how slow am I?

[eclectic]

Sorry girls, but 13-15 mph sounds really slow to me. I was riding faster on the first days of my ride. And I am not a racer by any means. And sometimes a have bad days. But if you don't push yourself, you will not get faster. If I cannot average (including hills) 18-20 mph - I know I am having a bad day. My normal spead to hold is 20 - 23 mph. I can hold 25 - 27 for a couple of miles when I push. My fasters spring on flats so far is 34 mph. Speed during climbs depends on the hill grade: from 8mph all the way to 17mph.

But the quote is right: there is always someone faster or slower. Do whatever feels right.

Interesting post.
But not very encouraging, more guilt inducing even with the addendum at the end

BUT I have been processing, trying to put things back into perspective and thinking of the variables.

A. Age
B. Any health concerns other than weight or physical fitness
C. Type of bike
D. Physical conditioning level going into the first ride
E. Topography - hills are not all equal (grade and length)
F. Weather conditions (7mph wind vs 15 or 20 mph wind)

I did a search on our local forum to see what the Tuesday night hammerheads were averaging. Their May 30 ride was an average speed of 18.5 over 31.27 miles. They ride in a very close pace line.
Their June 21st ride was about 14 mph for the first 15 miles and 30 mph for the last 15, (They turned around - 25 mph wind that day)

Now I can’t belive these guys are all weenies, but according to Lenusik she could smoke them.

One of our better riders completed Ride the Rockies in CO a couple of weeks ago. As we were all WOWing and asking him about the climbs and types of riders on the tour he said there were all types of bikes and levels of riders, some rode all the climbs and some had to walk. The most interesting statement he made was “ We ride against the North Dakota wind, that is great training for mountain climbs”

A statement made by many cross country cyclists ( We are one of the main stops on the adventure cycling northern route) “I’ll take the Rockies any time over a prairie head wind - you know the climb is going to end and then it is downhill for awhile, wind never ends.

Another couple who went through last week said their toughest 20 miles to date was in North Dakota

Thanks for listening, things are back into perspective for awhile

And Lenusik this was not meant to sound harsh - I would love to know some of your techniques, training, equipment, whatever, that help you achieve those kind of speeds.

BTW One thing I would like to get going here is a once a week hammer ride for slower riders. I have talked to some of the guys about helping us out and teaching us the techniques. I believe it would help overall strength and conditioning. And I would WAY RATHER ride my bike outside even against the wind than do an indoor class of any type

AND I still believe -

[Lenusik]

Interesting post.
And Lenusik this was not meant to sound harsh - I would love to know some of your techniques, training, equipment, whatever, that help you achieve those kind of speeds.
BTW One thing I would like to get going here is a once a week hammer ride for slower riders. I have talked to some of the guys about helping us out and teaching us the techniques. I believe it would help overall strength and conditioning. And I would WAY RATHER ride my bike outside even against the wind than do an indoor class of any type
AND I still believe -

I do not conisder anything to be harsh as long as it is true. If you want to know my technique, there is really nothing special about it. I eat right and ride frequently. The main thing is to periodically change what you do. One day, do a shorter ride: 20-25 miles and do sprint intevals. Another day do a long ride and maintain constant speed. As we learn here, this spead is different for everybody. Then devote your day to hill climbing. I strongly believe that it is better to ride with someone else who is faster and can motivate your by dropping you on the way. That's why I ride with my husband and with a group. I can already keep up with them on flats, but not on the hills yet.

I wanted to send a link to you with the results from Tour de Phoenix in April 2006 for 26 miles including a good 4 mile climb. http://www.pbaa.com/!ETP/p26m-06.htm
This includes men and women, not professionals, but simple average riders. Those who beleive that they are a little better enter the 74 mile competition. Please check the average speed of the first 24 riders. This is a pretty standandard goal that an average rider may want to consider. This is not my opinion, just the stats. But again, what you do is your own personal choice and we all have our own motivations.
I beleive that I am the only person who can discourage myself or put myself down. I've done that and I prefer to think differently. If I offended anyone, my appologies.

[caligurl]

I do not conisder anything to be harsh as long as it is true.

geez.... you have a LOT to learn about communcating! the truth CAN be harsh... there are nicer ways to put things... like in your post.. if you had left out the first 3 or 4 sentences... i don't think anyone would jump on you..

so if you ask your husband "honey, does this make me look fat?" and he tells you "it makes you look like a freaking cow" and it's the truth... you don't think that's harsh... compared to say... perhaps... "well..... i like this other outfit better" or even "it's not the most flattering outfit you've worn"....

it's all in communicating skills...

out of curiosity... is english your second language? perhaps there where the problem lies? maybe they are more blunt in the ukraine??? *shrugs*

[Lenusik]

out of curiosity... is english your second language? perhaps there where the problem lies? maybe they are more blunt in the ukraine??? *shrugs*

Whatever you wish to think.
Have fun everybody and keep enjoying this wonderful sport.

[SadieKate]

I may use the ignore function for the very first time.

El Tour of Phoenix is a timed event, not the every day ride the average rider is using for stats.

These avg speeds do not include warm up, cool down, or the normal traffic and physical obtacles that slow most of us in our ordinary rides.

Drafting of other riders is not prohibited so we must assume there is drafting.

Terrain - Phoenix is FLAT. I travel there several times a year. It is the same type terrain I ride on. FLAT. You cannot assume the speeds in your area are typical for other areas.

24 miles is very short distance compared to some rides (say 100 miles, 200k or 200 miles).

Where in that list does it show the riders' weight, fitness, skills, health conditions, wind resistance, etc.?

13.5 mph is pretty much right smack in the middle of a list that is all ages and both genders. There is not true peer comparison in this list.

Lenusik, I realize you are trying to provide encouragement but your lack of perception about the variables is really detrimental.

[Lenusik]

ITerrain - Phoenix is FLAT. I travel there several times a year. It is the same type terrain I ride on. FLAT. You cannot assume the speeds in your area are typical for other areas.
.

http://www.hlhap.com/azroadclimbs.html

[DrBee]

Well said SK - on all accounts!

[Geonz]

There are people in bike clubs who sincerely and earnestly have Lenusik's attitude (also in academia) They "don't have any special talents" - (but they're straight A students, etc...) so if other people would just TRY HARDER they could all be better, and what's with all the excuses??? They just need to push themselves~ we can only know what's been in our universe.

It is a good thing to see this discussion and see that this is how their minds work... and if it's foreign and doesn't make sense... then when somebody talks like that at a ride, you know that person is coming from such a different perspective than yours and to put "discouragement shields" up. Or... get angry and use that for motivation.

Hard to tell when we need encouragement and when we need that kick in the rear - but it's the KITA at the wrong time that does more harm than the other way around.

[FreshNewbie]

I personally don't see how this sort of reply : "out of curiosity... is english your second language? perhaps there where the problem lies? maybe they are more blunt in the ukraine??? *shrugs* " is better than anything that Linusik posted in her replies. I am not going to take anyone's side on this post because I think it's pointless to argue about this without having all the variables we mentioned before. But personally I don't think that the above comment was any better? - attack is the best deffense? and do we need to defend? Why make this post into something it was not meant to be...

[caligurl]

i didn't mean to attack her... ... i was just trying to justify her bluntness... saying that perhaps what she really meant to say wasn't translating well? that perhaps there is a language barrier? thus the bluntness... harshness....

[Lenusik]

i didn't mean to attack her... ... i was just trying to justify her bluntness... saying that perhaps what she really meant to say wasn't translating well? that perhaps there is a language barrier? thus the bluntness... harshness....

I was a straight "A" student.

[FreshNewbie]

Well, now we see that not everything that we post is interpreted the way we want to, no matter what your first language is.

[Lenusik]

I personally don't see how this sort of reply : "out of curiosity... is english your second language? perhaps there where the problem lies? maybe they are more blunt in the ukraine??? *shrugs* " is better than anything that Linusik posted in her replies.

Thank you. It is hard for people to agree with the reality. People don't think that I take any conditions into consideration. All I give is averages for anyone in any situation. But different things work for different people. As I said, there was no plan to offend any one. Thanks.

[SadieKate]

Yep, flat like Davis. Flat, flat, flat, oh gosh, more flat, thank goodness a hill to break up the monotony, darn, back to the flat. The girls in the California Bay Area, the Sierra Nevada, the Cascades and the Rockies are all scratching their heads. Let's talk 5-20 mile long climbs and then a repeat.

And, those speeds were still from a very short race.

I am so tired of these constant comparisons of speed when we don't know the variables for each person. It's like asking "are my eyes bluer than yours" without having a picture or a judge that has seen both pairs of eyes. It's ridiculous. If you want to know how fast you are, ride with someone you consider a peer on a familiar route. Sorry to everyone. I'm getting a bit wound up over this one. I don't want anyone to be discouraged through lack of understanding about comparisons of average speeds.

[KnottedYet]

Woo-hooo! My average is the slowest! 10.9 mph!!!

(do I get a prize?)

I can't wait to do my first triathlon next month: in my miniskirt with my bike seat with springs under the butt and upright bars with a dingy-bell and fenders and a big ol' grin on my face!

Have fun, everyone, cuz we'll all be dead someday!

But (say it with me now) we're NOT DEAD YET!!!!

-KnottedYet