When traveling any distance by bicycle, especially a long distance, the time it takes is entirely relative to your own capabilities. This means that there is no real definitive way to determine how long it will take you to travel 11 miles. However, this being said, it is possible to speculate how long it may take to travel 11 miles.
The time it takes to cycle 11 miles is dependent on several factors, including experience level and the bicycle used. Inexperienced cyclists typically take between 66 minutes – 2 hours, and experienced riders will take less than 50 minutes to travel 11 miles.
With this in mind, let us dive deeper and find out what may be affecting your speed and how you may determine how long it will take you to cycle 11 miles, on your bicycle, at your fitness level.
How Long Does It Typically Take To Bike 11 Miles?
When a beginner is trying to determine how long it takes to travel 11 miles by bike, the best way to go about the process is to go out and cycle 11 miles for yourself.
Every cyclist at every skill and fitness level will travel 11 miles at a different pace, so the best way to determine how long it will take for you is to time yourself traveling the distance on your own bike.
However, if you want a general idea of how long the ride will take, a good estimate is to bear in mind that a beginner can typically ride about 1 mile in 6 minutes.
This means that an 11-mile ride for a beginner will take an average of 66 minutes to complete. Covering 11 miles in anywhere from 66 minutes to 2 hours is normal for a beginner cyclist.
This time will be significantly shorter for more advanced cyclists. 11 miles can be easily covered by a more advanced rider in around 50 minutes or less. Advanced riders can generally cover 1 mile every 4.5 minutes.
The time it takes to cycle 11 miles will differ depending on several factors, including experience, fitness level, bike type, bike maintenance, and terrain.
Let’s explore some of the important factors that determine how long a cyclist will take to cover a distance of 11 miles and what may increase, or potentially decrease, the time taken.
Factors That Can Increase The Duration Of Your Ride
When trying to determine how long it takes to cycle any given distance, there will always be factors that can influence the outcome of your time.
Here is some necessary information that will help any cyclist to figure out how long it will take them to cover a specific distance on their bicycle.
What Type Of Bike Are You Riding?
The type of bicycle you are riding will affect how quickly and easily you will be able to accomplish an 11 mile journey. There are three main types of bicycle that may be used to cover this distance, including a BMX bike, a road bike, or a mountain bike.
However, not all bicycles are made to do the same job, and some are more suited to longer journeys than others. Let us take a look at what type of bicycle is best suited for an 11 mile journey.
BMX bikes are not the best to use for covering this type of distance quickly. These bikes are urban trick bikes that are meant for more flashy demonstrations rather than covering long distances. These are not the best bikes for traveling any long distance quickly.
Mountain bikes are an ideal choice of bicycle for traveling longer distances, as they typically have multiple gears and are designed for harsh terrains such as bike trails and off-road cycling. These bikes are also able to handle rugged terrain, for example, finding grip in loose gravel and sand.
Due to these attributes, a mountain bike is far more suitable for covering large distances more quickly than a BMX bike would be.
If you are able to afford a Road bike, this is a far better option for covering long distances due to the sophisticated gear system that they have, as well as being much thinner and more aerodynamic than both a BMX or a mountain bike.
What Increases Your Time For Beginner Riders
Some of the factors that may increase the time it takes a beginner cyclist to cover 11 miles include:
- Pacing – using your energy wisely is critical when cycling. If you begin the journey using all of your energy, you will become tired extremely fast, leading to an increase in your overall time. This excessive use of stamina will leave you tired and potentially unable to continue.
- Braking too often – excessive use of the brakes is an inefficient use of energy and a waste of time. Breaking too frequently is a misuse of momentum that could otherwise be used to reduce your time and help you travel further while conserving your stamina.
- Wind resistance – When trying to gain and maintain momentum, a big obstacle is baggy clothes and your posture. Ideally, you should be wearing clothes that fit well. Regarding posture, try to maintain a more aerodynamic position while cycling to reduce drag and increase speed.
- Bicycle maintenance – In simple terms, a lack of bicycle maintenance will result in a bicycle that is not functioning well. This, in turn, means an inability to efficiently transfer energy to the wheels while pedaling, which will result in slower cycling speeds.
What Affects Cycling Time For Advanced Riders
All of the same factors that affect beginner riders affect the more advanced rider as well. However, there are some important factors that can help the advanced rider decrease their time.
The pressure of your tires is extremely important. Therefore, your bicycle tires must be kept at the correct PSI according to manufacturer specifications. If your tires have rubber inner tubes, the tires may lose anywhere from 5 to 10 PSI daily, even when not in use.
How you time the shifting of your gears can make your riding experience a lot smoother be sure to time your gear shifts carefully.
Other factors that affect cycling time include the timing of gear shifts, fitness level, riding shoes, and the type of tires on your bike.
Be sure to time your gear changes efficiently to maximize speed and energy use. Being as fit as possible will result in faster cycle times, as well as using the proper footwear and the best tires you can afford. Remember to inflate your tires correctly for best results.
Conclusion
Depending on the factors listed above, it takes a beginner cyclist roughly 6 minutes to travel a distance of 1 mile. This means that the time a beginner cyclist will take to travel 11 miles while pacing themselves correctly is around 66 minutes.
The advanced cyclist typically takes about 4.5 minutes to travel a distance of 1 mile. Therefore, traveling 11 miles while pacing themselves correctly will take the advanced cyclist 50 minutes or less.
