Tour de France cyclists average 25 mph (40 km/h). In Europe, typical e-bikers have been observed to go 13-14 mph (22 km/h), which is a speed more typical of a very fit human-only powered cyclist (see Limits of Human Power). In the Netherlands, the country with the most avid cyclists, 25% of trips are by cycle pedaled by the more fit, while in the USA, only about 1% of trips are pedal powered, possibly because only 1% of the adult population can sustain a 60+ watt output. Average cyclists are not, however, average humans who are good for about 20 to 50 watts. Why? Because they are average cyclists who can output 60 watts of power for a significant period of time. It has been done, some daring doers live to tell the tale, but what is legal is not necessarily prudent, so reject the legal and come to your own senses about what is a safe and sane speed.Ī typical cyclist, as observed in the wild, goes about 9 mph (15 km/h). But if the posted speed limit is 75 mph (120 km/h) on a highway and a cyclist is going downhill, 75 mph may be the legal speed limit, and the cyclist won't get a ticket for going 75 mph, but going 75 mph on most bikes is not a reasonable speed. If the speed limit is 15 mph in a school zone, a cyclist going faster can get a speeding ticket. In America and elsewhere, cycles are just another vehicle and must obey the posted speed limit on roadways. What is legal is not necessarily a sane guideline.

The question is 'what is a sane and safe speed where the benefit of getting somewhere exceeds the risk of death and injury related to trying to get there too fast?' Bicycles may be unsafe at any speed, but that is true for any form of transportation.

The truism that 'speed kills' is, well, true. Cycling Power and Speed The Power of Enough

Bicycle average speed