Average speed in central London

On 24 Dec 2004 03:26:08 -0800, "Shuggie" <[email hidden]> wrote
in message <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

I got a little cateye computer a month or so ago. After 300km of
cycling entirely within W1 - EC3, it tells me my average speed is 18.1
kmh. It hasn't really shifted from 18.0 to 18.1 for the last 200km.
I'm just wondering how that compares to other cyclists in London, or
indeed elsewhere.

Dunno, but that's about average for all traffic in London (including
motor traffic) so I wouldn't be too concerned :-)

Guy
--
"then came ye chavves, theyre cartes girded wyth candels
blue, and theyre beastes wyth straynge horn-lyke thyngs
onn theyre arses that theyre fartes be herde from myles
around." Chaucer, the Sheppey Tales

"Shuggie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I got a little cateye computer a month or so ago. After 300km of
cycling entirely within W1 - EC3, it tells me my average speed is 18.1
kmh.

snip

Quoted message said:

I'm just wondering how that compares to other cyclists in London, or
indeed elsewhere.

No idea -- but it compares very favourably with the average speed of traffic
in general in central London which used to be about 12 mph (~19km/hr) but
has, I
believe, dropped to below 10 mph (16km/hr) in the last decade.

T

"Shuggie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I got a little cateye computer a month or so ago. After 300km of
cycling entirely within W1 - EC3, it tells me my average speed is 18.1
kmh. It hasn't really shifted from 18.0 to 18.1 for the last 200km.
That is a mix of peak hour traffic in the evening, with early morning
runs with the roads clear. Top speed is about 45kmh down Fleet St when
the Ludgate Circus lights are green, lowest speed (registered) is 3
kmh, wheeling the bike to the bike garage in the office basement.

I'm just wondering how that compares to other cyclists in London, or
indeed elsewhere.

My average yesterday was 25kph, which is fairly typical - but it wasn't all
within central London although I cross it - N15 - W14.

Rich

Shuggie said:

I got a little cateye computer a month or so ago. After 300km of
cycling entirely within W1 - EC3, it tells me my average speed is 18.1
kmh. It hasn't really shifted from 18.0 to 18.1 for the last 200km.
That is a mix of peak hour traffic in the evening, with early morning
runs with the roads clear. Top speed is about 45kmh down Fleet St when
the Ludgate Circus lights are green, lowest speed (registered) is 3
kmh, wheeling the bike to the bike garage in the office basement.

I'm just wondering how that compares to other cyclists in London, or
indeed elsewhere.

My commuting rolling average is hugely variable, depending on traffic, luck
with the lights and which bike I'm on. For the 13-odd km betwixt the 'stow
and London Bridge, the worst was about 18 km/h when:

o it was dark, and
o pissing it down, and
o towing a well-laden BoB, and
o the A10 was solid from Dalston to Tottenham due to an RTA

Best was 30 km/h during the England-Brazil match during the last World Cup.

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
World Domination?
Just find a world that's into that kind of thing, then chain to the
floor and walk up and down on it in high heels. (Mr. Sunshine)

Shuggie said:

I got a little cateye computer a month or so ago. After 300km of
cycling entirely within W1 - EC3, it tells me my average speed is

18.1

Quoted message said:

kmh. It hasn't really shifted from 18.0 to 18.1 for the last 200km.
That is a mix of peak hour traffic in the evening, with early morning
runs with the roads clear. Top speed is about 45kmh down Fleet St

when

Quoted message said:

the Ludgate Circus lights are green, lowest speed (registered) is 3
kmh, wheeling the bike to the bike garage in the office basement.

I'm just wondering how that compares to other cyclists in London, or
indeed elsewhere.

Happy Christmas!

James

About the same for me. I would have thought rather faster than most
motor vehicles though.

Shuggie said:

I got a little cateye computer a month or so ago. After 300km of
cycling entirely within W1 - EC3, it tells me my average speed is 18.1
kmh. It hasn't really shifted from 18.0 to 18.1 for the last 200km.
That is a mix of peak hour traffic in the evening, with early morning
runs with the roads clear. Top speed is about 45kmh down Fleet St when
the Ludgate Circus lights are green, lowest speed (registered) is 3
kmh, wheeling the bike to the bike garage in the office basement.

I'm just wondering how that compares to other cyclists in London, or
indeed elsewhere.

I don't bother with a speedo in London. Not much point and in any case
I'd rather watch the traffic than a speedo.

Tony

Shuggie said:

I got a little cateye computer a month or so ago. After 300km of
cycling entirely within W1 - EC3, it tells me my average speed is 18.1
kmh.

What mode? I mean does your average include time spent stationary? (Some
Cateye computers give you the option, eg. Mity 3 & 8).

Quoted message said:

It hasn't really shifted from 18.0 to 18.1 for the last 200km.
That is a mix of peak hour traffic in the evening, with early morning
runs with the roads clear. Top speed is about 45kmh down Fleet St when
the Ludgate Circus lights are green, lowest speed (registered) is 3
kmh, wheeling the bike to the bike garage in the office basement.

I'm just wondering how that compares to other cyclists in London, or
indeed elsewhere.

Excluding stops, I often used to do around 15 mph (24 kph) in central
London on my road bike at various times of day & night, +/- a bit
depending on wind and traffic conditions (wind makes more difference than
traffic when not counting stops). Only slightly faster outside of London.
I say "used to" because I'll be going slower when I return to cycling
after my crash (although the accident wasn't in central London).

What's it like today out there?

~PB

Pete Biggs said:

What's it like today out there?

Hang on. I'll have a look.

(looks)

It's made of bricks. It was quite windy on the way in to the Nut Mines this
morning.

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
World Domination?
Just find a world that's into that kind of thing, then chain to the
floor and walk up and down on it in high heels. (Mr. Sunshine)

Pete Biggs said:

What's it like today out there?

~PB

Cool. Bit of a head wind when heading west. Noticeably less traffic
than normal.

Dave Larrington said:

It was quite windy on the way in to the Nut Mines this morning.

You know how the wind usually drops when the rain starts?

Yep, downwind out, no wind home. Wish I'd taken a waterproof hat. And
with brain cell still frozen, instead of tea with a drop of scotch in it,
I'm now drinking tea with a drop of red wine.... Which is suprisingly
drinkable, but almost entirely unlike tea.

Mike

Shuggie said:

...my average speed is 18.1 kmh....
I'm just wondering how that compares to other cyclists in London

pretty much dead on for me. I cycle fast (I can avereage 20+mph over
two miles on one section of my commute) between junctions but am
relatively cautious going through them. My average speed doesn't
really vary according to the amount of effort I put in or my peak
speeds. It is driven by junction capacities at rush hour.
best wishes
james