new to cycling--speed??

[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.

[kenyonchris]

For me, it depends on who I ride with. If I ride with a weaker rider, I average 16-17 mph. But I spend a lot of time with Hammerheads (and most of them men). I let them pull and average 18-22....until they make me pull!!

Doing Amgen in a few weeks and I am so out of shape it isn't funny. The weather has been terrible, moving, and getting married. So I may do it in and under 12 average.

Got a Garmin for the Pinkarello....and love it! I need to get my HR up higher.

[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.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Speed depends SO much on so many factors, such as age, weight, condition, bike type and weight, temperature, hydration, gears, terrain, experience, weather, blah blah blah...
so much so that I believe to compare speeds between people is almost meaningless.
The right speed is what's right for you.
I average about 10mph. I'm an 56yr old cyclist with no athletic background on fairly hilly terrain with a loaded steel bike, and I ride for health and enjoyment. Works for me!

[Jiffer]

Yeah, I did want to mention again how much the terrain makes a difference. I can do a relatively flat ride to the beach and back at a 20 average, (the only time I have gotten a 20 and it's a total thrill ) or I can climb 7,000 feet and get a 12 average.

A lighter bike, clipping in and pedaling efficiently make a big difference. Keeping your tire pressure up (i.e. pumping before every ride ... making sure you don't have a slow leak and/or brake pad rubbing ). The weather, fueling, etc. All of these things play a factor in speed in addition to your strength and ability level.