These are excellent suggestions!

I recently got faster myself with a few things...

1) this is *huge*...a bike that actually fits.. like it is a painted off extention of my body (my old roadie girl was about 2 sizes too big for me!)

2) lighten up... extra #s hurt: on body, my new ride is carbon plus lighter gruppo etc.

3) a ride buddy... everything is just easier to do (or NOT to chicken out on) w/some company along

4) intervals big time...

Besides road & mtb, I'm also cert thru M.D.A. as a Spinning instructor (teach year round)... nice thing about inside work in the mix is that I think you can push yourself even harder cuz you don't have to worry about "...how will I get home if I 'over-do' my interval???...". Inside, simple: ya just get off your bike and walk to your car near-by in the gym parking lot.

Just remember to be patient with yourself on this one... and don't get discouraged... everyone's level of "pushing it" is different. It's your ride... make what ever you do work hard just for YOU.

5) Be realistic... and just keep at it.

Example: I have some health issues I know will *always* hold me back to a certain degree. So does my new riding pal. Sometimes, you have to decide what's "fast enough for you" and be happy with it. Keeping up with the cycling Jones' is over-rated, IMHO.

Good Luck!