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Home arrow Fitness arrow Cycling arrow How Long Does It Take to Bike 10 Miles?

How Long Does It Take to Bike 10 Miles?

Isabel-Mayfield-health-reporter
Written by Isabel Mayfield
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Fact checked by Rosmy Barrios, MD
Last update: January 3, 2023
8 min read 1053 Views 0 Comments
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Your reason for cycling might be for fun or to burn calories. So, knowing the time you need to cover 10 miles will help you plan your day effectively. Unsure of how many minutes it’ll take? Let’s find out.

how long does it take to bike 10 miles

For an average person, riding 10 miles might seem like a daunting feat, but it really isn’t as bad as you think. The whole concept of riding a bike or bicycle is to have fun and explore your environment.

Some people get involved with cycling because they want to lose weight, burn calories, or simply because they want to keep fit. Biking is a fun activity, and the list of health benefits is endless.

However, you need to know that a 10-mile bike ride is an average distance for a beginner cyclist, and it’s very achievable if you set your mind to it.

How Long Does It Take to Bike 10 Miles?

On average, you can spend anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour completing a bike ride of 10 miles. New riders might use about an hour and a few minutes to bike 10 miles.

Remember that this time frame isn’t fixed and can differ due to a lot of other factors. More experienced cyclists can bike 10 miles in as little as 30 minutes. It all depends on your fitness level and, of course, speed.

Also, sometimes you might need to take a break, and this will increase the time you need to cycle 10 miles.

How Many Calories Does a 10-Mile Bike Ride Burn?

Let’s give you a rough idea of how many calories you’ll burn when you bike 10 miles. Using average speed, many cyclists will burn about 500 to 600 calories when they cycle 10 miles.

You should know that this will fluctuate based on your body weight, fitness level, age, and speed.

An average cyclist who weighs 200 pounds will burn 600 calories in a 10 miles bike ride, and a person that weighs 120 pounds will burn 360 calories when covering the same mile.

Meanwhile, do you know that what you eat affects how many calories you burn when you cycle 10 miles? That’s why you need to be particular about your diet because it determines your overall fitness. For instance, you can incorporate Seitan into your diet because it’s high in protein and low in calories.

What May Impact 10-Mile Biking Time?

Completing a 10-mile bike ride in an hour isn’t the general rule because other factors can affect this time duration.

Putting these factors into consideration will give you a better overview of how many minutes you’ll use for a 10 miles ride.

#1 The type of bike

This has to be by far the most important factor that determines biking time. There are various types of bikes available on the market, and they all have different speeds and different uses.

For example, mountain bikes are best suited for rugged terrain, and using any other type of bike for this will likely lead to an extended period. Mountain bikes are designed with great shock absorbers and braking systems that can easily maneuver bumps, roots, and ruts.

Other types of bikes include; road bikes, hybrid bikes, and electric bikes.

Road bikes are best suited for paved roads, and they are known for their fast speed. So, if you intend on covering 10 miles in a shorter time frame, you need to get yourself a road bike. A road bike is very rigid, so you’ll most likely feel every pothole and bump on the road.

Hybrid bikes are usually lightweight, meaning you should be able to reduce the time it takes to bike for 10 miles.

Although, with a road bike, you are certain that you can ride on smooth surfaces without any difficulty, but what happens when you encounter a different terrain? Do you abandon your bike and go in search of a mountain bike?

You need a good bike if you are serious about biking for longer distances. It is worth noting that you can also consider using an electric bike because it operates with a battery, and when fully charged, you can go as far as 25 miles without needing to charge it up.

So, as long as you plan ahead, you are good to go. Plus, with electric bikes, you don’t need to pedal as much as you would on other bikes.

#2 Weather conditions

You are highly unlikely to cover the same distance as you would during summer compared to when there are horrible headwinds. It doesn’t matter if you are cycling with a mountain bike, riding against a headwind will considerably slow you down.

On that same note, if you have a nice tailwind behind you, it can increase your speed and fasten the duration of your 10 miles ride.

Imagine getting stuck in sticky mud and having to cycle your way out of it? It’ll take a lot of time, slowing you down in the process.

Plus, don’t forget to gear up in line with the weather conditions. Wearing winter gear during summer can slow you down because you aren’t well-equipped to ride in such weather.

#3 Destination/environment

Riding on a flat road is much easier and faster than riding on a bumpy road. First, with hilly terrain, you get to exert more energy, making you spend more time. You’d be surprised that on a smooth surface, you’ll spend half the time.

Riding through a bumpy road will take double the time it’ll normally take to cover the same amount of distance on a flat road.

So, when the question of how long it takes to bike 10 miles comes up, remember that the environment you are riding in matters a lot.

#4 Fitness level

Not all fingers are equal, right? Neither does everyone have the same fitness capacity. A person who started cycling two years ago is considered more experienced and fit than a person who started a week ago.

A good average for experienced cyclists to complete a 10 miles ride is 45 minutes, but if you’re a beginner, you’ll likely take an hour to complete the same distance. 

Riding long distances regularly will have a significant impact on how fast you can cycle 10 miles.

If you aren’t an active person, you might have a hard time completing a 10 miles ride. Your fitness affects your speed, plus you can always stop at a certain distance and continue again.

There’s no general rule that says you have to get it on your first or second try. Start slowly, and eventually, your average speed will be an impressive one.

#5 Gear

If you plan on cycling for long distances at average speeds, then gears are important. The role of your gear is to help with any interruption you may encounter on your way. If you are uncertain of what to take, always take a multi-tool for quick fixes and, of course, a pump to fix flat tires.

Also, don’t forget to take extra clothes on your ride in case it rains.

5 Benefits of Biking 10 Miles Everyday

Biking is fun, and it’s easy to go anywhere with your bike because you aren’t limited. Most places have a bike rack where you can just lock and park your bike without worrying about its safety.

Cycling comes with other benefits aside from burning calories, and we’ll discuss that now!

#1 Lowers risk of diseases

According to research, cycling is associated with a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease. While cycling, your heart rate increases, making it healthier and stronger.

Compared to staying idle, cycling slashes your chances of developing coronary heart disease.

#2 Mental health benefits

Cycling helps improve your mental health and physical state as well. You’d be surprised at how much better you’ll feel when there’s a rush of fresh air on your skin. Even if you bike for one mile or 10 miles, cycling itself provides a mental boost.

When you cycle 10 miles every day, you reduce your chances of being stressed, and yes, we know that cycling doesn’t do the job of a therapist, but it has its psychological value as well.

#3 Better posture

When cycling for a considerable distance, you need to be certain your form is correct. Bad posture can cause more harm than good.

Think about it; you already have a sedentary work routine where all you do is sit down and face your computer for hours without any reasonable break. Now imagine dedicating your weekends to biking, and you are still messing up your form while biking. That’s wrong and unacceptable.

Cycling has a form; sit tall with your neutral spine and pull your shoulders down. Doing this while you cycle 10 miles a day will help correct your posture in no time. Keep cycling for a reasonable distance with a solid posture, and you’ll help put your body back in shape.​​

#4 Improves navigational skills

Cycling is one of the fastest ways to improve your spatial navigation and know your neighborhood without using Google Maps. You might argue that it’s possible to install a GPS tracker on your bike to help you while cycling; well, yes, that’s true, but expensive.

Cycling is an easy exercise that you don’t need so much attention to master. If you set your attention on memorizing routes and trails, in less than a month of constant cycling, you’ll have become an expert at directions.

As a new person in an environment or a tourist, cycling is one of the recommended activities to get you inclined with a city.

#5 Lower body strengthening

We are pretty sure it doesn’t come as a surprise that cycling has a huge impact on your lower body. It’s almost impossible not to feel the burns after you have cycled a long distance at a fast speed.

When you pedal, you activate different body components like the glutes, hamstrings, and calves. Constantly doing it will increase the strength of these muscles and improve your overall fitness.

With constant cycling, you can build strength, but it may take a longer time compared to when you engage in resistance training exercises.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is biking 10 miles enough for weight loss?

Maintaining an average speed of 13mph when biking is enough for you to burn fat. So, when you cycle 10 miles at 13mph, you’ll burn about 500–600 calories.

How long does it take to bike 3 miles?

When cycling on smooth terrain with an average speed of 18mph, you can cover 3 miles in 12 minutes. However, on hilly terrain, you’ll take 24 minutes to cover that exact distance.

What’s an average one-mile time?

On a flat road, you can easily cover one mile in 3 minutes because there are no hurdles and tricky bumps. But on hilly terrains, you’ll take double that time, while on downhills, you might take less than a minute to complete a one-mile ride.

A Word From Coach

There’s no fixed answer when it comes to how long it takes to bike 10 miles. Of course, there are estimates just like we have discussed above, and remember that they differ based on lots of factors.

However, when going for your cycling, make sure you are well equipped, eat the right meals, and never go without your repair kit. A great example of repair tools you should never forget is your inner tubes and pump.

Biking is adventurous, and we hope that you enjoy your rides to the fullest.

Conclusion

Cycling is an excellent way to tour a new city, and with constant practice, you’ll spend less time completing a 10-mile ride.

Nevertheless, don’t focus solely on the miles you need to cover, as that will only suck up the fun. Enjoy your comfortable mileage, and increase it as your fitness level increases.

Written by Isabel Mayfield
Isabel Mayfield is a certified yoga instructor with over 10 years of experience in the fitness industry. She is passionate about self-improvement and loves to help people improve their sense of self-worth through education and support in meeting their fitness goals.
The article was fact checked by Rosmy Barrios, MD
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