how slow am I?

[Eden]

HA! HA! "Keep riding and you will be as fast me someday!"

Yea, unfortunately... there are genetic barriers involved in our speeds... and how much faster we can get... I do believe.

I could ride 7 days a week, and I know I would never get very fast (aka: 22-25 mph average). I'm not sure what my top speed will ever be, but after 1.5 years on my bike, the fastest I have ever gone is a 17 mph average. But, most days, I hang around 15-16 mph.

I can only DREAM of breaking the 17 mph barrier!

The fact is... is that some people have natural ability... some do not. If we all had the same abilities... everyone would be riding the same speed!

For me, I don't have the natural ability. All I have is the ability to be perfectly mediocre. And that allows me to ride with groups and makes me happy!

And discussions like this program us all to think that we are slow. I used to think that I was very slow. If I went by my average training ride speeds, I probably would still be sitting around believing it. (btw KSH - you don't sound too mediocre to me!)

Look gals unless it's a race, IT'S NOT A RACE. If it is a race it may not always be the fastest person who wins, but the one who rides the smartest. It's good to have goals and its fine to want to improve your speed, but comparing your average speed to other peoples is likely to not bring you any happiness. I can see why people on other bike forums usually shut this topic down pretty quick when it comes up. There is no real point to making the comparison if you aren't doing the same ride in the same conditions.

If you want to use average speed - compare yourself to yourself on a course you ride often. Be kind to yourself - one day of slower speed doesn't mean your slipping - maybe it was windier, maybe you were hungry or tired. It's like getting on the scale every morning - look for trends, rather than what happens each individual day.