How Fast, and how to get faster?

**Trixiee** · 08-21-2003, 05:48 AM

For all of the Road Bikers:

How fast can you go, on an open flat road? And how can I get faster? What are the best exercises/workouts to do? I don't have access to any spinning classes. Should I buy a compu-trainer? If so, which is best?

Thanks!

**Veronica** · 08-21-2003, 06:45 AM

There are so many variables here - wind conditions, road surface, personal fit level for the day, how long are you sustaining that speed...

but since you asked I have hit 33 with a tailwind, on a really nice section of pavement and sustained it for about 3/4 of a mile.

I do this route 3 - 4 times a week - usually hit in the high twenties - unless I'm feeling crummy and then it's 23 - 24.

Now downhill on the tandem - 59!

Veronica

**MightyMitre** · 08-21-2003, 06:46 AM

Hi Trixie – when you say how fast, do you mean as a one off, such as a sprint event/ flat out time-trial , or do you mean how can you go faster in general, e.g on your regular training ride as both answers are slightly different.

**hibiscus09** · 08-21-2003, 10:09 AM

Now downhill on the tandem - 59!

LOL -- the fastest I've gone downhill so far is 26mph & it was scary!

**Trixiee** · 08-21-2003, 10:40 AM

Hi There,

Yes, I guess I wasn't too clear. Now that I mull over your questions, it would be good to know both - how fast for an average speed, therefore taking into consideration both headwind and tailwinds, and top speed in a sprint - maybe over a 1/4 mile stretch?

I go about 30 kph average, and 36 on an all-out sprint. I want to get faster, as I'm passed by a lot of athletes in a race. My speed has increased since last year (my 1st year). But I'd sure like to improve my average speed, and would like some suggestions on how to get there.

Thanks, all!

**MightyMitre** · 08-21-2003, 01:28 PM

My fastest on a bike ( so far) has been 35 mph but 59 mph is totally mad. I think I'd be on the back of the tandem with my eyes shut!

On the flat , doing a 10 mile time trial against the clock I've done 10 miles in under half an hour which works out at an average of 20mph, but certainly don't come anywhere close to this on a normal training ride. That's around 14-15 mph, but as Veronica pointed out that can change according to the weather, my energy levels,etc.

Riding time trials is a very specific type of racing as it's just you against the clock over a set distance . Inverals can help build up the speed in your legs and get you used to the idea that it's gonna hurt, but some of it is down to technique - knowing just how hard you can push yourself, so you can ring every last ounce of energy out just as you cross the finish line, rather than getting a mile from the end and finding you've totally blown.

As for on a training ride, this will come with time as you improve. My average speed has been creeping up this year as I get stronger, but for me it's been a slow process. My advice would be to listen to your body and see how you feel. While you need to push youself to improve, you don't want to wear youself into a frazzel by trying to stick to a speed that's too fast for you. Just take it in small steps - afterall, increasing you average speed by even 2 mph over the duration of ,say,a 3 hour ride is a significant increase of effort.

**Grasshopper** · 08-21-2003, 01:40 PM

The fastest I've gone so far is 172 mph....wait that was the day my computer broke.

I've hit 29mph and it was while semi drafting and it scared me to death!! I'm not ready for that kind of speed yet!!

**hibiscus09** · 08-21-2003, 02:09 PM

My average speed is hanging between 14 and 14.5 mph. It was 14.25 when I did 46 miles on Sunday. I'll be glad when it starts picking up a little. If I'm just biking along on a flat stretch, I'm anywhere between 15 to 17mph. The killer around here in my neighborhood area are the stop signs. I ended up doing the 46 miles in the neighborhood because I didn't want to go to Ft. Jackson by myself. At least I had my house to take a tinkle break & grab a fig newton.

**Veronica** · 08-21-2003, 03:21 PM

I'm a little speed demon when it comes to downhills. Cracks Thom up how much I trust him on the bike - but not in the car. "Honey do you have to take these corners so fast?" is what he hears when we're driving. On the bike it's, "Why did you brake so soon?"

59 was on a new section of road. It's a 4 lane highway with a great shoulder - although Thom takes the lane when we're going that fast. It's a straight downhill, no curves at all - although sometimes there's a crosswind, with about an 8% grade.

As far as getting faster goes for me it's interval training. There are certain sections of a ride where I just push and keep myself at a certain speed or above. And as Eddie Mercx said, "Ride lots!" But I'm not a racer, it's all for fun.

Veronica

**hibiscus09** · 08-21-2003, 05:16 PM

Veronica -- I'm envious!

How long have you been riding?

**Veronica** · 08-21-2003, 06:07 PM

This time around - about 18 months.

We started mountain biking in '88 in so. Cal. It was okay, but I wasn't really into it. We moved to the Bay Area in '92 and kept biking - mostly road (same bikes w/slicks)We did a lot of overnight camping trips and a week long trip down the coast. Beautiful trip. It was a lot of fun. Until about '94 when we bought a house and kind of lost interest.

We got back into riding when I was looking for a new goal after losing the thirty pounds I somehow managed to put on.

Thom suggested a century. We both started training and did our first one a year ago June on our old mountain bikes with slicks. Then we bought a tandem.

Along about April it occured to me that I'd really rather be riding outside instead of in Spin or on the trainer, so I got a road bike. Named it Fluffy and started commuting to work. It's a wicked long trip (1.5 miles!) I do have a nice hill on the way home though that I work at. It's part of my interval training. I usually go out a couple of times a week after work to actually get a workout.

A few weeks ago I decided I was ready to try mountain biking again. I'm having way more fun with it now then I ever remember having before. It's amazing what some freakishly strong legs will do for your confidence. That's what Thom calls them. As the stoker on a tandem, I'm responsible for the power for about the first stroke, or two. Every now and then my dear hubby - for whatever reason- is not in quite the right gear for takeoff. He always warns me and luckily I've always managed to get us going without embarassment.

So that's the long and convoluted answer of how long I've been riding.

Veronica

**hibiscus09** · 08-21-2003, 06:11 PM

Thanks! It's nice you and your sweetie ride together. Mine (Brian) is training for a marathon in December & he says after that, he may buy a bike and ride with me! I'll be happy if he does -- we have a great time together.

Well, you give me hope -- maybe I'll move beyond 14 - 14.5 mph. LOL I'm training for an MS150 on September 20 & 21st. Cross your fingers.

**Veronica** · 08-21-2003, 06:21 PM

Is that ride broken down into two 75 milers?

Veronica

**Grasshopper** · 08-21-2003, 06:25 PM

Veronica,

You give me hope that maybe one day I'll try mountain biking again and have more luck at it next time. I think the strong legs thing is one of the many things I was missing. Well, that, and I was scared to death!! I don't know now mountain bikers can go through all those trees, roots, rivers and everything else they do, at the speeds they do it!! I kept running into the bushes when the trail would turn in either direction. I love hiking and packing so much - it would be great to feel confident riding on the mountain trails. Maybe next year I'll give it another shot.

It's great that you ride so many different types of bikes. I'm not sure my sweetie have the communication skills for tandem! haha!!

**Veronica** · 08-21-2003, 06:43 PM

So far I've only done fire trails - no single track. But I've climbed some monstrous hills and walked some. It used to drive me insane to have to get off and walk my bike - and tire me out. Now it's no biggie.

Communication on the tandem is a funny thing. At first Thom would tell me everything . He'd call out for every little bump and shift. Right off I told him he didn't need to tell me about the bumps - I have a suspension seat post and most bumps don't bug me . As time has gone on, he hardly tells me anything, I just know what he's going to do. We do have a hard time in pacelines though because I can't see the wheel of the bike in front of us so I have no idea how much to give to keep us on the wheel. Overall the tandem is my favorite way to ride. I'm lucky because Thom's not much taller than me so I have a better view than a lot of stokers. It does take a lot of trust and you have to be willing to not be in control if you're the stoker. Try renting one sometime.

Veronica

Thread: How Fast, and how to get faster?

Thread Tools

Display

How Fast, and how to get faster?

Posting Permissions