How am I supposed to go as fast as my friends?

[Crankin]

Kajero, I am also short, and that doesn't necessarily mean you cannot get faster, if that's your goal. But, it sounds like you just want to find a compatable group to ride with. My club has rides at your speed, so others must, too. I'd advise looking at outdoor groups or meet ups, rather than a bike club. I am probably similar to AZ in speed, which means with typical bike groups, you are in the middle.
I hear frustration in your voice. Maybe you should focus on your skills, and that would improve your speed. If you are causing accidents, that's a skill issue. Perhaps not only bike skill lessons, but also core, balance, and strength training.

[emily_in_nc]

People of all shapes and sizes can get fast with proper training and consistency. A lot of the bike club folks ride all the time and work on speed with intervals and pacelines. Riding the same speed all the time doesn't tend to make one fast, but intervals help. I personally hate intervals, and as a result, I never get much faster, just a little over time, when I am doing a lot of riding.

Back when I was at my peak of riding and did many club rides (2003-2004, before I had a serious cycling accident in spring of '05), I gradually worked my way up to riding with some of the faster (B-paced) ricers -- but not the fastest club riders, which was fine with me. I was riding consistently and usually with people who were a bit faster than me, so just trying to keep up with them helped my speed over time, as did lots of training miles and quite a few hills where we lived.

Now, I only ride with DH or alone, and I am a lot slower than I was back in my peak, though I can still put in as many miles. But my typical average speed of 13-14 mph (sometimes a little slower or faster depending on which bike I am on, the terrain, number of stops, etc.) puts me in that "middle" area where the fast riders (like my DH) easily leave me eating their dust, but I am constantly passing people on cruiser bikes, mountain bikes (on pavement), families, etc. on my bike path rides -- the more casual, infrequent cyclist types or those riding very heavy non-road bikes, in other words.

I don't know why it is so hard to find people riding in the "middle" speeds, but it does seem to be.

[north woods gal]

Kathy, I am so sorry to hear about your SO. Always tough to lose a loved one.

As for 10-11 mph for average speed, that is absolutely no problem with me. All of my riding, save for a bit around the neighborhood with my husband who is limited in distance work due to disabilities, is by myself. Having company would be a treat. Just a matter of choosing a bike as to average speed I get. Had my Puglsey fat bike out, yesterday, on pavement and had to really push really hard just to get 11 mph for an average speed. A speedster, it is not. Just a fun, happy go lucky, go anywhere cruiser. You'd have no problem keeping up.

[kajero]

I was concerned I would go to slow for you! How about if we find a what looks like a promising week/weekend this spring/summer and make plans!

[ny biker]

I also am between groups, too fast or too slow. Getting faster takes work -- pushing yourself to ride faster until you build up the strength to maintain it. I usually find it less than fun.

[north woods gal]

I was concerned I would go to slow for you! How about if we find a what looks like a promising week/weekend this spring/summer and make plans!

For sure.