I want to ride faster

[Veronica]

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

V.

[Cassandra_Cain]

In the flats, by far and away, the biggest limitation is aerodynamics. Whereas on a climb, more so the steeper it gets, power to weight is the biggest limiter while aerodynamics becomes rather secondary.

I could for example, put a 25 pound plate in my backpack, and to ride at 20mph would only need to produce about 4 more watts than I do at my present weight.

Meanwhile, if I tried the same stunt on a 5% grade, to ride at 10mph, I'd need to make 25 more watts.

You can see this in practice because drafting on a climb saves you much, much less than in the flats, where you can ride with much stronger riders just by sitting in and staying out of the wind.

I think average speed in the flats is a rather vague number to use as a measure of fitness. On a climb, that you do regularly, then it can be really useful since aerodynamics & wind have a lesser effect.

Using calculators for climbs has an important limitation - when you plug in the numbers, % grade, etc - the assumption is that the climb is steady, and I've yet to see a climb of any significant length that fits such a description.

Where I do a climb locally that averages about 6% for 10+ miles, segments range from a short downhill to over 10%. So in reality, my power numbers are higher than what the calculator predicts because of the variation in terrain.

There are many, many ways of getting faster. Veronica mentioned what worked for her. My preferred method consists of 10-40 minute intervals at TT (1-hour) pace several times per week.

[alpinerabbit]

Interesting - why does low air temperature increase my calories burnt on that link?

Correlates with what I felt today after a 60 km ride at 10°C - trashed....

[Veronica]

Using calculators for climbs has an important limitation - when you plug in the numbers, % grade, etc - the assumption is that the climb is steady, and I've yet to see a climb of any significant length that fits such a description.

You need to come to the Bay Area then.



This is a fairly steady grade. There is one spot around 2,000 feet where it kicks up to 9%. The last tenth of a mile is 17%. Otherwise it's fairly steady 5 to 6 % for 11 miles.

V.

[SadieKate]

I think average speed in the flats is a rather vague number to use as a measure of fitness. On a climb, that you do regularly, then it can be really useful since aerodynamics & wind have a lesser effect.

Wow, I'm just muddling through this thread. Since all I have is flat roads to ride, my shorter ride times over a season and in flat time trails don't mean anything? The same 33 mile ride ridden over the years has gone from a 2.5 hour effort to a fairly consistent 2 hours. Why wouldn't this be a measure of my fitness?

Using calculators for climbs has an important limitation - when you plug in the numbers, % grade, etc - the assumption is that the climb is steady, and I've yet to see a climb of any significant length that fits such a description.

The Sierras and the Cascades are full of long, steady climbs.

[maillotpois]

The Sierras and the Cascades are full of long, steady climbs.

yup. monitor pass 5 - 7 miles (depending on which side you do), ebbets 4 - 8 miles and carson from turtle rock about 12 miles. I think there's some sustained climbing to be found here in the sierras.

plenty of 3 - 6 mile climbs we can do routinely as well.

[SadieKate]

Iron Mtn -- 20 miles with only a couple very short dips.

[maillotpois]

who you callin' a "short dip"?? I am significantly taller than you, I'll remind you...

[jobob]

Hey, you girls have fun, and send me postcards.

I just hope to make it up that steenkin' Sierra Road this coming year.

[RoadRaven]

The same 33 mile ride ridden over the years has gone from a 2.5 hour effort to a fairly consistent 2 hours. Why wouldn't this be a measure of my fitness?

It is the perfect measure of your fitness.

The same course, in similar conditions, repeated at intervals over the year (or measured at intervals over the year if you ride it often).

Half an hour is excellent improvement!

[SadieKate]

Thanks, I know it is. I was being a bit sarcastic at the statement that average speed on flat ground isn't useful.

[jobob]

You? Sarcastic?

nahhhhhhh ...

Geeze you'd think my 2000th post would be something erudite and worthwhile to befit the occasion.
nahhhhh ....

[indysteel]

Since we're on this topic, I'd like to bring up my current speed issue. I got my road bike at the end of July. By September, I was averaging between 16 and 17 miles per hour for most rides, assuming that it wasn't too windy and/or the route wasn't too hilly. Now that the weather has taken a turn for the cold, my average rides have gotten slower. I managed an average of about 16.3 the other day but the winds were calm. I dress for the weather and don't feel overly cold once I'm warmed up, and I certainly feel like I'm working hard. Is my slower pace just a function of the cold, the density of colder air, and how much harder my "engine" has to work in the cold?