Speed

[RoadRaven]

Hey there Hammer...

You asked about drafting...

The only time riding side by side will help with drafting is if the wind is at an angle to you or coming from the side.

Drafting means you put another rider (or riders) between you and where the wind is coming from.

I think you'll find that the quicker pace was psychological rather than a drafting effect. The competitive nature in most of us helps us to push it "just a little bit more" than we would normally when we are riding on our own... thats probably what you found.

315 miles in 6-7 weeks... way to go!

[bcipam]

You know it could also have been gearing. Because I have a big granny on my road bike, I sacrifice upper gears. I can hammer but if someone has taller gears, I can get dropped. If you were matching stroke per stroke and then they pulled away, it maybe they were pushing a taller (bigger) gear.

And if drafting, you would know it. The ease of which you have to pedal will be considerably lighter, easier if in someone's draft, like you can coast and they still have to pull. If working as hard, you aren't drafting!

[Hammer]

Yeah, I get that practice makes perfect. She had a road bike and I had a hybrid, though I'm certain that she'd be able to drop me fairly easily on a hybrid like mine too. I'm just pumped that while I've never been over-weight... I generally try to stay healthy... My body seems to be toning up a little and I have an easier time with portion control, except when it comes to pizza buffets. Actually I'm doing better about that too. ANYWAY, my body is toning up. I rode 26.2 miles last Sunday in JUST over two hours. I'm going to do a local bike ride and am picking the 35 mile route instead of 15 or 45... we'll see how that goes.

But dang if this hobby isn't a little spendy... $40 for bike shorts on sale! add in gloves, jerseys.... Good thing I don't go too hard on my regular clothes... I've been spending my extra cash on biking attire and can't expand my regular wardrobe! Ah well, perhaps I can explore a size smaller or so next time.

I digress.

[bikerchick68]

Hammer... it's not an expensive hobby... it's CHEAP health insurance! LOL... hey, I can justify ANYthing I wanna buy...

[Hammer]

True... true... a coworker commented on the fact that it's a good hobby. My other hobbies include photography, video projects, music... It seems like all the good ones are spendy... or as spendy as you want to make them.

Hopefully as a result of buying bicycle stuff I won't have to spring for that quadruple bipass surgery in 20-40 years.

[KSH]

Well, it takes a few months to get really good... and fast. Or even some what fast.

I know my boyfriend has been riding for about 3 months... If I hit the big gear and get on it... I can drop him very easily.

BUT... he is getting faster... and it just takes time. I know that he will be faster than me very soon!

Unfortunately though, I think 16 MPH is my "pushing it" average. I just can't seem to break that average! And it's NOT EASY for me to keep that average.

Then again, I also know that I don't want to ride 4-7 times per week to get really fast. I like riding 3 days a week... and whatever speed that puts me at... then cool.

[singletrackmind]

It sounds like you are doing really excellent to me! If you keep hanging with faster people like you did, even for a short time, you will get faster (though you already have a respectable speed going). I was out riding with the trailer/road bike last night when a guy on a hybrid pulled up alongside. We got to talking and he said he's been able to average 18mph. You've already proven you can do that kind of speed, it's just a matter of time and challenging yourself before you average that, with small sprints upwards from there. I don't think hybrids are terribly slow, especially if you pay attention to air pressure. Sure, you have a little bit more resistance and you are more upright than a road bike so you have to work harder but even a mountain bike with knobbies can do a 20 avg over 20 miles on the road. Depending, of course, on the road!