On average, a beginner cyclist biking 10 miles for the first time can take at least forty-five minutes to an hour. You will be closer to the hour mark if you are only starting. More experienced cyclists could go the distance in thirty minutes as they’ve been at it over a long time and pedal faster.
The more you practice biking 10 miles, the more seconds you can take off your time. As your skills and fitness levels with the bike improve, you can achieve better times. Nonetheless, other variables can affect how long does it take to bike 10 miles. Keep reading to find out more.
What Should You Do Before Riding a 10-Mile Bike Ride?
It can be simple to underestimate the 10-mile distance, especially if you are doing it for the first time. Many cyclists go woefully underprepared on their first 10-mile bike ride.
Appropriate planning can go a long way in ensuring you ride your first 10 miles comfortably without having anything to think about. Bikers should first guarantee that they have sufficient water and food.
If you don’t have the proper fuel, you will only run out of steam before reaching 10 miles. It will also help if you keep a high-carb snack with you on your bike trip in case you need to have a short bite to refuel.
You can easily burn yourself out by pedaling aggressively at the beginning. Ensure you wear proper cycling gear or lightweight clothing on your bike ride. After all, you don’t like to be riding 10 miles in pure anguish, do you?
Many other tips can help you prepare for a long-distance biking journey. Nonetheless, following these few will be sufficient to get you through those 10 miles.
Related: How Long Does It Take to Bike 5 Miles?
What Factors Affect How Long Does It Take to Bike 10 Miles?
Averagely, it takes an amateur biker between forty-five minutes to an hour to finish a 10-mile bike ride, but there are important factors that can substantially affect that time.
Below is a rundown of the most critical variables that impact how long it will take you to bike 10 miles.
1. The Type of Bike You Are Riding
With so many bike types available, people can approach biking 10 miles with the wrong bike type.
Recumbent, cruiser or BMX bikes are examples of bikes that are not ideal for a 10-mile ride. While in optimal road conditions, you might ride 10 miles on a cruiser bike, but you will struggle on any hills.
Meanwhile, road bikes, hybrid bikes, and mountain bikes can help you post faster times on a 10-mile ride.
2. The Skill of the Cyclist
Your skill level and overall fitness majorly affect how long it takes to bike 10 miles. Remember that your fitness and skill levels will increase as you spend more time on your bike.
After several weeks of riding 10 miles, your present times will be faster than your first try. You will keep reducing a few seconds of your time if you continue practicing and training regularly.
Before you set any goals for your first 10-mile ride, it will help if you take a decent assessment of your present fitness levels.
Ask yourself these questions to get an honest assessment of your existing fitness and skill levels:
- What is the average distance you cover on a bike ride?
- How often do you ride your bike?
- How active are you generally?
Answering those questions will enable you to make a decent assessment of how fast you can bike 10 miles.
3. The Weather Conditions
Irrespective of the bike you ride or the type of terrain you encounter, you will have a difficult time posting a quick time if the weather is not good.
The weather can become so hot when there’s too much sun, running the risk of dehydration. The heat alone will drain your energy even if you bring a water bottle alongside you and don’t struggle with dehydration.
If it begins raining, it becomes challenging to cycle faster. You need to be extra careful to prevent any possible obstacles along the way. With water everywhere, surfaces become slick. Thus, riding faster can become more dangerous.
Also, strong headwinds can make it tough to cycle forward at a steady pace. It can nearly feel like you are pedaling through thick syrup when you encounter a strong headwind. It becomes more difficult to keep your balance.
It will help if you ride in favorable weather, as it becomes much easier to reach a higher stable speed and boost your 10-mile time.
4. The Road Terrain
The type of terrain you come across on your journey also greatly affects how long it will take you to ride a 10-mile ride. Are you riding on completely flat land? Are there numerous downhill portions?
The time it takes to bike 10 miles will be faster than an uphill terrain. Moreover, it’s easier to ride faster on paved terrains. You’ll be slower if you are riding off-road, even when you are riding on a mountain bike.
Before planning your route, it will help if you find the most favorable terrain. That way, you can post the fastest time.
5. The Gear You Carry
It might not seem like a lot, but wearing the correct cycling gear can influence how long it takes to bike 10 miles. Appropriate cycling gear is built, keeping aerodynamics in mind.
The gear helps remove any possible drag causing the cyclist to slow down. It might be a minute difference, but it can matter if you are searching to enhance your best time.
Gear does not simply refer to what you are wearing either. You should carry added tubes and a pump on a 10-mile bike journey. You never know when you might encounter a burst or deflated tire.
Conclusion
Making that first 10-mile bike ride can be a huge accomplishment for most cyclists. Nonetheless, that does not mean you should aim toward improving. Continuously timing your journey can help you cycle faster and boost your overall skill.
If you can cycle 10 miles in forty to forty-five minutes, you are well to becoming a decent cyclist.
If you are looking for a bike you can use for that 10-mile journey, consider reading our best bike buying guide.