Faster?

[nafula]

So reading through all these posts, I'm not sure if I'm encouraged, or discouraged.

20mph average seems so crazy, ridiculously fast, I honestly don't think I'd ever get there. I don't know if the area I live in is just not flat enough, or if I'm just that slow. At the most I can go a mile on flat ground. That's if I take one particular route and go all the way out to the very end of it. Otherwise, for me its up a hill, down a hill, around a small corner and up a hill again.

Is that normal for riding? Are there places that people don't have to go up a hill to ride?

I can make the long trek out the Silver Comet, which is an old train bed, so its flat. My speed averages 14-15mph out there.


And the other thing I'm not sure about is, do I really care enough to work that hard to get fast. Maybe I just don't have it in me.

Yep, definitely discouraged.

[smilingcat]

Oh dear,

I wasn't trying to discourage you nor anyone else here. 14/15MPH is good. 20MPH is very respectable. Its just a matter of perception and what you want to be doing. Maillotops (I think that's how I spell her user name here) said there will always be someone faster than you older than you stronger than you AND someone slower than you younger than you...

Enjoy the ride, enjoy the outdoor, and ride for the fun of it. Don't spend too much time agonizing about your ability. Enjoy what you are able to do.

Even in racing, if you take it way too seriously, it takes the fun out. It becomes WORK!!

So don't compare yourself to the racers here and compare yourself to yourself.

enjoy life, enjoy your ride,
Smilingcat

[indysteel]

I think any talk of average speed has to include the caveat that there's no real point in comparing yourself to another rider who might be riding totally different terrain, on a different type of bike, who is younger/older/thinner/heavier/better trained, etc., etc. There are too many variables. The better practice is to compare your own progress, in light of your own goals. For me, I didn't want to be the one bringing up the rear at every ride, so I've worked hard at improving my speed. It's not a goal in and of itself and every time I've gotten too worked up about it, I've had to keep my eye on the bigger picture: that riding my bike at any speed is more fun and better for me that sitting on my couch.

Nafula, I'll repeat my own caveat about averages. "Fast" and "slow" are relative terms. Ride and train the way you want to ride and train, i.e., the way that makes you feel good about exercising and riding a bike. I have a friend that describes herself as a "distance girl." She has no interest in how fast she goes, but I describe her as the strongest cyclist I know because she climbs like a goat and can go for miles on end. Could I "outrun" her on the flats? Maybe, but what would that prove?

Admittedly, I like getting faster, but it's just one way of measuring "progress." I'll emphasize again that for me it's not about the speed itself, but about increasing my fitness level, testing my limits and pushing myself. I have friends who I want to ride with or continue riding with who are faster than me so it's also a function of necessity. In any event, one of great things about cycling is that it's a flexible sport which allows each of us to individualize our goals to meet our lifestyle, fitness level, age, priorities, personality, interests, etc. There's no one way of approaching it, in my opinion, that's any more legitimate, more praiseworthy or laudable than another.

So please don't feel discouraged by whatever your average speed is relative to mine or anybody else's. Or if you do get discouraged--like I've been in the past--use it to motivate you if getting faster is a goal that you'd like to set for yourself. Otherwise, just have fun and keep riding.

[coyote]

nafula, it really is an individual thing. You really can't compare your mph to anyone elses. It is really only a tool to help us improve. I average about 11mph. I'm always suprised when I can get up to 20 - usually on an incline with a tail wind. This week I did some of the things the more experienced women suggested and my average is 13 right now. I do not think I'm a strong rider and I want to be stronger. So, I'm will to try some things out. There is talk about riding with A or B groups....I want to ride with the C group. If you love riding then do not worry about all of this talk of speed, just keep riding.

[Starfish]

Nafula, hey, wherever you're at for speed, if you're on your bike, it's all good.

I would like to get a little faster because (1) there is no club here, and the cyclists I know who are really nice are just WAY faster than me right now. Someday, I'd like to be able to ride with them for fun. And, (2) I aspire to doing some organized rides that have time cut-offs that I just currently can't make, so my desire for speed is just a desire to do some certain rides without getting swept up off the road by organizers.

Other than that, my 12 mph rides are super fun, and my being a little slower doesn't change the beauty of the eagles, deer, bear, elk or mountains. My slower speed doesn't reduce my feeling of peaceful well-being when I'm done, or my sense of independence and strength after time on the bike.

My biggest goal is to keep riding into my 80's or beyond. There is a lady I see around here on an old-style bike, with wrinkles & gray hair (the lady, not the bike!), and she bikes EVERYWHERE. She is always smiling. What a role model!

[nafula]

So I decided to not get discouraged. I realized there has to be some level of riding at which I can feel completely free. Its probably not going to be at working every day to get to 20mph. I would have to give up so much else to do it, and at that point, would I really be enjoying life?
I also realized I'm not going to feel free at not trying either. Giving up will not make me happy either.

So I went home last night, made my dinner and left it on the stove. Got on my bike and went out a rode one of the longest, steepest hills around me. Took my 5.5 minutes to go from bottom to top, and my heart rate got up to 191, which I believe is one beat from my max.

Then I did it again.

[indysteel]

So I decided to not get discouraged. I realized there has to be some level of riding at which I can feel completely free. Its probably not going to be at working every day to get to 20mph. I would have to give up so much else to do it, and at that point, would I really be enjoying life?
I also realized I'm not going to feel free at not trying either. Giving up will not make me happy either.

So I went home last night, made my dinner and left it on the stove. Got on my bike and went out a rode one of the longest, steepest hills around me. Took my 5.5 minutes to go from bottom to top, and my heart rate got up to 191, which I believe is one beat from my max.

Then I did it again.

Awesome.

[maillotpois]

And now another question that just popped into my head: I'm not sure I've seen my "mountain goat idols" posting their speed info? Maybe you ladies avoid these discussions of "I go this fast" ??? Those of you who regularly do climbs like Mimi's amazing ride last weekend: if 17-18 are "only" averages, do you have "miserable" average speeds too?

I don't think people who do the super long rides with a lot of climbing talk much about averages, because we know they really don't compute with most peoples' 50 mile and under or flat training rides. There's really no point in comparing the mph on long and/or very hilly rides - other than comparing one's own performances from one year to another. Every ride is different, are you working in a paceline, is it a ride where doing that is even all that helpful, etc.?

I have to say I don't think my averages are "miserable"! But i do like comparing from one year to another - which gets back to the OP about whether and how much one can improve one's own speed.

Point is - no one knows what terrain, conditions, whatever anyone is riding. Average MPH is basically worthless from one person to the next or one ride to the next - compare yourself to yourself.

[jobob]

And now another question that just popped into my head: I'm not sure I've seen my "mountain goat idols" posting their speed info? Maybe you ladies avoid these discussions of "I go this fast" ???

Not a mountain goat idol by any means, but yes, I tend to avoid these discussions. I only posted on the other "how fast am I in relation to you?" thread to provide the link to our previous discussion in that regard, to caution all the new folks as to how discouraging and downright unpleasant this topic can become.

Those of you who regularly do climbs like Mimi's amazing ride last weekend: if 17-18 are "only" averages, do you have "miserable" average speeds too?

Um, not even close, and as maillotpois can attest, I have some mighty crummy days from time to time.

You're more than welcome to check out my journal on bikejournal.com (I'm jobob there as well) if you want to see what I'm talking about.

So reading through all these posts, I'm not sure if I'm encouraged, or discouraged.

That's why I avoid these discussions. Sure, it's an ego boost to some, but it can be very discouraging to others.

But that said, there are a lot of good stories and suggestions in this thread.

I'm really glad you're not discouraged, nafula. Give it time, be patient with yourself. You'll get stronger. Trust me.

For what it's worth, I do care about my own speed, but just in relation to me. That's why I keep a journal, to track my own progress. I'm really pleased with how my speed has improved over time. I've had to work at it, and I'm beginning to see the results. The reason why I'm caring about my speed at this point in time is that I'm training for a moderately hilly double century in October, and while I'm reasonably confident I can make the 18 hour cutoff time, I'd just as soon be able to finish it in less time than that.

[Eden]

I have to agree with MP. My averages won't mean anything to anyone else. It's not meaningful to compare my race to your solo ride, my flat ride to your hilly one, etc so there isn't any reason to say anything. I think there are probably a lot of women who think they ride slow that are very strong. They read some of these posts and get discouraged and I don't feel the need to be part of that.
(oh and to give you an idea about how much of a difference conditions can make.... my 20 something mile zone 1/2 recovery ride was accomplished at a faster "average" speed than my 101 mile mountainous race this weekend - now which do you think was the harder, more challenging ride..... even comparing me to me we're still talking about apples and oranges)
Just be aware that when you are talking club rides many of them aren't classifing rides on the average ending speed of the ride - they are talking about the average pace of the group on flat ground in ideal conditions! You may fit nicely into a faster group than you think.

[indysteel]

That's precisely why I avoid these discussions. Sure, it's an ego boost to some, but it can be very discouraging to others.

Having just read through that awful thread from last fall, I understand that average speed discussions can get ugly, especially when someone makes a horribly harsh and unfair comment about riders at a certain pace being slow. That comment was certainly neither helpful nor kind. However, the OP in this thread asked about getting faster, which in my mind, is a legitimate goal in cycling and one that warrants a discussion. Although average speeds have factored into the discussion, both I and others have repeatedly emphasized that comparing respective averages is less than helpful on a number of levels. The tone of the discussion has otherwise been, in my opinion, encouraging, helpful and positive. Not that you're pointing fingers, but I certainly didn't share my own experiences to get an ego boost.

The fact is that whether we're discussing average speeds, a race or ride report or climbing feet tallies, there's always a risk that someone will inadvertently end up feeling discouraged because they perceive that they don't measure up. While certain discussions more than others inherently invite such less-than-helpful comparisons, it's ultimately up to each of us to choose our inner cheerleader over our inner critic and to look to those we perceive as "better" in some way as a source of inspiration rather than a source of shame.

[maillotpois]

.... it's ultimately up to each of us to choose our inner cheerleader over our inner critic and to look to those we perceive as "better" in some way as a source of inspiration rather than a source of shame.

That is EXCELLENT. Very well said.

You're more than welcome to check out my journal on bikejournal.com (I'm jobob there as well) if you want to see what I'm talking about.

Ditto. (Except for the part about being jobob. I'm still maillotpois... )

[indysteel]

Maillotpois, I just read a few of your bikejournal entries. I love reading ride reports from other parts of the country, especially from CA, because the terrain is SO different from Indiana. At least in central Indiana, we've got nothing but flat country roads for most part. Doing a ride with even 5k of climbing is a challenge--in more ways than one. Given how flat it is, it's hard to get really pumped from a ride, which is another reason I think I focus on getting faster. As a friend of mine says, it's hard to give a "hell ya" after passing yet another cornfield.

Anyway, your rides look amazing. I would love--or at least I think I would--to live someplace that had some really good, long climbs. I just haven't been able to test myself in that way. Do you ever just want some flatlands? Can we trade for a summer?

K-

[maillotpois]

Anyone who has ridden with me knows I love the flats!! I am a big power rider who likes nothing more than flat roads or shallow rollers and a lot of speed. Sure, I'll trade you for a bit!!

My deal is long, sustained hills are my weak point, so I really try to do a lot of them. Sick.

[smilingcat]

thank you thank you and thank you to:
maillotpois, indysteel, eden and few others for saying it succinctly and to the point.

Now lets just get back to riding and enjoy the ride
Smilingcat