I want to ride faster

[CR400]

Ok, I kind of feel your pain now. I have started my off season training about a month ago and started riding a mountain bike on the road instead of my road bike. Boy have I slowed down. I can hit 20 to 21mph for a few seconds to about 3 minuets at best but after that I slow down, if I want to or not. So I'd work on getting much thinner tires and less tread on them. Also a more aerodynamic position helps the most. I go faster even on the moutain bike if I get closer to the handlebar and lower my profile.

[lauraelmore1033]

Boy, this whole getting hybrids to go faster issue has been driving me crazy! I know that a chunky person on a chunky bike will quite naturally go slower than a sleek person on a sleek bike, and I had been quite contented to average about 12.5 mph riding at a more or less comfortable pace with hubby snapping at the heels a bit, but the discontent of the OP with an average speed of 14 mph got me thinking (and discontented too)...

well, to cut a long story short, I had been trying everything in my power (without going to skinny tires) to even touch an AVERAGE speed of 14 mph; flatter course, shorter distance, bigger gears, greater effort, and the best I could do was 13.33 mph over 20 miles of the flattest trail in the state. And that was giving it all I had. I was so wiped out after my last attempt I felt my driving skills were a bit impared as I navagated home in the car. Hubby was alarmed. I've been told just to drop the issue and my knees have warned me not to try that again. So I'll just have to be satisfied with the knowledge that I'm doing the best that I can as I watch the parade of sleek behinds on sleek bikes cruising effortlessly past me and disappearing in the far distance ahead. Humph!

[Geonz]

Ah, but also KNOW in your smug heart that you are getting STRONGER than they are 'cause you have to work harder

[lauraelmore1033]

yeah, I suppose it is nice being freakishly strong, but it would be so COOL to blow past people effortlessly...

[Geonz]

Ha! Ha! Ha! Have they got you fooled

It looks effortless for four seconds... but did you ever notice how often the speed difference between you and a "blow-byer" dropped drastically once s/he was ahead of you?

Okay, here's what you do with your hybrid: knock a little off the tire inflation (but watch for potholes - you're asking for pinch flats), maladjust the brakes so they drag **just** a little, put a couple of gallons of water somewhere on the bike, and go find a headwind.

Ride with that bad boy for three weeks. Then pump up the tires all the way, adjust the brakes, take the water off... you'll blow by lots of people :-)

[lauraelmore1033]

I have noticed, on occasion, that some of the riders that "blow by" do seem to need a rest stop a short distance ahead. But not very many (not the ones with the reeeealy sleek behinds on the reeeealy sleek bikes).

[Trekhawk]

I have noticed, on occasion, that some of the riders that "blow by" do seem to need a rest stop a short distance ahead. But not very many (not the ones with the reeeealy sleek behinds on the reeeealy sleek bikes).

Well at least it is sleek behinds on sleek bikes. The last weeks issue of Road Bike Rider made me laugh and laugh. One of the guys said he got passed on his commute by a guy in jeans riding a dirty, heavy and old Walmart bike and drinking a beer. See it happens to us all.

[lauraelmore1033]

too funny . Does remind me of the time my husband and I were breezily passed by a girl wearing big straw flip flops who carried an oversized tote bag slung over one shoulder. not as bad as a guy drinking a beer, though...

[RoadRaven]

May I just volunteer... isn't that 23mm???

I guess they are, but my Pasela tires are listed as "23c" or "28c" width so I guess I tend to read it as cm's which is probably incorrect. Surely they mean mm in any case!

Just jumping back a page or two...

Yup... a bit of research (talking with other cyclists and measuring tyres)... of course it is mm... why they say "c" instead of "mm" though, I have no idea...

[Toni]

Okay, here's what you do with your hybrid: knock a little off the tire inflation (but watch for potholes - you're asking for pinch flats), maladjust the brakes so they drag **just** a little, put a couple of gallons of water somewhere on the bike, and go find a headwind.

Ride with that bad boy for three weeks. Then pump up the tires all the way, adjust the brakes, take the water off... you'll blow by lots of people :-)

I'm gonna try this!!!!!

[KSH]

I have noticed, on occasion, that some of the riders that "blow by" do seem to need a rest stop a short distance ahead. But not very many (not the ones with the reeeealy sleek behinds on the reeeealy sleek bikes).

Well, I think I resemble that comment...

My boyfriend and I did this 60 mile bike route at a rally. He would go as fast as he could... I would do the best I could to keep up.

There was this one guy on a hybrid type of bike, with regular pedals. He must have been around 60 pounds overweight, and was just casually riding along.

We would stop at the rest stop... the guy on the hybrid would cruise by enjoying the day. We would take off again on our sleek bikes... fly by him... stop at the next rest stop... and the guy would go cruising by, never stopping.

Long and steady "wins" the race.

(And no, I'm not talking about my boyfriend and I!)

[Geonz]

You cannot tell that the person on the clunker bike might simply be SUper Biker but not in costume. They don't wear spandex *everywhere,* after all

And I'm just heading out for a few more "slow, steady" miles 'cause I'm going to keep ahead of "gotta go, gotta go, gotta go" Howard from bikejournal even if he *does* manage to come back and knock off another 20mph century. He's only got 5 days including this one to try & catch me

[lauraelmore1033]

I've been trying to figure out why I'm getting hung up on the numbers. It's not like I'm THAT competitive a person. It isn't as if I am perceiving an actual "race" going on (whether "slow and steady" wins it or not). I do always tend to get hung up on the numbers whenever they are involved in anything ( grades, weight, times,speeds, calories etc...) and it never gets me anywhere. My husband has pointed out that "the numbers" as far as cycling goes, are meaningless since there are sooo many variables. I know that is true, but I guess my real interest is in getting fast enough to join a group. I never can seem to work up the courage to go on any of the group rides I see posted for various cycling clubs in my area. Most of them are "too fast" for me. although there are also many that aren't, I still don't go. I don't know if getting faster would remedy that anyway.

[KayTee]

laureal, your DH is right about all the variables but I agree with you that some attention to numbers helps you measure milestones and set goals and objectives, which IMO aren't bad things. You should be commended for wanting to improve, after all. Do think about joining group rides, though. In my own experience nothing will help you improve more in speed, endurance, confidence and knowledge like learning to ride safely with a compatible group. Ask around the lbs's and local recreational clubs to see if there are group rides with variable paces and distances and that welcome newbies. For example, our local rec club has a year-round Saturday road ride that attracts everything from occasional riders on mtbs and hybrids to hardcore road racers. Each week the rotating volunteer ride leaders try to match up newbies (experienced or not) with compatible riding companions or groups (if they're experienced enough to ride in groups). The basic route is a flattish 20 miles with hilly extensions up to 100. Something for everyone. It's a good way to meet people and learn, and if you can find a ride like that, I know you'll enjoy riding more, and you will get faster - if that's what you want to do. Try it just a couple of times - and good luck!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I keep reading about everyone riding averages of like 13-18 mph everywhere. It's been making me paranoid! I am almost ashamed to confess that my normal average on 20-40 mile rides here where I live seems to be always between 9.2 and 9.7 mph. (can you even believe that??)
I am NOT just crawling along like a turtle, believe me, I pedal strongly and steadily (but without killing myself). My steel road bike is 29 pounds fully loaded. I am average weight and height.
I brought this up with my DH who rides with me and he is a pretty strong tall slim rider. He has the same type bike. He slows down a little for me most of the time, but insists I am not too slow for him. I brought up this issue of our average speed with him, and he immediately told me that our low average speed was because of all the hills we have on virtually all our routes. He grew up in Iowa and Illinois, and he said that if we lived there we would be MUCH faster.

I thought about that. I realized that only about 1/4 of any one of our rides consist of flat terrain- the other 3/4 is made up of hills, and more hills. Some rolling and long, some steep. Many require granny gear and 2mph climbing. Sure, we'll hit a blazing 35mph on a big downhill once and a while, but going back up that same hill takes a LONG time at 3-4mph and lots of leg work. When I'm on flat terrain I notice my speed is typically around 14-20mph- but I am seldom on flat roads.
So... I decided that I am NOT going to be concerned about my LOW average speed anymore. I'll keep an eye on it only to evaluate how much stronger I am getting on a given route- but I refuse to feel inwardly ashamed about it anymore!! I free myself from my self-imposed average speed shackles!

P.S. I just switched to a larger waxed canvas saddle bag which now adds probably another half pound to my bike! I better quit eating this xmas box of chocolate covered cherries...