Question about average speeds

[Batbike]

OK, this is truly a stupid question. But what is the steepest grade road a person can actually ride?

it all depends on the cyclist's fitness level and gearing -- a very fit person with lower gearing is going to be able to climb a steeper grade.

now, as for AVERAGE ride speed -- I have always been told, and use it when organizing rides, that the AVERAGE is just that -- the AVERAGE of flats, hills up and hills down. so, if a rider is riding 16 on flats, 6 up hill, and 30 downhill, the AVERAGE is just that within the time frame of the ride ... what speed is lost on an uphill is made-up with increased speed on the downhill, and ride pace is what is usually done on the flats (whch can change if there is a lot of pace line work done on the flats -- usually increasing flat speed). no rider is expected to ride the AVERAGE speed the total ride -- terrain and weather conditions will always affect a ride speed!

don't know if any of that helps, but please give yourself credit for what you CAN do and work on what you want to improve ... that is the only way your AVERAGE speed will increase. good luck on hills ... the more you ride, the easier it becomes (at least that is what I hear!).

[VeloVT]

Hey, I have a suggestion, if you're fixated on numbers. I subscribe to a service called BIM-Active (you can find out how to download at www.bonesinmotion.com). It uses the GPS capabilities of your cellphone to track speed, distance, elevation, etc of your runs, rides, etc.

I've used it a few times running and the data you get is really cool. Lots of graphs comparing speed changes and elevation changes from mile to mile, also pulls in meteorological info somehow and notes the wind speeds and temps that day. You get a free online blog too.

I would like to start using this more actually, but for some reason, on runs, the stopwatch is still a better motivator for me, so I end up having to use two gadgets, which often still seems like too much hassle... But you might like it as it not only gives your overall average speed, but also gives the average speed of each mile with the elevation change in that mile, so you can really understand where you're slowing down and why. And compare your performance on flats to subsequent flats, and hills to subsequent hills.

Good luck!