[IkmoIkmo]

I highly doubt you average 35 km/h on a regular bike, especially when overweight, and then regularly get overtaken as well, in a city.

It's simply an average. People ride bikes in Amsterdam in their everyday clothes for work or going to a club., they're not looking to build up a sweat but to get from A to B. Recreational biking is a different story and typically brings people outside the city in less busy wide lanes across nature without traffic, stop signs or double-parked cars, where none of this is an issue.

[cameronh90]

Not average, average is closer to 25km/h once I factor in accelerating, hills, getting stuck behind cyclists/cars, overtaking, etc. 15km/h if you factor in waiting at junctions and traffic lights. Overall I usually cycle to work slightly slower on an ebike than a road bike unless it's windy. I still prefer the ebike though.

30-35km/h (note it's a range) will be when I have a flat clear road in front of me, after I've got up to speed - hence cruising speed. 35 will be in good conditions only, 30 is a lot more comfortable and I can maintain that pretty much indefinitely unless it's windy. I can also do 30 on my ebike, but I get quickly exhausted because it's almost 30kg with thick tyres. Also I wear cargo shorts and t-shirt, nothing special, no lycra, no aerodynamic helmet or whatever. However, I do change my shirt when I get to the office. My usual goal is to keep up with the car traffic, which is usually around the 20mph limit on my route.

I do indeed get regularly overtaken, but I also regularly overtake. I would say I go faster than nearly all females and of course anyone on a rented bike or similar - but the lycra men on expensive bikes will always overtake me. I feel like I keep pace with the average young fit male, but that may be some kind of observation bias - for example noticing more being overtaken than overtaking.

Also although I'm obese, I'm in my early 30s and my cardio fitness is decent. I put that down entirely to cycling to work, as it's the only exercise I do! I also would describe it as recreational biking and it's an enjoyable, comfortable activity... but why would I want to waste time getting from A to B when I can go quicker?