|
| Author |
Message |
deptfordmarmoset
Joined: 05 Sep 2009
Posts: 356
Location: Sour Feast Lahn'n
 |
 Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 9:28 pm |
| othello wrote: | Someone said that slow people are not posting here for fear of embaressment? Heck I'm up for being embaressed...
First ride today on my first road bike (been a mountain biker until now). Averaged 13mph on a rolling route with a couple of sharp climbs. I'm quite pleased with that considering I'm still learning the bike, how to use the gears, ratios etc. I also expect it is going to take me a while to get faster. |
Othello, don't worry about the speed, just enjoy it. I'm slower than you - but I at least can use age as a defence - just to cover my embarrassment 
Have you ever cycled on the moor of Venice? Just curious 
|
|
|
othello
Joined: 22 Sep 2009
Posts: 27
|
Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 9:49 pm |
Thanks @deptfordmarmoset i did enjoy it. A lot!
I think I've discovered a truth today. My new bike (a Cinelli which is wonderful) will take me as fast as I can pedal it. The problem is me!
But that is why I'm back on my bike after a multi-year break having children and setting up my own business.
|
|
|
jonmack
Joined: 11 May 2009
Posts: 145
Location: Weston-s-Mare, UK
|
Posted Mon Nov 9, 2009 8:04 pm |
I average about 16-17mph on my short hilly commute to work (8.5m). When I ride with a couple of the locals we tend to average around 17-18mph and I find that I'm never really pushing, if I ride on my own I average somewhere between 18-22mph, depending on the route/distance.
Jon Mack
Affordable web and graphic design:- http://jonmack.co.uk |
|
|
firesteve
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 2
|
Posted Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:32 pm |
i ve only just started road cycling since august, before that kept myself fit swiming .running and gym work always had good lungs, however its pleasing to know that there are people who do average below 16-18mph and its not just me whos slow apparently!
i say this because a lot of people i have spoken to seem to be able to manage about 25mph even though they only ride their bike in the summer! shall i tell them to turn pro?
bunch of lying bas****s cant wait to give them a mouthfull next time i see them.
thanks for eveyones honesty on these matters.
|
|
|
othello
Joined: 22 Sep 2009
Posts: 27
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:07 am |
First proper ride on my new road bike and I averaged a tad over 14mph. So room for improvement but not too shameful!
|
|
|
Nax-ian
Joined: 15 Apr 2009
Posts: 61
Location: Naxos Greece
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:27 am |
Always interested in this thread.
As I ride alone, an come from a MTB background, I dont have much to compare with.
Best I've ever managed is 16.8 over 45km!
Yesterday rode 50km, quite hilly, an I thought I was doing ok until I saw I was down at 15.2.
An I'm not embarrassed I'm 47!!
I Ride Alone |
|
|
Milese
Joined: 09 Sep 2007
Posts: 269
Location: Nr Plymouth
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:37 am |
16mph on tough terrain is good.
I averaged 14.2mph on the 100 mile Dartmoor Classic a few years ago, and finished something like 300 / 650.
It only takes a couple of absolute killer hills to really knock your average down.
People's definitions of 'hilly' seem to vary a fair bit so its never apples with apples.
You said you dont enjoy pushing it so much, so just enjoy your riding for what your riding is; who cares what everyone else is doing.
|
|
|
othello
Joined: 22 Sep 2009
Posts: 27
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 8:54 am |
| Milese wrote: |
You said you dont enjoy pushing it so much, so just enjoy your riding for what your riding is; who cares what everyone else is doing. |
Exactly.
I'm only using my average speed for two things at the moment:
* To judge if my fitness is improving on repeat routes
* To find out if I can join my local cycle club (Reading Cycling Club) as they have ideal average speeds for rides.
I'm never going to race or anything, so really the average speed does not matter a huge amount
|
|
|
Pross
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 650
Location: South Wales
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:36 pm |
| othello wrote: | | Milese wrote: |
You said you dont enjoy pushing it so much, so just enjoy your riding for what your riding is; who cares what everyone else is doing. |
Exactly.
I'm only using my average speed for two things at the moment:
* To judge if my fitness is improving on repeat routes
* To find out if I can join my local cycle club (Reading Cycling Club) as they have ideal average speeds for rides.
I'm never going to race or anything, so really the average speed does not matter a huge amount |
If a club needs you to ride at a certain average speed to join them on rides I would find a different club!
|
|
|
softlad
Joined: 24 Jul 2008
Posts: 1506
Location: Ceredigion
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:51 pm |
| othello wrote: | | * To find out if I can join my local cycle club (Reading Cycling Club) as they have ideal average speeds for rides. |
don't confuse the average speed of a group ride with your own personal average speed - the two are likely to be completely different...
|
|
|
othello
Joined: 22 Sep 2009
Posts: 27
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:53 pm |
| softlad wrote: |
don't confuse the average speed of a group ride with your own personal average speed - the two are likely to be completely different... |
how so? (not being argumentative just interested to know!)
|
|
|
softlad
Joined: 24 Jul 2008
Posts: 1506
Location: Ceredigion
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:08 pm |
a group will always be able to maintain a higher average speed than an individual riding on his own...
|
|
|
ThreeLionsBrian
Joined: 27 Sep 2007
Posts: 37
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 2:21 pm |
Sometimes its nice to know to find if your progressing and what type of riding your capable of doing. Mind you asking on a forum you will get some "strange" replies. 16 MPH around Devon hills pretty good IMO. I think some are confusing KM and MPH and hills with speed humps! 
|
|
|
skinson
Joined: 25 Jul 2009
Posts: 280
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 3:19 pm |
If I set my cycle computer to what the instruction say I can average 18-19mph on a 50 mile ride.
If I then set it using a correct measurement (1 full turn of the wheel using a marker) my average comes down to 17mph. Thing is anyone can "cheat" to make their average better than it really is. Me I prefer to measure it correctly.
Dave 
|
|
|
Cubic
Joined: 16 Oct 2008
Posts: 73
Location: Putney
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:09 pm |
Do you work out averages based on total time on the road or only time when moving? My computer carries on timing when I stop at red lights etc. and I always forget to switch it off and on again, so I'm never really sure what my average speed is 
|
|
|
othello
Joined: 22 Sep 2009
Posts: 27
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 4:24 pm |
| Pross wrote: |
If a club needs you to ride at a certain average speed to join them on rides I would find a different club! |
I guess they are using the average speed as a guide to people know which level of ride to join (social, medium and hard)
|
|
|
sagalout
Joined: 31 Oct 2009
Posts: 17
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 5:03 pm |
Route makes all the difference.
At the Colomba Chemo Classic on Saturday I managed just 13mph average over about 65 miles riding mostly solo. I was a bit dissapointed until I saw the fastest time of the day was just 2mph faster, and my lowly speed still got me 32nd out of 150ish starters. All it takes is a few major hills. The last one was 8% ish for about 3 miles.
|
|
|
freehub
Joined: 25 May 2009
Posts: 1429
Location: Manchester/Selby
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 5:07 pm |
A good average speed is 18mph, but don't ever mention average speed, someone will probably punch you in the mouth, some people really despise people mentioning average speed.
My Bike
Winter bike
bookface
My name is Will, not Freehub. |
|
|
Garz
Joined: 25 May 2009
Posts: 438
Location: Manchestorh
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 7:12 pm |
I don't think people despise average speeds, its the people who purport them and the manner which it is done.
|
|
|
road novice
Joined: 30 Sep 2009
Posts: 12
|
Posted Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:19 pm |
Been riding now for about 11 weeks and managed my first complete ride of 51.5 miles this weekend. Furthest I'd managed before was 44 miles a few weeks back.
Happy with how it is going, I am 52 and have tried to improve the fitness without getting myself any injuries, so far so good.
A few hilly bits on the route taken in 3.25 hours averaging 15.6mph. Hoping to enter the cat and fiddle next year, wouldn't have been able to give it a go this year as lack of fitness and endurance would have done me in but enjoying every moment, even the hills.
|
|
|
|
Search
