Quote Originally Posted by suzieqtwa View Post
I am sooooooooo slow. I get passed by everyone. The only people I can pass are the runners. On a 40 mile ride my average is about 13.3. I can get up in the 20s on flats ,but my average is always 13 something no matter how hard I try. I just smile when I get passed. I keep my tires up to 115-120. I know with my weight I should probably drop the pressure ,but I like the bumps. My tires call for 120 max.
Suzie, the owner of the LBS told me yesterday that the average speed is typically 3-4 mph less than the normal cruising speed on a ride. He said to be able to factor out the slow downs for stops, other slow downs and the hills in order to determine the average cruising speed on a longer ride, take the computer's average speed and add 3-4. That would give you 16-17, which sound about right.

For example, when we did the metric together a few weeks ago, we pedaled most of the miles at between 15 and 19 into the constant wind, yet ended up at 13. If we add 3-4 to that 13, it gives us 16-17, right in the range we were pedaling for most of the ride.

Darcy