Average MPH

[ReCYCLE]

Hi Ladies,
I'm trying to gage where I'm at in the grand scheme of things. I'm plus sized and on my hybrid (Trek Navigator) I average 12.5 mph. I got a new road bike (Trek 1.5) and am now averaging 12.1 mph : ( I break all the way down hills. There are several group rides in my area where you have to average at least 16 mph and I'm wondering what speed most people actually go. Commuters, century riders, triathletes, pleasure riders, on whatever bike, head wind, tail wind, plus size, regular size, whatever . . . I want to know what is going on with other people.

[hid558]

Hi: Just keep up with training and practice. When I started I averaged 13mph they were always making fun because that 13 never changed. Now I can keep up at 16 to 18 with the guys. I am still practicing to increase my average, but it is great to know I already left those 13mph.

[Tri Girl]

Welcome to TE.
Gosh- so much depends on so many things. Bike, wind, terrain, how heavy the legs are, humidity... Too many variables to accurately compare yourself to others.
The geometry and handling of a hybrid as opposed to a road bike is so different, so don't worry too much about your speed slowing down. Once you get comfortable you'll speed up.


Since you're looking for numbers- just for comparison, here are some of my averages (keep in mind I live in the flats- when I ride hills, it's always slower):
1. Commuter bike (Bianchi steel road bike): I avg. 12 on commutes- when I'm riding for pleasure and fun it's in the 13's.
2. Tri bike (carbon Cervelo): I average 14-16. When I'm racing it's in the 17-18 range.
when I ride centuries on my tri bike I'm somewhere in the 14-15 range.

So much varies. I have a regular ride of 30 miles at the lake near my house. On my tri bike, sometimes I'm averaging 12, sometimes 17. So much factors into those averages, so I really try not comparing my rides to myself, let alone others. Depends on whether it's a recovery ride, intervals, tempo, or just a "make it through" ride.
I'm not fast, I'm not slow, I'm just me. I keep trying to make improvements and I know I'm stronger on the bike than when I first started and that riding long distances is easier on the body- even if my pace hasn't changed much in years.
At first, riding 30 took it out of me, now I can ride 30 and not feel like I've even worked out. Even if my average speed is the same as it was in the beginning, the fact that it's easier lets me know I've come a long way.

Look at things like THAT to gauge your accomplishments- not always just the numbers.

I generally don't ride with others. Definitely not with groups. I know it would probably make me a better rider, but I just prefer to ride alone. Always have- it's my zen time to think and just "be".

[grey]

I switched from a MTB to a road bike a few years ago after riding with a group that averaged about 12 mph for a year on it. I thought for sure, once I got that nice, lightweight, carbon fiber bike I would be FLYING. Well... yes... but not right off. You use different muscles because you are in a new position, you have a new set of gears to learn, so there's this adjustment period. I went from a triple with an amazing cassette that let me climb anything to a standard double. I hit my first steep hill and hit a wall - I couldn't move the bike even in the easiest gear and had to walk!

Personally, I think you are doing great! 12.5 is nothing to be ashamed of. You get faster as you get stronger, and really it's best to ride at your own pace rather than push hard to keep up with people who want to go faster.

MPH really varies with every ride. Today my group averaged 13.5 mph, but there was
2,000 ft of incline over 37 miles for that, and we stopped and caught our breath a few times. I don't have a bike computer anymore, there are three guys who have all the fancy schtuff and could even tell what grade incline we were on. I don't care *much* because I'm out to have fun, and like watching myself improve. Today was cool because I took those same hills over a 17 mile ride 2 months ago, and had to stop and breathe FOUR TIMES mid-hill because I was practically falling off the bike. Today, I didn't need to stop. At all. That's pretty cool.

I prefer to look at those milestones and accomplishments, rather than speed. But when we average higher than before, there is that little "oh, cool!" moment.

I can't join the bigger group in the next large town because they fly along at 18-20+ all the time. But, I did find these guys (and one more girl, but she can't ride often). We have our own pace and our own goals and try to be reasonable about the goal. If someone doesn't feel up to tough hills or wants to go slower one day, that's fine by all of us. So put some feelers out there, find some folks to ride with!

[Eden]

Check the ride carefully - you may find that like our local club that the "average" speed required for the rides is the average on level ground without a head wind - so its not expected that you will average 16mph for the entire ride. If you can hold a steady 16mph on the flats you will be fine.

Example from Cascade:
Pace
Easy: Under 10 mph
Leisurely: 10-12 mph
Steady: 12-14 mph
Moderate: 14-16 mph
Brisk: 16-18 mph
Strenuous: 18-21 mph
Super Strenuous: 22+ mph

Refers to the range of speeds on level ground without breaks. Downhills may be faster, uphills slower. Note: for rides described as HILLY, consider choosing a pace one step down from your usual comfort level

[westtexas]

I second what others have said about average speeds on group rides - it's probably in ideal conditions of flat road and no wind.

One month ago I was averaging 10-12 into the wind (out here it's usually 18mph+) and 14-16 on flat roads with a 21-23 with a tailwind. I ride about 120 miles a week and yesterday when I rode, I was averaging 17-19 on the flats, 28 with a tailwind and 13-16 into the headwind in average conditions for where I live.

I've heard others say the best way to get faster and stronger is to Just Ride Your Bike.

[Becky]

On the flip side, I've been on group rides where "average" is used to describe rolling average (beginning to end), which means that the group is often travelling several mph above average for much of the ride.

When in doubt, call the ride leader in advance.

[indysteel]

Keep in mind, too, that some groups ride are in a paceline formation. In a paceline, you typically ride very closely behind the rider in front of you, either in a long single file line or, if conditions allows, two abreast. Each person takes a turn "pulling" at the front of the line for a short period and then rotates to the end of the line. In a paceline, it's easily easier to go faster than you would otherwise ride on your own. But also keep in mind that it takes some pretty good bike handling skills to ride in a paceline. If you're a new rider, you might stick to rides where people simply ride together in a loose group. It'll get you used to being around other cyclists without some of the dangers that pacelines pose. That's how I started at first. I eventually progressed to paceline riding, which can be a lot of fun (and a little scary).

[Mako]

Hi,

This is my first post, hello everyone! I've been lurking for a good while now....

Nothing to add advice wise - sorry! However I have also been pondering this and trying to improve on my own average of around 15MPH (give or take). It'll be interesting to read the responses!

Cheers,

Mako

[Veronica]

Intervals - speed intervals, hill intervals.

I do my speed intervals inside with my bike in a trainer and use Coach Troy. But you could adapt the same idea to an outside ride.

Find a place where you can ride uninterrupted and relatively flat terrain. After you warm up, ride at an uncomfortable but sustainable pace for 6 minutes. Then soft pedal for two minutes. Repeat this two more times. You should choose gearing that allows you to maintain your optimum cadence for the full six minutes.

Then repeat this process but now up the pace and ride for two minutes with a one minute soft pedal. Repeat this five more times.

Cool down.


Veronica

[blue_angel]

I'm also bigger than average, and after a year off from cycling, my first few rides were in the 13-14 mph range (on the lovely rolling hills of SE Michigan). If you stick with it, your speed will improve. And even though it can be intimidating, riding with faster people will help you get faster too. Others above have advised you to contact the ride leader, and I second that advice. He or she will give you an honest assessment of whether or not you can keep up with the group pace; and if not, hopefully s/he will be able to point you in the direction of a different ride that is more suitable. Ultimately, it's more important that you enjoy your ride than that you feel badly for not being as fast as everybody else (this is what I tell myself every day!).

[Owlie]

To the OP, and to Mako (15 is pretty good! See my snail?)--just keep riding. You'll get faster. My normal pace this year is anywhere from 13-15 (on flats). Last year it was closer to 12-13.

If you want numbers:
For right now, for me, on a somewhat ill-fitting road bike, with clipless pedals:
"Coast" speed is 10-12, normal is 12-16 or 17 (on a good day), actually pushing it I can get up to 20-21 depending on road conditions and winds, but I can't keep that up for very long. In wet weather, I found out today I'm only comfortable doing 14 max. Hills...sometimes I'm lucky to get up them!

[Mako]

Owlie - Thanks for the response and advice, that is just what i keep thinking 'just keep going'

I do agree with the previous posters response about riding with people faster than yourself, when I have done that I have felt myself pushing harder (with less pain!).

It's a little difficult when you know you are too slow for the club rides, I know getting dropped is something you probably have to go through but I think I need a bit more work first......

So I'll just keep pushing it!

Cheers, Mako

P.S Anyone else suffering from the same issues - too slow, but not fast enough?

[Crankin]

Yes, I've always been in the in between group.
When you average around 15, it's hard to find a "group." It took me a couple of years... but it's true, I ride faster with a faster group. On the other hand, I don't do much group riding anymore. Just with 1-5 people, friends, who either ride around my speed or a little bit faster. Or, I ride with friends who are slower, and I end up waiting.

[Owlie]

Hee, a little competition can work wonders! DBF is faster than me, and if I ride with him, he lets me set the pace because he's worried that he'll drop me. (The end result is that I come back and am tired, and he comes back and is perfectly fine because he spent the ride drafting off me!) Next time I ride with him, I'm going to see if I can actually keep up with him.