Average MPH

[Geonz]

I second what others have said about average speeds on group rides - it's probably in ideal conditions of flat road and no wind.

I would NIX that proclamation about the average. Around here, if they tell me they'll average 16, then I'd better be able to hold 18 for most of the ride. YMMV of course, but bike culture I've mixed with has a very, very strong tendency to "aw shucks, we don't go that fast" and then have that adrenaline/competition thing happen.

This happens a *little* bit less on our slower-paced rides, but every year we battle "mid season pace creep."

What's it mean? Don't be discouraged- keep riding.

I got a lot stronger with intervals, but I didn't have a recipe. I added 1 mph or 2 mph to my speed and tried to hold onto it until it was hard for a while (I'd try to do 100 x my waltz count that comes from doing bilateral breathing in swimming... somehow it's less boring if I have a rhythm with a dominant beat... ONE two three...) and then relax for ... 'til I almost got my breath back. We have roads on the grid, so I'd kinda keep an eye on how fast I went for each mile -- but I don't really compare one day or one mile to the next seriously. Just "go a little harder for a while... okay, for ten seconds longer than you want to, get to breathing hard!"

[suzbyrd]

I usually average around 17mph on hilly terrain. Went to the beach on vacation and averaged 18.5. It is so much easier to go fast when on flat ground. Rode 135 miles in 5 rides.

[amb]

I think riding with a group or in an organized ride makes you go faster. I just did the MS150 this past weekend. Prior to the ride, I usually averaged 14-14.5 mph on my training rides (~24-50 mile distance). On the Saturday leg of our ride, we averaged 16.5 mph - the fastest (and farthest) I have ever gone. I think all the excitement and adrenaline just kicked it into high gear. Our Sunday leg of the ride slowed down - 14.5 mph. Sunday started with hills from miles 8-16 or so and it got VERY hot - in the 90's. I think those factors along with the fact that we had just rode 75 miles the day before slowed us down. I still think 14.5 was pretty good all things considered.

All that said, I don't think it matters how fast you go. If you're on the bike - good for you! You're out there riding which is all that really matters. My co-workers like to ride at 18-22+ and I am totally ok bringing up the rear when I ride with them. My Dad rides at about 12.5 mph and sometimes I really enjoy a slower, less strenuous ride with him. Riding is riding and if you're having fun - more power to you!!

[ivorygorgon]

I am struggling with the whole speed issue. I have only been riding for about 1.5 years now. I would really like to do some club rides, but I am pretty intimidated. I agree with the poster who said something about "pace creep," ( I love that expression BTW). The posted speed of the rides, is not really the actual average speed of the rides.

The first time I tried to ride with a group I was dropped like a hot potato, in a 'no-one is left behind" ride! I was left behind. It was pretty demoralizing, and because the ride leader was condescending about it, I have had a hard time getting myself to go back.

Around here, there are not many places to go for a flat ride. Most of the rides DH and I do involve at least 4,000 feet or more of climbing, and we do anywhere from 40 - 70 mile rides. I am a pretty slow climber, so my average pace falls off pretty quickly once we hit the hills. With all of that said, my average pace for the the first 6 months of my riding history was 9.8 MPH. Over the last month I averaged 11.8. I know on the flats I can go quite a bit faster, but I can't hang on the hills.

I don't think I will ever be a speed demon, but I am definitely improving. Our club just started a new "moderately paced," Sunday ride that I want to try out, but I am pretty sure it won't end up really being moderately paced. But I am willing to try. It is fun to ride with other people, and really, when all is said and done, I just love to ride my bike. That is all it is really about.

[Veronica]

Funny I don't much like riding with other people. Folks around here don't believe in stopping at stop signs. We have a lot of 4 way stops and they will just roll right thorough. Yes I know you can see that there is no traffic. But you are a vehicle and you are suppose to stop. Now I'll admit that I don't come to a full stop, foot down, but I also don't blow through at 18 mph. And they'll get upset if I don't call "Clear" so they can roll through. If that's what you're suppose to do in a group ride, no thanks.

And I really don't like riding in a pace line. If I am going to go hard, I want to go hard at my pace and recover where I want to recover. And I can't look around in a pace line.

Plus drafting is illegal in tris.

Veronica

[Becky]

Funny I don't much like riding with other people. Folks around here don't believe in stopping at stop signs. We have a lot of 4 way stops and they will just roll right thorough. Yes I know you can see that there is no traffic. But you are a vehicle and you are suppose to stop. Now I'll admit that I don't come to a full stop, foot down, but I also don't blow through at 18 mph. And they'll get upset if I don't call "Clear" so they can roll through. If that's what you're suppose to do in a group ride, no thanks.

And I really don't like riding in a pace line. If I am going to go hard, I want to go hard at my pace and recover where I want to recover. And I can't look around in a pace line.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I'll take the mph hit in order to actually enjoy my ride...

[PamNY]

I'm quite happy going slowly. Don't even know my average speed, but it's not very high. I have great stamina, and for what I do on a bike, that matters a lot more.

I do a lot of bird-watching and general observing. If I were going fast, I wouldn't have photos of a cormorant trying to swallow a large fish.

Now that I have a lighter bike, I might try some group rides. I probably will put the computer back on my bike for a while just so I know what a particular speed feels like. But if the group rides don't work out for me, I certainly don't plan to worry about it.

[solobiker]

When I was in my 30s I used to be pretty focused on my average speed and max speed. There was a time where I could average 18+mph over 50-70 miles riding either solo or with a friend. I was always trying to ride my favorite routes faster. Once I hit my 40s it really was no longer important to me. I now average about 14-15 and just enjoy the ride vs watching the speed on my bike trying to achieve a new pr. However, my average speed on my mtn bike is quite a bit lower then that DH has a cycle computer on his mtn bike so we can keep track of the milage to find turns on the trails. I myself do not want one on mine because I have other things I need to pay attention to on the trails.

Average speed really does not matter as long as you are out and enjoying yourself. Everyone is different and has diiferent strengths ( can go fast for short distances, slow but can go forever, great bike handling skills, etc) Additionally many people may have many reasons for why they can't or don't want to increase their speed or ride fast( back pain, leg length discrepency, want to enjoy the scenery, etc) I guess what I am trying to say is no matter what it is all good just to be out on the bike.

[Tri Girl]

if I'm going to be dropped (which I have been on every group ride I've ever attended- even "no drop rides") I might as well just ride alone in the first place. Getting dropped is demoralizing. Plus, it doesn't help my tri training to ride in groups, and I don't like most big group mentalities I've seen.
I'd rather be alone. Looking around, enjoying myself, going at my speed.

As long as we're having fun, that's all that matters!