How do you get faster?

[7rider]

When out riding by myself, and see a rider way up the road, I'll turn up the gas and try to go catch them... sort of a long interval. When you catch up, catch your breath for a bit and go pick another goal up the road, and try to catch them.

None of these are real formal training methods, but they're simple and fun, and that's what cycling is really supposed to be about

I'll do this on my commutes...which are (lately) normally solo rides.
I'll sprint for a minute....spin for a minute....sprint...spin...
It makes the miles go by more quickly and serves as some good interval training.

[bluebug32]

You can keep it interesting with town sign sprints too. Designate certain signs "sprint signs" and when you see one in the distance go close to or all out to get there.

I second the riding with the group advice, too. Overall, just stick with it and keep challenging yourself to go harder an longer and you'll see improvements.

[ilima]

Intervals. Throw in some 1 minute all-out efforts with 2-3 minutes recover. Repeat 5 times if you can. The 1 minute efforts really start to hurt at about 45 seconds.

Intervals actually help build endurance, too.