Boy am I slow...

[nomummytummy]

Yup, it'll give you really strong legs! I honestly didn't expect the road bike to make THAT much of a difference, but I am shocked. These are the differences I've noticed:

1) my "I'm not thinking about riding and not putting in any effort" speed has increased by about 3-4 mph

2) I can actually ride 19 mph on a flat road and not feel like it's all that hard (though I don't know how long I could keep it up. On my hybrid I never got past 16 mph).

3) Getting up hills is, dare I say it, almost easy. On my hybrid, it was always a major struggle.

4) The bike actually feels like it's riding itself, it's the strangest thing. My pt, who's a cycling coach, said that means it really fits me (and it should, it's a custom frame).

Transitioning from the hybrid to the road bike has completely changed my outlook on riding. I keep getting the urge to go out and ride hills!

-Amy

Hi - I found this too. I just went from a MTB to a racing bike. Gift for Mother's day from husband & our 3 boys. Went out yesterday & covered in 90mins the same distance it was taking 120+ before. The bike "rides itself" is a perfect description. And then I did some hill intervals taody. OMG that was fun. Better then skiing for a speed rush going back downhill. Looked at computer after & hit 45.3km/hr. Lucky I didn't know at time - would have scared me I think

[Zen]

Jolt, you might want to do a thorough visual exam before you go out, it sounds like you could be headed for a pinch flat.

[pardes]

Okay, someone has to weigh in with low numbers for speed.

Speed? Did I say speed? Heck, I only just graduated to being able to use second gear! And to be really racy.....I slid it into third going down a hill today.

My speed hovers at about 8 mph which is wonderful when you consider I was a former couch potato only one week ago riding a sofa at 0 mph.

I'm as happy as a clam and have fallen in love with my bicycle and I'm also pretty fond of that tired, sweaty woman staring back at me in my bicycle mirror.

It's not about destinations and speed. For me, it's about the journey.

I discovered a two mile lenght of rails to trails today with much of it near streams and summer flowers trumpeting their own journey that is not measured in mph.

I truly admire and respect those of you who race but I don't want to be you. I want to be ...... just be.

Isn't it just incredibly wonderful to be alive on a bicycle!

[Duck on Wheels]

I was riding back from the grocery store this afternoon with a very light load (the trip was mainly to get city trash bags as we were out and tomorrow is trash day), and was riding up a fairly gradual incline on this one street and all of a sudden I hear another bike coming up on my left. Somewhat unusual around here, and even more unusual was that this guy was wearing a fluorescent/reflective vest as I do. Anyway, he blew by me like I was flippin' STANDING STILL!! And it wasn't like he was even trying to go fast--he looked like just another person using his bike to get around town, not a racing type (although he was on a road bike rather than a hybrid). I'm not sure why it bothered me so much, but I felt like I wanted to go crawl in a hole! I guess I didn't realize how slow I really was until then. I'd say my average speed was about 12 mph (the majority of the return trip is uphill). Sorry for the random vent, just aggravated with myself right now!

Sorry I'm so slow . I only just saw this thread. So here I go yanking us back to square 1. I just wanted to say that, by now, you're probably averaging more than those 12 mph, whereas I'm still pretty pleased to average 10 or 11. I'd ask to ride with you to get my speed up a bit, but I'd be holding you back. You go grrrl! And don't worry about others speeding by. I think the real speedsters miss some of the fun I have enjoying the scenery. Enjoy your rides! You're doin' fine!