Convert Cycling Speed (cycle) to Cosmic Velocity - Third (v₃) instantly.
About these units
Cycling Speed (cycle)
Typical cycling speeds vary dramatically by context: Casual cycling (4–7 m/s or 15–25 km/h), Road cyclists (8–12 m/s or 30–45 km/h), Professional racing (12–15 m/s or 45–54 km/h), Sprint track cyclists (peaks of 20 m/s or 72 km/h or more). Cycling is highly efficient due to mechanical advantage and reduced ground friction. Aerodynamics becomes a dominant factor at higher speeds, shaping bicycle frame design, wheel geometry, and rider posture. Cycling speeds inform urban infrastructure (bike lanes, safety regulations), sports training, and commuter planning. As a hybrid of human physiology and mechanical engineering, cycling speed provides insight into how technology amplifies natural human motion.
Cosmic Velocity - Third (v₃)
The third cosmic velocity is the speed required to escape the entire Solar System from Earth's orbit, overcoming the gravitational pull of the Sun. This speed is approximately 16.7 km/s, though missions often achieve this gradually using gravitational assists rather than brute-force acceleration. Space probes such as Voyager 1, Voyager 2, and New Horizons have exceeded v₃, making them interstellar travelers. The third cosmic velocity represents the threshold where an object ceases to be bound to the Sun and begins drifting through the galaxy—one of the most profound expansions of human technological capability.