How long does it take to cycle 40 miles?

There's no way of telling. Is it flat, or is it hilly? Is it smooth blacktop, gravel road, single track? Head wind, tail wind? Nice bike, old clunker? Road bike, hybrid, or MTB? Rider only, or loaded bike. Experienced rider, fit rookie or entirely untrained? Single rider or a pack? A reasonably fit rider, road bike, flat terrain, smooth surface - then the 40 miles are over in about 2 hours. Fit rider, MTB, hilly singletrack - 5 hours.

when I first ever did about 40 miles I was fit from swimming, had just got into biking and have a mountain bike (a klein attitude

• a nice light one, but a mountain bike none the less). I managed

it in 2 and a half hours. (about 16mph average)

now, with 12 years cycling behind me and a nice road bike I can manage this in 2hrs 5mins. (about 19.5mph average) this is still not so good perhaps.

club riders who work out on the roads regularly can maybe look at doing this in just under 2hrs. (21-23mph average)

on the tour de France they would perhaps do this in 1hr 30mins. (assumption from average tour speed of about 26mph)