If someone were to cycle across the US, what would there average distance per day be?

Question

This is of course for weather permitting days. I would imagine 6 to 7 hours of riding a day, but I am just curious.

Answer 1

How long is a piece of string? Proficient riders could ride 100+ miles a day without working too hard whereas an average cyclist might struggle to do 50 but terrain and wind etc. are a factor.

Answer 2

well if i went across usa i would do about 10-13mph so i would not get tired as fast so for 9 or 10 hours  i would go about 130 a day or 910 miles a week

Answer 3

Someone asked that question a long time ago, and Race Across America was born.  See below.

Answer 4

Of course, this depends on you.  But, I think just about anyone in good health and with a modest amount of training (a few months of a more than a hundred miles per week of riding) under their belt can manage about 15 miles per hour for a long ride on level ground.  If you intend to ride 6-7 hours a day, that works out to around 90-100 miles per day.    

Before doing this, I would be sure to test myself by riding a couple of "Centuries" on successive weekends to see how you hold up.  If you've trained enough, take it easy, and not push the speed, it shouldn't be too difficult.    If you can manage that without feeling completely drained the next day, you're ready.

Make sure to eat regularly during your trip- and by "regularly" I mean "a lot".   It's not uncommon to burn through three to four thousand calories per day on while on a trip.   One of the nice things about long bike tours is you can pretty much eat as much and as often as you want without gaining much weight.  If you've been craving that Cinnabon or supreme pizza, a bike tour's a good excuse to indulge.   Also be sure to drink lots of water while you ride.  It's not uncommon to go through several liters of water on a long ride- especially if the weather is hot.  Drink even when you think you don't need to.

Mountains will slow down your average time, as will wind.  It may be a good idea to take this into account.  I've heard that riders to make the cross-America trip tend to prefer going west to east because that puts the prevailing winds at their back.

Extra heavy pannier bags will also slow you down a bit, but not as much as you'd think. Once you get a bike up to speed on level ground, your inertia tends to keep you moving forward.

Have fun.  Bike tours are a universe to themselves.    Once on the bike, the problems of the world seem very distant.

Answer 5

I led tours for Bike Centennial in the 1970s.

WE "averaged" just under 50 miles with rider level, loads, weather, etc considered.

some camped, some had support, some were racers, some were old, but ALL had a good time.

WE started early in the day and ended early.  About ten people per group, lots to do other than cycle.

Take it from there.  You could go faster or slower.  One rest day about every 10 days.

Answer 6

It would probably depend on their skill level and endurance.

Answer 7

I went nearly across the US but took time to look around and sightsee a bit.. whats the use of just riding across without stopping?

Anyway, my average daily distance, riding 9 hours per day was 74.1 miles. My top day was 116.6 miles and my bottom day was 14.1 miles. Horrible weather coupled with mechanical problems in the middle of nowhere.

Answer 8

It totally would depend on the rider.