Biking has always been a universal sport. It can be a hobby or a profession but at its very core, it’s a great way to stay in shape both physically and mentally. And, it’s good that you’re here looking to take biking to the next level. As they say, great things start in small beginnings. Each step is important or in this case — each mile. So, how long does it take to bike a mile?
A humble goal for humble beginnings, or maybe you’re just calculating so you’d know how long it’d take to ride 40 or maybe 50 miles? Definitely not unachievable! Biking is a game of the body and the mind. So, are you ready to start your journey? Because we sure are!
How long does it take to bike a mile? In-depth Discussion
Well, it’s not a lot of time actually. You can bike a mile in about 3 to 4 minutes. Well, a mile is not really that much when riding your trusted old bike, isn’t it? But that’s if you ride at a speed of 17 to 18 miles per hour which is the rate at which healthy riders on a good quality bike would normally achieve. Given that the bike can also traverse any kind of terrain.
A lot of things like the intention, purpose, or passion would also come into play when it comes to your speed, in general. Maybe even things like experience or skill. The bottom line is, it really depends on all of the factors that we’ve mentioned so far.
So, now that you have some sort of a baseline average of how long does it take to bike a mile, how long would it really for say someone like a pro to do it? For a pro cyclist riding a top-notch bicycle, they’d have probably covered around twice the distance for the time mentioned (3 to 4 minutes).
Yeah, that’s how much difference there would be if you’d compare someone leisurely riding his bike at say maybe 10 miles per hour, a mile will probably be covered within 6 to 7 minutes.
Here are all of the factors that come into play when it comes to your biking speed:
- Skill
- Terrain
- Bike quality
- Purpose or intention
- Uphill or downhill
- Weather condition
- Off-road or not
- Mental and physical health or condition
Take note that the average bike speed of a person riding a typical bike in a typical terrain with a typical biking experience is probably around 10 to 18 miles per hour.
Having said all of that, it will probably take you 15 to 20 minutes to traverse 5 miles. About 30 to 40 to finish a 10 mile ride. And what about a hundred miles? Well, based on the factors we mentioned will probably take you about 4 to maybe 10 long hours.
So, it’s not really impossible to cover that long a distance within the day. A 50 miles ride and back should be enough for a weekend, right?
Let’s discuss these factors further!
Physical Health
This one is pretty straightforward. Some people ride to get themselves healthier or improve any injuries or physical ailments, while some ride to keep themselves healthy.
So, most definitely your physical health will determine the rate of your biking speed. Your age, weight, routine, and also your experience. Your mental health also matters quite a lot of how fast or how slow you can ride.
So, if you’re someone who wants to ride fast or gearing up for some competition then be sure to condition your mind and your body for it. Just keep on cycling and you’ll be in your best possible shape.
Bike Quality
You also need to consider the quality of your bike. You need to make sure that it fits you best. Make sure to get a bike that’s meant for the terrain that you are aiming to traverse or the race that you want to take part in. Or better yet, choose a versatile bicycle.
Admittedly, good quality bikes come with quite a hefty price tag so it’s best to research further to achieve your goals. Depending on your level of commitment or involvement in this activity, if you want to go fast and far, you need to invest in a good quality bicycle.
Terrain and Weather Condition
Now, this is the most challenging part of it all. Some professional bikers will go through a lot when it comes to competitions. They will have to scout terrains or routes beforehand and train accordingly, plus the weather is unpredictable.
If you want to make it to the pros or at least make sure that your biking trips won’t get canceled or ruined then you need to make sure to get yourself familiar with your desired routes. And also, prepare for any weather condition as it will most definitely affect your speed.
The Benefits of Biking
Surely biking will not be such a popular sport or hobby if does not have a few benefits, right? Correct! Well, it does have a few benefits. Let’s discuss why it’s such a popular activity and the benefits you’ll reap once you get into the habit of biking.
Perfect for your health
There’s more to biking than just developing muscles. It’s also one great activity to keep your bones healthy and as we all know, biking is one of the most enjoyable ways to keep your cardiovascular health in check maybe even more enjoyable than say running or jogging.
It’s also a great activity for your respiratory system and most especially your lungs and it keeps bad habits away. Biking is also considered a low impact activity so there are very few risks of injuries barring any unfortunate accidents on the road. But as for cycling itself, there’s no need to worry about any injury at all.
Perfect for people who want to lose weight
Most people don’t want to exercise because it’s boring or time consuming. Well, cycling is one of the most enjoyable hobbies you can ever have and it will keep you healthy for sure.
So given that you will most likely be more active than usual then cycling is one perfect way to lose some weight in the process. It’s good for your heart, lungs, muscles, and bones so each joint and each muscle group in your body will surely sweat it out and you’ll lose calories FAST.
Pair this up with good dieting and some other forms of physical activity and you’ll get there. Also, cycling helps in getting a good night’s sleep sop that’s one major bonus, especially for insomniacs.
Opens a world of adventure for anyone
Biking is as much a mental activity as it is physical. People choose to bike to get away from their busy lifestyles and just ride it all out. You get to discover new places and appreciate it fully for you’ve traversed the road to get there not just sitting in your car or driving.
This opens up a lot of other possibilities. You get to think, reflect, and have the peace of mind not a lot of people can afford to have. Biking is almost therapy for most and that’s why a lot of people take part in it.
One of the most practical ways of transport
If you can’t cycle regularly then why not cycle to work or when running for some errands? Most cities will have bicycle lanes and it is common practice that someone can just ride their bike on their way to the local grocery store to grab a few items.
It’s practical, it saves your money, and it’s healthy. It’s a perfect way to get around from point A to point B and FAST.
There are biking communities almost everywhere and from there you will meet interesting people who are also in the bike craze. Most of the time, you will meet like-minded people and form new bonds and friendships.
These groups are usually very supportive for you all share one hobby. Plus, it’s from these groups that you’ll learn tons of stuff about riding and cycling. It’s the best resource you will ever have when it comes to improving your bike quality or learning a few tips and tricks on how to ride more effectively.
Bike groups and communities are oftentimes tight-knit and it’s a treat having the chance to join one.
Final thoughts
Biking is such a popular activity because almost anyone can take part in it. It does not have a lot of limitations and yields tons of benefits, as we’ve discussed, for anyone who would like to pick it up as a habit.
It’s accessible, it’s affordable, practical, and most of all, you can ride your bike almost anywhere you’d desire. This article is an encouragement for anyone reading it to please pick up that bike or go grab one NOW and take part in this healthy movement.
And of course, don’t forget to please STAY SAFE as you STAY ACTIVE.