Average MPH

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I switched from a MTB to a road bike a few years ago after riding with a group that averaged about 12 mph for a year on it. I thought for sure, once I got that nice, lightweight, carbon fiber bike I would be FLYING. Well... yes... but not right off. You use different muscles because you are in a new position, you have a new set of gears to learn, so there's this adjustment period. I went from a triple with an amazing cassette that let me climb anything to a standard double. I hit my first steep hill and hit a wall - I couldn't move the bike even in the easiest gear and had to walk!

Personally, I think you are doing great! 12.5 is nothing to be ashamed of. You get faster as you get stronger, and really it's best to ride at your own pace rather than push hard to keep up with people who want to go faster.

MPH really varies with every ride. Today my group averaged 13.5 mph, but there was
2,000 ft of incline over 37 miles for that, and we stopped and caught our breath a few times. I don't have a bike computer anymore, there are three guys who have all the fancy schtuff and could even tell what grade incline we were on. I don't care *much* because I'm out to have fun, and like watching myself improve. Today was cool because I took those same hills over a 17 mile ride 2 months ago, and had to stop and breathe FOUR TIMES mid-hill because I was practically falling off the bike. Today, I didn't need to stop. At all. That's pretty cool.

I prefer to look at those milestones and accomplishments, rather than speed. But when we average higher than before, there is that little "oh, cool!" moment.

I can't join the bigger group in the next large town because they fly along at 18-20+ all the time. But, I did find these guys (and one more girl, but she can't ride often). We have our own pace and our own goals and try to be reasonable about the goal. If someone doesn't feel up to tough hills or wants to go slower one day, that's fine by all of us. So put some feelers out there, find some folks to ride with!