Question about average speeds

[Geonz]

I also only cmopare that average speed when it's the same route or at least comparable conditions... and the same route when it's windy will be different, too.

There are so many things you can look at - keeping the speed up above X heading up those hills as long as I can, total time for the trip (less resting), but mainly I look at my *total* accumulated mileage... 'cause that's always improving and I'm a terminal optimist.

[KSH]

Do you base it just on what your bike computer says it is at the end of the ride?

Yep.

This also how I know how to pick what group rides to join.

[ace]

well, interesting that you should say that about using avg speed to know which group rides to join, because that's sort of the source of my question. I'm doing a Cinderella training series that has many groups, all segregated by supposed average speed. The first week I went with the 10-12 mph group, and it was painfully slow for me, so I switched to a group that's 13-15 mph, and they're really pushing us, and telling us we're doing 16-19 mph (and my bike computer confirms this on the flats/rollers). However, my crapola hill performance is making my average come out to 10 mph. I actually looked down and I was doing 3 mph up a really steep hill yesterday. So I can't necessarily base which group I'm going to ride with on my avg. mph.

That makes sense to me, though, only comparing my avg speed when I do the same routes.

I must get better on hills....I heard what you guys said about the only way to get better on them is to do them, but it is really a battleground for me.

[kelownagirl]

me too. I don't hate them anymore but I don't love them either.

[Eden]

In general the ride classifications I've seen given by clubs are supposed to be for ideal conditions on the flats - so the 10 -12 group should be going 10-12 on the flats and slower on the hills, etc. It sounds like your 13-15 group is probably pushing the pace a little faster than advertised.....

[jobob]

I'm doing a Cinderella training series that has many groups, all segregated by supposed average speed.

Could you ask the ride leaders what they mean by average speed (with respect to the group assignments) ?

Alas, like it or not, you're only going to get stronger & faster on hills if you do more hills. There's no getting around that.

If you can, find a hill near your home and go up and down it a few times during the week. You'll get faster on the flats as well as the hills. Trust me.

[SadieKate]

Yes, trust her.

[ace]

I will trust you. I will do the damn hills repeatedly.

The one really really bad hill we did this weekend (something referred to as "the animals" in Fremont) kicked my butt so bad that I was in granny gear about 100 ft from the top of a 2.6 mile climb, and my legs just gave out. I was afraid I was going to fall over, so I stopped. I've never stopped on a hill before. It really pissed me off because I was soooo close, but I just could not safely do it.

Given, I'm 75 lbs overweight, ride a clunky hybrid, and have a still-healing bone bruise in my knee, so I'm cutting myself some slack. But I figure if I practice, lose even 20 lbs and get a road bike, I'll be flying up the hills. How's that for optimism?

[jobob]

I was just checking out the route sheet for the Fremont Freewheelers Cindy training ride. Can't say I'm familiar with those climbs, but I pass by those roads a lot riding up Mission Blvd (SadieKate in fact was doing a bit of grousing on MB yesterday ) and the roads off Mission Blvd look mighty hilly so I can imagine those roads were pretty challenging.

Here's hoping you'll ride up The Animals again someday soon and think "gee, that wasn't so bad!"

[nancy sv]

How do I determine my average speed? I just say s - l - o - w