner might initially face a hard time cycling. The stamina they already have before they start off cycling plays a big part in determining how long it would take them to bike a mile.
On average, beginners usually take about six to eight minutes to ride a bike.
If they already work out and exercise regularly, they might also finish riding a mile quicker.
How long does it take to bike a mile? Well, the answer is simple: be it you are a beginner or an expert, your health has a significant role to play in maintaining the balance you wish to keep with cycling when you are on the road.
Recreational Cyclist
A recreational cyclist might not care much about how much time they take to bike a mile. They are riding a bike only for the enjoyment they get from cycling. For this reason, they might cycle slowly without caring much about how long they are taking to cycle.
As mentioned earlier, a recreational cyclist might cycle at a speed of 10 miles per hour. At this speed, a cyclist can get the most from their leisure rides. They do not really wonder how long does it take to cycle a mile – they might want to only cycle to clear their head, freshen up, and enjoy.
Intermediate Cyclist
An intermediate cyclist possesses the necessary skills it takes to cycle for long hours and is physically fit. However, they are not as agile as professional cyclists.
Intermediate cyclists’ average bicycle speed is also greater than that of beginners. They are much more comfortable in handling a cycle as well. Hence, their average time to bike a mile is shorter than a beginner, but longer than a professional cyclist’s time.
What Factors Impact How Long It Takes To Bike A Mile?
Flat Road
Cycling on a flat road might be the most accessible surface to cycle on: there are no obstacles that you need to be wary of. A flat road is also ideal for supporting the speed of 17 to 18 miles per hour, allowing you to cycle at a considerably high speed.
As there are no slopes on a flat road, a rider can easily bike a mile in three to four minutes without facing any complications.
It might also be the perfect place for a beginner to cycle on. Someone who is starting to learn how to cycle can easily navigate their way on a flat road. If you constantly wonder how long does it take to bike a mile, cycling on a flat road might be a good idea for you then.
They can also see and decide what speed suits them the most on a flat road as factors beyond their control do not impact the cyclist’s speed.
An expert cyclist can easily cycle as fast as they wish to on a flat road – there are no hurdles, and the road is flat. This could give them the chance to cycle a mile in the quickest time possible.
Hills
It takes slightly longer to ride a bike on a hill if you are going upwards. The gravitational pull does not make it easy for you to cycle and might not be the friend you were hoping for it to be. It will not let you ask yourself: how long to bike a mile? Because you will be too exhausted to cycle.
A regular biker might end up taking twice as much time as they would if they were cycling on a flat road. It means that a regular bike would bike a mile on a hilly terrain in approximately six to eight minutes.
For a beginner, cycling on hills might not be the best idea. It will take twice as much effort, stamina, and time to make their way through a hill on a cycle.
Besides that, hills prove to be a tricky area to cycle in. Staying away from hills for a beginner can be beneficial. There are many sharp turns and corners on hills that a beginner cyclist might not be perfectly capable of driving in.
An expert cyclist might be able to easily make their way through a hill on a cycle, though. Even though it might take them longer to bike a mile on a hill than cycling on a flat road, it does not seem to be an issue for them.
Weather
The weather plays a very important role in determining how long it takes to bike a mile. If the weather is rainy and the road is wet, a cyclist might find it beneficial to cycle slowly, given there is less friction between the road and the tires. It could potentially slow down a cyclist’s speed by half.
On the contrary, if the weather is windy, it might give a cyclist a boost. Having the wind push you from behind can significantly increase your speed. It might, in this way, increase a cyclist’s chances of cycling a mile quicker than usual.
It could also act in the opposite way, though. If the direction in which the wind blows is against your movement, you might face a great deal of trouble increasing your speed. You might begin to question: how long does it take to bike a mile under such circumstances?
The answer is quite simple: harsh winds can cut your speed in half. They provide a lot of resistance that will wear you out no matter how skilled a cyclist you are. You might tolerate them for a while, as long as you have the energy, but cycling when the wind blows against you might not be the smartest idea.
Overall Terrain
On the whole, the terrain might be one of the most important factors that determine the average time to bike a mile. By now, you might be aware that it is much easier to cycle in, say, a flat area as opposed to a mountainous or a hilly one.
Mountainous areas have a lot of obstacles and hurdles that will slow a cyclist down. There might be unwanted trees along the way whose branches protrude towards the cyclist.
Similarly, if you are cycling upwards on a hill, you will get tired from cycling much more quickly. The slope will significantly slow you down as well. However, it might be beneficial for a cyclist if they were going downhill.
The slope will seem to give the cyclist incredible speed.
That is because the gravitational pull works in the cyclist’s favor then. When the cyclist is going downhill, it is estimated that they can travel a mile in approximately a minute. 3 Going downhill allows you to cycle with little to no energy as gravity does all the work itself.
That is why cycling on flat terrain might be the safest and most reliable thing for a cyclist to consider. There are no obstructions, and the cyclist is in complete control of the cycle.
Different Bike Types
Different bikes have different speeds. If you want a bike that allows you bike a mile the quickest, you will have to do some research first, as each cycle has its own unique characteristics and advantages.
Road Bike
Road bikes are pretty useful in terms of achieving high speeds if you are cycling on a flat road or going downhill. It will go as fast as you want it to go: its average bicycle speed is 17 to 18 miles per hour.
You can use a road bike to cycle for approximately forty to sixty miles. One unique thing about getting a road bike is that it comes in all sizes. Thin tires are attached to its frames that allow a cyclist to cycle at high speeds.
Using a road bike might be hard for you if you are cycling downhill, or making sharp turns. In that situation, a road bike might not be the best bike for you. However, an experienced cyclist might be able to maneuver their way around a road bike easily.
Touring Bicycles
Using a touring bicycle when you intend to go on a long trip might be a suitable idea. It can give a cyclist the speed of 13 to 14 miles per hour. You can also cover distances of approximately 30 to 40 miles using a touring bicycle.
One particular advantage of using a touring bicycle is that its sturdy structure allows you to carry heavy weights on it.
BMX and Mountain Bikes
If you want to cycle on rough, rocky terrain, a BMX or a mountain bike might be a good option for you. They are appropriate when you want to go for ramp cycling, street biking, or dirt races.
Almost all bikers love the comfort that a BMX or a mountain bike provides to a cyclist. They are made in such a way that makes them ideal for climbing or going over rocky surfaces.
A BMX or a mountain bike will give a speed of 10 miles per hour, and you can cover distances of 15 to 20 miles on it.
There is a drawback, though: if you begin to use them for traveling in everyday life, you might face trouble. The BMX has a low sitting position compared to a regular road bike which might be a source of discomfort for a cyclist. A mountain bike, on the other hand, is slower than a road bike.
Cruisers
Cruisers are comfortable bikes that are most often used at beaches. Their structure makes them suitable for use on flat terrains where there are no hurdles.
You can use a cruiser to cycle at 12 to 15 miles per hour and cover a distance of approximately 15 miles. Cruisers also have upright handlebars that can allow you to appreciate the beauty in your surroundings.
Folding Bike
Perhaps, the most unique feature of this bike is that it offers you the facility of literally folding your bike as the name already suggests. If there is not enough parking space, this bike might be ideal in that situation. When you fold the bike, the bike frame, handlebars, and tires stick together.
You can take it with you to many different places while carrying it with you as it folds. A folding bike can go up to 15 to 19 miles per hour and travel approximately 10 to 25 miles.
Conclusion
You now might have the answer to your question, “How long does it take to bike a mile?” It is different for everyone, as there are many variable factors that determine how fast you cover a mile on a bike.
Remember, though: you cycle to have fun. If you are not a professional cyclist, it is good to have objectives to strive for the best, but make sure you have as much fun as you can while cycling!
