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How Long Does It Take to Bike 50 Miles? (by Age & Rider Level)


Written by Gary Johnson / Fact checked by Henry Speciale

how long does it take to bike 50 miles

Planning to go on a biking spree? Long biking sessions are often tedious and honestly take up a lot of time! Bikers who take on the intensity usually ride about 50 miles. It makes you wonder, how long does it take to bike 50 miles? Well, it takes about 2-4 long hours!

And when it comes to the topic of long bike rides, there’s a lot that comes into play. Read on & we’ll fill you in on all the details!

How Long to Bike 50 Miles?

First, how far is 50 miles exactly?

50 miles is about 80 kilometers. For a clearer picture, 50 miles is as far as traveling to Boston in Massachusetts coming from the town of Lancaster in Massachusetts. A 50-mile car ride will take at least 50 minutes to an hour.

It surely isn’t a joke. If you’re planning to hop on the challenge, make sure to get prepped and ready. To help you prepare, here’s an average cycling speed by age chart that will give you a glimpse of what to expect in terms of the entire biking time.

Male Average 50 Mile Biking Hours

 Age RIDER LEVEL
Beginner Novice Intermediate Advanced Elite
10 – 15 years old 4 – 4:45 hrs 3:30 – 4 hrs 3:10 – 3:40 hrs 2:50 – 3:20 hrs 2:40 to 3 hrs
20 – 30 years old 3 – 4 hrs 3:30 hrs 3 hrs 2:50 hrs 2:40 hrs
35 – 45 years old 4 – 4:16 hrs 3 – 3:40 hrs 3 – 3:20 hrs 2:50 – 3:00 hrs 2:30 hrs – 2:50 hrs
50 – 60 years old 4:30 – 5 hrs 4 hours 3:30 – 3:50 hrs 3 – 3:30 hrs 3 hrs – 3:12 hrs

Female Average 50 Mile Biking Hours

 Average Cycling Speed By Age Chart RIDER LEVEL
Beginner Novice Intermediate Advanced Elite
10 – 15 years old 5:30 – 6 hrs 4:30 – 5 hrs 3:50 – 4:30 hrs 3:30 – 4 hrs 3 – 3:50 hrs
20 – 30 years old 5 hrs 4:15 hrs 3:45 hrs 3:20 hrs 3:10 hrs
35 – 45 years old 5 – 5:20 hrs 4:15 – 4:30 hrs 3:40 – 4 hrs 3:30 – 3:40 hrs 3 – 3:20 hrs
50 – 60 years old 5:30 – 6:30 hrs 5 – 5:30 hrs 4:10 – 4:50 hrs 3:50 – 4:20 hrs 3:30 – 4 hrs

Backed by science, men have the ability to cycle faster than women. In a study conducted, men are faster than women by 9.6% in a 12-hour race. Similarly, in a 24-hour race, men are faster by 4%.

Regardless of sex, the average mile bike time is 10 – 14 mph or 16 – 22.5 km/h. Whether you are male or female, it is typically expected that you have a 4 to 6 minutes average bike time per mile.

But of course, average cycle speed of a human is also dependent on numerous factors. What are these factors?

Factors That Affect Cycling 50 Miles

average-cycling-speed-by-age-chart

1. Rider Health

First and foremost, the most crucial factor that affects just about everything in a 50-mile bike ride is a rider’s current fitness condition. If a rider isn’t as fit or is physically and mentally in check, then that may slow down his or her performance.

If the rider is a beginner who barely does cardiovascular workouts and is about to jump right into a 50 mile bike ride no training session, then he or she might not be able to even reach the 50 miles and might give up mid-trip.

Usually, a 4-week training for a 50-mile bike ride is okay. While the best is about 10-12 weeks, training for a 50-mile bike ride in 4 weeks can already give you proper preparation. This preparation requires 3-4 times bike riding, the right mindset, and a hydrated body. How much water intake will you need? A whole lot!

With this, you are able to overcome fatigue, intensify your energy levels, and of course, burn down some calories making you fit and ready.

However, this is done mostly if you’re out of time. Sticking to the 10-12 weeks is always ideal.

2. Road surfaces

If you’re riding on the usual pavement road, the only thing you’ll have problems with are slight inconveniences like roadblocks & pavement damage. Other than that, it’s all smooth sailing.

But, if you’re planning to ride off-road, then depending on the surface, it can also affect your bike time. Slopes, grassy fields, and sandy beach surfaces can add to the hassle of bicycling which also means a longer speed cycle.

3. Type of Bike

The performance of your bike also heavily determines your speed. Each bike has its own features, specs, and characteristics. If you really want to ensure a speedier journey, you should choose the most appropriate bike for its desired purpose.

For long-distance rides, you can go for a good road bike that is lightweight and low maintenance. It should offer a comfy biking experience as it is built with a more eased-up frame perfect for a long ride.

Touring bikes, on the other hand, are good for long-distance biking. Yet, they are rather heavy, thus more suitable for professionals.

4. Weather Check

If it’s too rainy, too windy, and the weather simply just isn’t good, this heavily determines how long your speed cycle is and what it’s going to take to reach your destination.

With bad weather, there are times wherein taking a cycling break until the weather turns back to normal might be necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

how-long-does-it-take-to-bike-50-miles

Is cycling 50 miles difficult?

It may be a challenge, but it isn’t impossible to achieve. With the proper training and planning, a 50-mile ride is definitely something you can get the hang of.

As with every other long-mile ride, whether it’s 70 miles, 60 miles, or you can even take a bigger leap by riding a bicycle 100 miles far, as long as you have thoroughly prepared for it physically and mentally, it’s nothing you cannot do.

Can a beginner bike 50 miles?

For a beginner with no bicycle experience at all, a 50-mile ride can be very challenging. While it’s not impossible, it’s still a very strenuous activity. For ultimate beginners, a typical 10-mile ride can be the most friendly.

Tips to increase your cycling speed?

To make your cycling speed faster, you can always stick to the usual which are pedaling more, hitting the brakes less, training more, whether it’s inside or outside, practicing your cadence, changing up your biking gears, and using your bike gears more efficiently.

Conclusion

Now that we’ve answered the question of how long does it take to bike 50 miles, we hope that this article has fed you all the information you need for your long-hour bike journey.

Biking long hours is no joke; with all that fun comes exhaustion and physical sacrifice. But for passionate bikers, no exhaustion and physical sacrifice is too difficult for the love of cycling!

Share this article with your passionate biker friends and let them in on some information every dedicated biker needs.

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