Many cyclists across the globe ride five or more miles each day, so it’s only natural to ask, “how long does it take to bike 5 miles?”.
A 5-mile bike ride should take between 21 and 30 minutes at an average cycling speed of 10 to 14 mph (16 to 22.5 km/h).
There are many things that can slow you down while biking five miles.
Your ability to reduce their negative effects and increase your average cycling speed will improve as you gain a better understanding of these factors.
Regular exercisers will cycle at faster average speeds, reducing the time it takes to complete 5 miles.
For more specific information, keep reading.
Table of Contents
How Long Does It Take To Bike 5 Miles If You’re A Beginner?
Because they haven’t yet honed their riding position and speed, beginning cyclists typically take longer to complete a given distance. Additionally, they probably select bikes designed for beginners, which aren’t geared toward high speeds.
A novice cyclist can complete 5 miles in 30 to 40 minutes on average. The time can change depending on the stamina of the cyclist, the weight of the bike, and outside variables. Beginners eventually reduce the time to about 15 minutes with enough practice.
How Long Does It Take To Bike 5 Miles If You’re A Professional?
For many reasons, professional cyclists outperform beginning cyclists in speed. They can optimize their riding positions to reduce drag, for starters, and they know how to choose the right bike to reach higher speeds. They probably also have the appropriate equipment, and they have sufficient stamina to handle long rides.
Depending on their average speed, a professional cyclist will cover 5 miles in about 15 minutes or less. The speed can vary depending on the cyclist’s age; older cyclists are typically slower because they have less endurance.
What Is The Typical Bike Speed?
Since you now know how long it will take to bike 5 miles, you might want to estimate how long rides of various distances will take.
I searched the internet for useful information that would let you calculate ride times for various distances of travel. And fortunately for you, after searching for a while, I found Strava’s annual statistics for 2018.
Users of the cycling and running exercise tracking app Strava can monitor their fitness advancement and compete with people nearby.
5.2 billion miles of cycling data from over 239 million rides made up the data that Strava released in 2018 and was incredibly intriguing.
The average mileage per ride was 20.19 miles, which indicates that Strava users are more serious cyclists than the average person. So bear this in mind.
The average speed calculated from these 5.2 billion miles of ride data was 13.5 mph, or 21.72 km/h.
The various average cycling speeds for male and female riders in 2018 were also made public by Strava, and these numbers showed some intriguing variations.
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How Bike Type Affects The Duration It Takes To Bike 5 Miles
Bikes come in a variety of speeds. Riding a road bike will therefore save you time compared to riding a mountain bike. There are numerous types that are available, and the length will change accordingly. Here is a quick rundown of each type of bike’s top speed.
Road Bike
Due to their light weight, road bikes are quick. They have skinny tires, which lowers rolling resistance. They also have tires with high pressure.
The name comes from the fact that they’re frequently chosen by riders who want to travel at high speeds on roads.
If you are an experienced cyclist, five miles may take you about 20 minutes.
Mountain Bike
Mountainous terrains are suited to mountainous bikes’ design. They are slower than other bike types because of their wide tires, heavy frames, and heavy construction.
Hybrid Bike
A hybrid bike is simply one that is split 50/50 between the road and the mountain. It starts out as a road bike but can be used for other types of terrain as well. Despite having a flat handlebar rather than a drop bar, it is built similarly to a road bike.
Although flat handlebars keep you riding upright and give you more control and better handling, they also increase drag. The speed decreases as the drag increases. Therefore, on a scale of speed, hybrid bikes are in between road and mountain bikes.
Cruiser Bike
Cruiser bicycles are best suited for commuting. Wide tires are on them, and they run in an antiquated manner. As a result of not being made for long rides, they are not the fastest available. They might move between 15 and 18 mph.
Cyclocross Bike
Bikes designed for cyclocross racing can handle the often-steep terrain. In order to reduce drag and the effects of gravity, these bikes were created. They are one of the bike types with the fastest speeds and have drop bars like road bikes. They are also lighter than hybrid and mountain bikes.
You can adjust your riding position with drop bars to decrease drag and thus increase speed.
On grassy tracks, these bikes operate at their peak speed, and they easily navigate hills and slopes. They can also ride on a variety of surfaces. Using one of these guys, you can ride five miles in 15 minutes.
Ways To Increase Your Cycling Speed
Some advice may be useful if you want to increase your current riding speed by five miles. For instance, if you typically take 20 to 30 minutes to complete five miles, using these tips can cut that time to 15 or less.
Choose The Right Bike
To travel at the speeds you want, you must use a bike. Choose a road bike, a hybrid bike, or a cyclocross bike if you want to travel quickly. Mountain bikes are prohibited, and cruiser bikes aren’t designed for fast riding.
Decrease The Total Weight
Your weight, the weight of the bike, and any packages you are carrying together make up your total weight. You will ride more slowly as your load increases because more resistance will be encountered.
Optimize Your Riding Position
Cycling speed can be increased by adjusting your riding position to minimize drag. Because of this, every cyclist competing in the Olympics and in the pros has a specific position. They’ll probably be bending their elbows and lowering their bodies.
They can achieve higher speeds by reducing drag and reducing their frontal surface area as a result.
Make Sure Your Tires Are Pumped Up
Before your subsequent ride, you might want to re-inflate your tires if they are beginning to flatten. Your speed will increase if you pump them up because it will reduce rolling resistance.
The force exerted by your tires as they deform against the ground, if you’re not familiar with the term, is known as rolling resistance. You can go faster when the tires are inflated because there is less friction.
Differences In Cycling Purposes
Your riding speed has a significant impact on how quickly you complete 5 miles. The primary goal of your cycling will also affect the speed at which you ride. Bicyclists typically use their bikes for leisurely, recreational, or athletic activities. Keep in mind that these three requirements call for various speeds in that context.
Let’s say your speed is average if you’re riding for leisure. Therefore, it would be advantageous to know how long it takes to travel 5 miles on average. Similar to this, if you want to bike for fun, you’ll be going slowly so you can take in the scenery along the way. Speed isn’t the main factor in this situation, then. While it will take you longer to travel 5 miles.
People who ride bikes for physical fitness, however, typically try to go as quickly as they can. A fit person can complete up to 5 miles of running in the shortest amount of time.
The Fitness Of The Biker
Cycling performance directly relates to level of fitness. A cyclist can cover any distance in a specific amount of time. For a novice rider, even 1 mile would be difficult. Cycling slightly farther distances until you regain your fitness will be very difficult if you’ve been a couch potato for a few months.
The temptation to become exhausted could lead to a decrease in your capacity for endurance over any distance. To travel further, you must move forward steadily and slowly.
However, a cyclist who rides frequently or who has spent the winter working out every morning will be able to run a mile in a lot less time.
The Route Of Cycling
Compared to the mountainous terrain in the woods, a flat type of road is much simpler to ride on. Navigating the woods on a bike can be a nightmare due to numerous obstacles like slick mud, broken branches, and slippery leaves. Going through the pathways on this kind of terrain will require a few extra minutes.
Cycling downhill is a significant additional factor that affects the overall time needed to complete 5 miles. Gravity is a great help in this regard, so you don’t need to exert much effort to get through it. In many circumstances, you may actually be freewheeling and using little to no energy while maintaining good focus as you move through the terrain.
As a result of gravity pulling you downward, riding uphill requires much more energy because you are constantly pedaling the bike, which could lead to fatigue over a short distance or period of time.
Bike Models And Gears
Your ability to go fast is greatly influenced by the type of bike you ride. As a result, the time it takes for two cyclists to ride five kilometers varies. Just keep in mind that there are various bike types, some of which are intended for particular uses. Road bikes can only be used for riding on flat terrain, whereas mountain bikes are made for rough terrain. Additionally, you can find cruisers that are ideal for leisurely rides and touring bikes that can carry all of your travel necessities over long distances. Each of these bikes has a particular set of characteristics that affects how well they perform. Some are faster than bikes with steel components because they are constructed of lighter materials like carbon and aluminum.
You should also think about the tire you plan to use. On flat surfaces, soft tires will accelerate more quickly, but they will become unstable on wet or uneven roads. On a flat road, a bike with knobby tires might be slower, but they’re more stable on uneven terrain with gentle ascents and descents.
The gears on a bike also significantly alter your overall performance and the speed at which you travel over different distances. If your bike has enough gears, these can help you with various climbs and possibly make life easier.
FAQs
Is Cycling Five Miles In Thirty Minutes Good?
Your average cycling speed is 10 mph (16 km/h) if you complete 5 miles in 30 minutes.
Averaging 10 mph for a 5 mile ride is slower than usual. However, it’s crucial to take into account the variables affecting your time.
A speed of 10 mph over 5 miles would be regarded as fast if you were traveling on a challenging off-road trail. However, 10 mph would be considered a slower speed if you were riding a road bike on a paved road.
Cycling Or Walking Burns More Calories, Though.
Cycling would result in greater calorie expenditure if performed at the same intensity and duration as walking.
Cycling, for instance, burns more than twice as many calories as walking does in an hour of exercise.
The number of calories you’ll burn while cycling for an hour will be between 400 and 700, compared to between 210 and 360 if you were to walk.
There is a sizable difference.
Do You Burn Calories While Cycling 5 Miles?
Biking 5 miles will typically result in a calorie burn of between 250 and 300.
The intensity of your ride and the elevation profile of your route are two additional variables that will impact how many calories you burn overall.
Final Words
Cycling is good for your health and is a wonderful outdoor activity. To improve one’s cycling efficiency, it is crucial to consider setting goals and deadlines.
Consequently, how long does it take to bike 5 miles? Although the answer depends on a number of variables, you can use the typical time of 45 minutes to travel 5 miles. While it’s a crucial place to begin training for a beginner, these five miles are simple for an experienced runner. Set a goal that works best for you despite the fact that each rider’s five-mile completion time will vary.\
