How Long it takes to Bike 3, 5, 10, 15 & 20 Miles » and more

Biking has always been a highly personal exercise. It is purely customizable based on the rider, their health, schedule, and other factors. Some cyclists can cover more miles in less time, while others take longer to cover shorter routes.

The table illustrates different distances, the time taken to cover those distances, and the estimated calories burned while cycling those miles. 

When it comes to such personalized sports and routines, one always ends up having variations in timings, ways, and methods. For instance, someone might go faster than others and so complete their track quicker. 

While others may like to spend leisure time biking and therefore relish in everything. Regardless, this creates little room for law, and we run on averages. 

When asked how long biking certain distances take, you can’t give a one-word answer. Rather there are many considerations and factors which you consider and then reach a conclusion. 

In this article, I will get right to the crux of different mileages and how long it takes to bike it! 

Is Biking 3 Miles Good? 

Biking is an aerobic exercise, meaning you try and maintain a sustained physical effort for prolonged periods. With that being said, biking 3 miles is good if your main motive is to burn calories. 

To burn your body fat, you can either use a stationary bike or a mountain bike. Then, covering 3 miles is a decent distance for a beginner. 

» Read my blog post about: How-To Guide: (Turn a Bicycle Into a Stationary Bike)

Since we’re weighing every option, there are many factors that can change your average time. These can be gender, genetics, and your health. There are so many factors that I can’t even count them. 

However, for a distance as short as 3 miles, factors like wind, traffic, and the gradient don’t matter much. For longer distances, they do. 

The Average Time

Anything over 12 minutes is below average, and anything between 8-12 is the moderate time taken. If you finish in under 8 minutes, then consider yourself a professional. 

Anything below 8 minutes is incredibly difficult to achieve. However, you should aim for 9 minutes. This is the most common time taken to ride 3 miles. 

To complete 3 miles in 9 minutes means you’ll have to ride at a speed of 20 MPH. Seems easy, but it is a lot harder than you think.

The best and also reliable way to determine the time taken to ride 3 miles is to run the 3-mile test. Here, all you have to do is ride your bike for 3 miles and record the time you take. 

The Route

You must ride your bike on a flat 3-mile track, preferably with no stop signs or traffic signals. To complete quickly, you need no hindrances.

By now, it’s clear that your terrain matters when figuring out the time. For any mileage covered, you’ll get the quickest results on flat straight road terrain. 

Also, once you lose your pace, it’ll be difficult to gain that back. So, it should be a clear shot at the end of your route. A quick tip is to have your route a bit farther from your house. 

This way, by the time you get there, you can warm up and be fully prepared for riding your 3 miles. 

» Read my blog post: How Many Miles to Bike a Day?

Is 7 Miles a Lot to Bike? 

Ranking up a few miles to 7 now. Cycling 7 miles is a bit more complicated as compared to 3. You have added 4 more miles which can be difficult if you have recently joined the cycling club. If you’re a trained enthusiast, then 7 miles will not seem much to you. 

Depending on what kind of biker you are and your skill level, going 7 miles can be easy or overwhelming.

You can finish riding 7 miles in just 20-30 minutes if you’re an average rider. 

For Beginners 

If you’ve just started biking and want to go 7 miles, reaching the milestone in 30 minutes won’t be easy. 

Starting off the tough way will compel you to finish the distance 15 minutes above the average time. This is aside from all-natural factors you must consider before. 

For beginners, your first few rides will be difficult, even if it’s just a mile. Since your body isn’t used to the strenuous nature of it, you’ll have a hard time adjusting to it. 

On top of that, 7 miles is a bit intense, so you’ll need to undergo training to reach it. For the first few times, it’s best to take breaks after every few miles. Here you can catch your breath and prepare for the next few miles. 

For Professionals

Conversely, if you’re a seasoned rider, then 7 miles will be a walk in the park. Even for someone who has a basic cycling foundation, reaching 7 miles shouldn’t be tough. 

There are exceptions, but usually, if you practice diligently, then you can cover this distance in a measly 30 minutes. This is a pretty doable goal to achieve for pros, considering, of course, you’re on flat terrain and go at a steady pace. 

How Long Do Biking 5 Miles Take? 

I believe 5 miles is the perfect distance for both beginners and professionals. The average bike speed of a beginner is around 8mph-10mph, this would mean that it takes beginners 30-40 minutes to cover 5 miles.

I’ve repeatedly mentioned that health has a major influence on a biker. Even if your health is in excellent form, you still need to take it slow. There’s much more to biking than just speed; there’s pace and aerodynamics, too. 

Regardless, if your main limitation is speed, then switching between bikes would be the best option. For instance, mountain bikes go at a speed of 10mph-15mph. This would shorten your time to ride 5 miles. 

On the other hand, touring bikes go even faster, at 13mph-19mph. So really, it all depends on your liking and how fast you want to go. But the average finishing time for 5 miles would preferably be 30 minutes. 

» This could also be something for you: How Long Does It Take to Cycle a Mile?

Average Time Taken to Bike 10 and 15 Miles 

A nice, long 10-mile bike ride with zero interruptions will easily take you from 40 minutes to 1 hour to complete. However, if you’re a beginner, it’ll just take you a whole hour to complete. Likewise, biking 15 miles can take about 90 minutes. 

Over time, as you increase your miles per ride, your time will also significantly increase before you get used to it, and then it starts to drop.

When you go 10 miles for the first time, it’ll take you over an hour to complete, but this will gradually decrease over time. 

Is Biking 20 Miles A Lot? 

Yes, 20 miles is a lot because, for most people, that is a long ride. It helps burn a lot of calories and helps cyclists get in shape too. For beginners, this may seem like an uphill ride (pun intended), but for regular cyclists, this is a good area to cover. 

In general, 20 miles is a good distance to cover to get the hang of cycling.

Newbies should try not to overspeed while traveling a long distance as it will tire them quickly, and they may not have the energy to take it up the next day. 

Biking 20 miles at a slow pace will get them into a routine, build their stamina and strengthen their calf and arm muscles. 

Factors to Be Aware of When Cycling Long Distances 

By now, I’ve covered up almost every notable distance bikers all around commonly ride. From as little as 3 miles to as much as 20, these are the most popular distances from all over the world. 

However, not everything is as straightforward as it seems. In this case, multiple points can both increase or decrease your speed time. The best way to make sure these don’t hinder your ride is if you know what they do. 

So, here are a few factors that can affect you when biking long distances. 

Weather 

A windy or rainy day directly affects how fast you can cover your distance. Rainy days, in particular, are challenging as compared to good sunny days. Since the roads are all wet and slippery, you’ve to make sure you don’t go too quickly or else you can risk having an accident. 

Because of this, bikers are more calculated at such times and take all precautionary measures. It’s also tough to control a bike when it’s soaked in the rain. Hybrid or mountain bikes, in this scenario, are one’s best friends. 

» I have also written this post, about: Between Mountain Bike vs. Hybrid Bike? » (6 Facts & Differences)

Since these types of bikes have greater friction, they help stay grounded, ultimately protecting from an accident.

The wind is also a nuisance when it comes to cycling. If it’s blowing with you, you’ll go faster, but if it’s going against you, you’ll also have to deal with air resistance. 

Health and Fitness 

When hitting the road, it’s important to be in the best health. Even if you’re a beginner in biking but are generally a fit person, you won’t face as much trouble as someone who hasn’t moved other than when necessary. 

I think I’ve said this enough times already but health matters. Especially when doing something as straining as biking. If you’re not in the best of shapes, you’ll suffer greatly.

You cannot reach your goals just like that, and when it comes to biking goals, it’s a long-term effort. For the first few times, riding as far as 20 miles may take a bit over your expected time. And this is perfectly fine, too. No one expects you to complete it in an hour. 

As time progresses and you gain more control over your body, your stamina increases, and so does your muscle endurance. All you need to do is stay consistent with sculpting your body to achieve your goals. 

It might seem hard, but a little motivation is all you need, and you can be completely adjusted to your new lifestyle. 

Terrain 

Lastly, terrain also has a major impact on how fast you can go. The preferable terrain would be a smooth straight road with zero hindrance. This sort of road does not pose any challenges for you, so you’re more likely to ride easily. 

Here you can maintain your speed for prolonged periods and go steady. A smooth road is best since you and your bike won’t be strained whilst riding. 

This is opposed to the hilly terrain where you’ll need to put in every bit of extra effort. You’ll need to change your gear from time to time, put more energy into pedaling and still have a low speed. 

Biking on rocky roads will not only make it hard to transverse, but it’ll take longer to finish up as well. There are just so many aspects like gravity pulling you down that it just adds extra hurdles. 

Benefits of Cycling Long Distances 

Many of you might think that the benefits of cycling only go as far as physical well-being. Being fit, losing weight, and similar other things. While cycling does bring positive physical enhancement, that isn’t the only benefit it has. 

Moving onto its other benefits, the most common one would be improving your mental wellbeing. Going outside, and witnessing nature in its element is a good way to let loose and relax. 

Exercise, mainly biking, releases endorphins, serotonin, and other “happy” hormones, which make you feel content with yourself. 

Therefore, biking goes beyond the physical aspect and is an important part of those struggling with mental health issues. 

 » Maybe this also could be of interest to you: The Disadvantages Of Cycling? (Are There Really Any?)

Final Thoughts

Now that I’ve deeply evaluated the different mileages bikers ride along with the time taken to ride them all, you can now easily choose a distance that suits you best. 

Whether beginner or pro, going as much or as little as you want is a choice you get to make. If you want to increase your distance, then start slow. Increase your miles by 3 or 4 after every few weeks, so your body has time to prepare for the change as well.