how slow am I?

[Lenusik]

Does 50 miles with average of 18.4 with 2 hills 8 and 9 miles respectfully and about 5-6 shorter (about hafl and mile to 1 mile) count?
I must admit, I am not as consistant as it sounds. If I don't get enough sleep or the food was not right the day before, or I have head wind, or my saddle hurt like hell, I may not be able to fo faster than 17 mph. But if everything is fine I can hold over 20. If you have some sort of disbelieve, please, you are more than welcome to come and ride with me and my friends. We will host you, provide you good food, find a good bike for you, and even take you on those hills which you think are "flat". Maybe you will find that riding with a good group is not all that bad and people are quite nice.

[tprevost]

I was going to type out a reply, but this guy says it all. . Oh wait...I think he sums it up too.

yeah, what she said...

t~

I'll be on my way now to riding an apparently very slow metric tomorrow... but having a great time none the less.

[Eden]

This is a good article that speaks of some designated cycling fascilities. I am lucky to have a very long stretch of the road that does not have any intesections. Maybe that what helps me. I can go at least for 10 miles or more at a time without stopping unless I chose to do that. And I have a several hills on the way that are about 1-2 miles long. So, maybe we should start talking about average speed per certain distance.

You are still really missing the point here. The only thing you can tell from watching your average speed over your familiar route is whether or not you personally are improving. As far as how competitive you would be against others it doesn't mean diddly. You still seem rather intent on putting down those gals here who ride much longer distances at slower speeds than you can achieve over 10 miles. Your devotion to this is almost comical. You might be quite surprised to find that many of these women that you are putting down for riding slowly are twice as strong as you when put on a short flat course. They have the base miles and are strong - they just do different types of rides than you do.

Also,in the end what you can do over 10 miles is just that - even if you had everyone there with you and we all rode the same course and you won all you would prove is that you have a good 10 mile TT. Could you complete a 400KM brevet? Could you do a week long self supported tour carrying all of your gear? Could you keep up with an agressive pack in a road race? Could you take a good corner in a crit? Maybe you could do all of these things, but maybe you might just find that even if you could beat everyone here in a 10 mile TT, that Nanci could tear the legs off of you over 400KM, Denise could run you ragged on a tour, and Caligurl could kick your butt on a day with 10,000 feet of climbing.

If you really think you are that great I encourage you to go and try racing. You'll find out very quick that its not about average speed at all. Its about tactics and bike handling and team work and a myriad of other things, with speed being just a part of it. Being the stongest helps,but it's not always what wins the day.

[Pedal Wench]

I forgot the another VERY important point, and that is drafting.

If I'm in a big group, I can easily ride at 20 too. I actually did a little experimenting on a very long, straight stretch of road (from Alamosa, CO to Salida, CO - just a very, very slight uphill grade, but not enough to be even noticeable) Riding by myself, I could push it to 16 mph. Tucked behind my rather thin boyfriend, we could up it to 18. Add just one more rider, and we could hold 20 for quite a while. Got behind a great long paceline, and we were holding 23-24mph for an hour. But, after 40 miles of this, when I dropped back, I could only manage 14-15. So many factors are involved, that trying to set a generic '13mph is slow' statement is just impossible.

The only way to know would be to put us all on the exact same TT course, no drafting, and at the exact same time, so the wind wouldn't be a factor, all on the same bike, so weight wouldn't matter.

[Lenusik]

You are still really missing the point here. The only thing you can tell from watching your average speed over your familiar route is whether or not you personally are improving. As far as how competitive you would be against others it doesn't mean diddly. You still seem rather intent on putting down those gals here who ride much longer distances at slower speeds than you can achieve over 10 miles. Your devotion to this is almost comical. You might be quite surprised to find that many of these women that you are putting down for riding slowly are twice as strong as you when put on a short flat course. They have the base miles and are strong - they just do different types of rides than you do.

Where are you getting that I am counting my achievent over 10 miles. I said that I have a 10 miles strech of the road that does not have intesections. This helps to maintain rythm and speed. it does not mean that all I do is 10 miles rides. My week day rides are between 25-30 miles. And my weekends rides are about 50-60, or insted I may just do hill repeats. Sometimes with a group or with my husband, or just alone.
Another point. I am not trying or even thinking about putting anybody down. The only person who can do that is yourself. I don't mean You, but it is what people chose to do to themselves. What I am saying is there are way to improve if you want, it is all possible. I want to improve, and I am the only person who can choose to do that or not. So, please, understand that if you are in your comfort zone, then why even worrying about what I say. Do, whatever you wish to do. I am not putting anybody down by sharing that I tend to ride a bit faster and that there are other riders who ride way faster than I do. I hope that Tour de France cyclist do not put anybody down by having an average speed of 35 mph after a 100 mile ride.

[mimitabby]

Lenusik
your statements about how fast YOU ride are not the problem. It's the ignorant comments about what constitutes a "normal" bike ride or "normal" bike speed that I find galling.
You apparently do not understand what average means.

[Lenusik]

Lenusik
your statements about how fast YOU ride are not the problem. It's the ignorant comments about what constitutes a "normal" bike ride or "normal" bike speed that I find galling.
You apparently do not understand what average means.

I understand it very well. I think that this discussion should be over because verybody will keep thier own opinion.
I am glad though that everybody here likes cycling.

[caligurl]

Lenusik
your statements about how fast YOU ride are not the problem. It's the ignorant comments about what constitutes a "normal" bike ride or "normal" bike speed that I find galling.
You apparently do not understand what average means.

to coin a "phrase" from bikeforums: +1

and the "attitude" that comes across in the posts...

[Eden]

Lenusik
your statements about how fast YOU ride are not the problem. It's the ignorant comments about what constitutes a "normal" bike ride or "normal" bike speed that I find galling.
You apparently do not understand what average means.

Well put Mimitabby, yes Lenusik - its not that you've shared your speed - its your attitude that anyone who is not doing your speed is somehow below par and not trying hard enough. I'll say it again - your average speed means little to nothing in comparison to others, unless you are riding the same course under the same conditions.

[FreshNewbie]

Common, we are all in the same sport, getting out and doing it for ourselves! Why do we need to argue about something so not important. Who cares who is faster, rides longer, has more endurance, etc? The most important thing is that you get out and ride, no matter how long, fast, uphill , downhill, mountain, road, cross, hybrid, tricycle, unicycle...... If you want to improve- then just doing, otherwise sitting on the board and compare youself to others is POINTLESS. Remember, the time you spent here on this thread could be used outside doing riding!

[Lenusik]

and the "attitude" that comes across in the posts...

I am pretty sure that online discussion forums are not the best place to judge anyone's attitude.
Again, I am glad that all of us made cycling a part of our lives.

[Lenusik]

Remember, the time you spent here on this thread could be used outside doing riding!

Well said, I wish I didn't have to be at work now.

[DrBee]

I was going to type out a reply, but this guy says it all. . Oh wait...I think he sums it up too.

I think you've captured the moment beautifully! But I have to add this...

Enough already! 18-20 is NOT average for most people!!! Especially when we are on normal rides and not riding a race. How many times do we have to say that weather, road conditions, terrain, fitness level, bike, reason for the ride, etc. play into how fast people ride??? Averages are generally useless. Lenusik - you are insulting many of us by telling us we are slow. Don't you get that? Or don't you care???

I have had it - I'm done with this thread!

[DeniseGoldberg]

I hope that Tour de France cyclist do not put anybody down by having an average speed of 35 mph after a 100 mile ride.

You seem to be pulling these numbers out of thin air. Just out of curiosity, I checked the Tour de France web site to look at the average speed of the winner on each of the stages so far this year.

The prologue was the fastest stage (from a speed kph/mph standpoint), but it was also very short at 7.1 km (4.6 miles). The speed? 51.4 kph or 31.9 mph.

Of the other stages completed so far, stage 2 was the slowest with a speed of 40.775 kph / 25.33 mph over 228.5 km / 142 miles, and stage 6 was the fastest at 45.308 kph / 28.153 mph over 225 km / 139.8 miles. Let's see, fast professional racers riding in a pack and drafting off each other. Yes, they are moving very fast - and while there are some hills, these are the sprint stages, no mountains here. Most of us couldn't come close to their speed given the same conditions.

Your statement that the TDF riders are averaging 35 mph makes me really question your numbers - especially given that they didn't come close to this speed even during the short prologue.

--- Denise

[Lenusik]

Your statement that the TDF riders are averaging 35 mph makes me really question your numbers - especially given that they didn't come close to this speed even during the short prologue.
--- Denise

Oh, sorry for using the word "average" refering to the riders of the Tour. They certainly produce that speed at a certain point of the stage. But you just prooved with your numbers that they ride faster than any one of us after several days of very long miles. So, does this put anybody down?
Sorry, I am done here. i was tryign to do this a little while ago. My apologies for disterbing peace.