I want to ride faster

[Veronica]

How far are you riding? How hilly is it?

Unless you're pretty intense about training, averaging 18 - 20 mph on a 30 to 40 mile ride is pretty fast.

It took me a year of serious training to increase my average speed from 14 - 15 mph to 15 - 16 on a 40 mile ride with 2000 - 3000 feet of climbing in it.

V.

[Triskeliongirl]

You will go faster *for the same effort* on a lighter bike, especially where climbing is concerned. That is because speed depends on your power to mass ratio. Mass is the weight of you and the bike, so if that is reduced, especially rotational weight (wheels, hubs, etc.) you will be faster. But as Veronica said getting to 18-20 mph requires mucho series training and a super light bike both. But getting from 12-15 mph to 14-17 is realistic with consistent riding and a lighter bike (average speed too depends a lot on how hilly it is where you ride).

[Veronica]

You will go faster *for the same effort* on a lighter bike, especially where climbing is concerned. That is because speed depends on your power to mass ratio.

And you have to decide how much are you willing to spend for the two or three minutes you may save by getting a lighter bike.

Here's a calculator that shows you how much faster you can be with a lighter bike.

http://www.kreuzotter.de/english/espeed.htm

Use a ride you have some data on and plug in the weight of your bike and then do the same thing with what you think a new road bike would weigh.

V.

[Triskeliongirl]

I agree that often folks have unrealistic expectations when they move from a 20 lb bike to an 18 lb bike, or 18 to 16. BUT, moving from a 25 plus pound bike (typical hybrid) to 18-20 will make a difference. So will moving from a hybrid to a road bike, where in addition to weight savings, she may get a more effecient position (with proper fitting), a more aerodynamic postion which can cheat the wind, more hand positions, etc. I do think that someone who is averaging 14-15 mph on a hybrid is probably topped out, and will benefit from a move to a road bike.

[Veronica]

That's why I posted the link to calculator. She can play around with all the numbers and various configurations and decide how to spend her money.

I know I put out 188 watts. When I put my data into the calculator and say I am on a mountain bike with medium slick tires it would take me 5 more minutes to do my local climb.

Is five minutes on an 11 mile ride worth a couple of thousand dollars? That's something she has decide.

Also how long is she spending on the bike? Is she averaging 15 mph on a 30 minute ride? Or a 3 hour ride? That makes a difference as well.



V.

[kelownagirl]

Cool link Veronica! I don't know how many watts I put out but according to the chart, it varies between 148-198 depending on whether my hands are in the drops or not! Interesting!

How to do increase my "wattage"? Just ride more? Is it something one can improve?

[Veronica]

Last year based on the same ride I was putting out about 160. My improvement came from riding hard, medium distance rides.

V.