new to cycling--speed??

[moonfroggy]

my current bike is a mountain bike. last time i rode i managed almost 12 mph but really it depends on the roads and how steep they are and the whether and stuff. sometimes i go 8 mph on my mountain bike that's what my range is

i am eager to see how fast i will be able to go when i get my new bike. it will be a luna orbit more of a touring bike i am planning on slick tires.

[Crankin]

When I started riding, on a mountain bike with slicks, I didn't have a computer. After about 6 months, I got one. I seemed to be averaging around 12 mph. After I got my first road bike, (another year), I was able to get my average up to around 13.5-14. Then I got a carbon road bike. By this time, I was fairly obsessed, after 3 years. My average sat around 16 for a couple of years until burnout, illness, and injury brought it down. I still look at my average, but I no longer obsess on it. My goal is to enjoy myself. Basically, I ride in a hilly area, and on those rides my average is anywhere between 13.5 and 14.5. On flatter rides, it's closer to 15.5-16. I do have a computer on my commuter bike, but I never look at the average, just the total miles I have gone. It's a heavy steel bike, usually with a loaded pannier. I enjoy just cruising a long on that bike.
I feel stronger this year, and perhaps my average will go up. But, my goal is to not burned out/tired by the middle of the summer, which often happens. So, I am starting slowly.

[Skierchickie]

Just have fun. Everyone who has posted here has given some really good information. There is no "right" speed. As someone who tends to judge herself by comparing herself to others, I can say it just isn't healthy, and won't make you happy.

I've been riding off & on since I was a kid, so I really can't say where I was as a newbie. If I wasn't riding, I was swimming or skiing (i.e., when I'd get on my bike, I'd still be faster than if I'd been doing nothing). I was faster in my 20s, when I got my first computer. 20-some years later, yeah, I'm slower at everything. I'm also riding farther on my longest rides, though.

Right now, on my mtb, which I ride anywhere from 0-3 times per week in the summer, I'll average maybe 6-8 on singletrack trails. Faster on 2-track and dirt roads. On my road bike, which I ride by far the most, I'll start the season at around 13-15, and usually end up 16-18 by September (by October the weather is cruddy for biking, and I'm bored & ready to ski anyway, and enter my Fall Doldrum period until the snow flies). Hills vs flats, wind vs no wind - that will all make a huge difference. Yesterday (my second ride of the season), I did 23 miles at some speed, with a the wind gusting to 30 - I knew it was silly to look, because it just didn't matter. I had fun!

Example: Yesterday - I'm guessing 14-ish (that gusty wind was at our backs for about 10 miles). Last summer ONE TIME, on a point-to-point ride with big rolling hills and a 30mph tailwind, 19.5 (my most-fun ride EVER). On a typical solo 100-miler, 14-14.5 average, pretty darn consistently.

[DarcyInOregon]

For me, speed is important because it is a function of my heart rate. I ride because I love cycling. I have already put in close to 1500 miles since January 1, 2010. However the cardio fitness of each ride is important to me and I want my average heart rate to be in cardio zones 3 and 4 and my maximum heart rate in zone 4 or 5. In order to reach my desired heart rate zones, I need to push myself and give myself as much speed as is possible.

To answer the question, the desired speed you want is the speed that will place you in the heart rate zone you wish to be in. The speed will be different for individuals because of the differences in height, weight, age, fitness level, quality of bike, terrain and weather conditions.

And for me, a bike computer with a heart rate monitor is vitally important so as to provide me with the data that allows me to improve my cycling skills and fitness level.

[Tri Girl]

I have already put in close to 1500 miles since January 1, 2010.

Holy crapsticks, Darcy!!
I think I've put in a total of about 100 miles since Jan. 1st (counting trainer miles). I am very impressed!!

[DarcyInOregon]

Holy crapsticks, Darcy!!
I think I've put in a total of about 100 miles since Jan. 1st (counting trainer miles). I am very impressed!!

Tri-girl, thanks! My miles are a particular achievement because I had a bike accident on November 13. No, I don't know what happened other than I didn't crash; the doctors ruled out stroke, heart attack and low blood sugar, so a side gust may have gotten me. I decided to do loops on the bike trail inside the local state park. I was only at mile 3 and I woke up sprawled out on the trail. I had been unconscious for 90 minutes. I spent the weekend in the trauma center with severe concussion, multiple fractured ribs and a right punctured deflated lung. However, good comes from bad, and the doctors told me the cycling has burned off the bad fat inside the torso, the fat that surrounds the pancreas and invades the heart and liver, and that I have exceptional heart, liver and kidney health. I got back on the bike on January 1, biked through the pain, in some snow and a lot of rain and a whole lot of headwind, and put on the miles. I still go to the gym too. I am trying my best to get my body fat down to 24% and it is a long journey.

One thing that works for me is using the training log on MapMyRide. It is because Map has fitness challenges. I join multiple fitness challenges for bike miles and I am surrounded by alpha male cyclists. I am not an alpha anything, and my speed has to look like the pace of a turtle compared to them, but it sure is a motivator to keep up with the alphas and hold my position in the top ten on the Leaderboard for the challenges. I keep my training log public too, so that anyone can look at it, see how much I weigh (horrendous), see exactly what my heart rate, speed and distance is on each ride, and doing so motivates me to do my best, even during the bad winter weather.

[Bike Chick]

Tri-girl, thanks! My miles are a particular achievement because I had a bike accident on November 13. No, I don't know what happened other than I didn't crash; the doctors ruled out stroke, heart attack and low blood sugar, so a side gust may have gotten me. I decided to do loops on the bike trail inside the local state park. I was only at mile 3 and I woke up sprawled out on the trail. I had been unconscious for 90 minutes. I spent the weekend in the trauma center with severe concussion, multiple fractured ribs and a right punctured deflated lung.

Wow, Darcy! How scary! You are an inspiration. Keep up the good work though. And I can't believe you have already done 1500 miles! You're an animal.

I was like a lot of ladies here and my speed increased with my mileage, especially since I was only riding with the guys and I had to ride fast to hang. I obsessed about it and worked to get faster. I did but wasn't having as much fun. I don't worry about it anymore and ride a lot by myself. I enjoy it a lot more too. Just ride your bike. It'll come.

[invsblwmn]

I agree that it totally depends on the bike. I used to ride 16-18 mph on my cannondale. On the mountain bike with knobbies, it was more like 12mph. On my cattrike speed, I average 10mph and am thrilled with the speed on 20" tires and 3" ground clearance from my girlie parts. Your speed is your speed. Ride enough to get sweaty but not so hard that you can't get home. Enjoy!

[Zen]

Though I have never monitored my cycling speed...but I think to be a good cyclist on a regular basis a person must get a speed of 15-20 mphs.

Being a "good cyclist" has nothing to do with speed. If you had some idea of what your actual riding speed is you might amend that statement.

Interesting signature.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Being a "good cyclist" has nothing to do with speed. If you had some idea of what your actual riding speed is you might amend that statement.
Interesting signature.

Oops....she's GONE.