how slow am I?

[Geonz]

I also find that statistic interesting - Frankly, an awful lot of *bicycles* don't go that fast for far without falling apart (since it's supposedly "anywhere.")
THinking about it... 18-20? That's butt-kicking fast for an average. Take a survey online of bicycle club ride rankings, and see where "18-20 mph" fits. Oh, those aren't "any" riders, "anywhere," either - they're bike club members, so forget all the putzers out on their three-speeds. Go on a big invitational ride... go 18 mph. Compare the passers and the passees.
I suppose that one statement puts everything in its perspective... must be riding in a different "anywhere" than I do. In that anywhere, 13 is slow. For the rest of the world - come on out and join us! It's a "level 2," here (though I confess, it's July... most of our Level 1's are there by now.)

[mimitabby]

Ride Classifications

All rides are listed according to guidelines that include pace, distance, terrain, etc. Note that helmets meeting CPSC, ANSI, or Snell standards, are required on all Cascade Rides.

All riders are expected to ride safely and be ready to ride at the start time.

Please choose from the following classifications for a ride that suits your skills and energy level.

Pace

Easy: Under 10 mph
Leisurely: 10-12 mph
Steady: 12-14 mph
Moderate: 14-16 mph
Brisk: 16-18 mph
Strenuous: 18-21 mph
Super Strenuous: 22+ mph

Note: for rides described as HILLY, consider choosing a pace one step down from your usual comfort level

[Pedal Wench]

Besides conditions, I really think the emphasis needs to be on ride length too. I'm sure I could hold an 18mph average over a time trial course - something like 10 miles. No way could I hold that on a century. When people post their averages without their total mileage, the number is useless.

Hey - I did an 87 mile ride last week with an 18 mph average. Unfortunately, it was mostly downhill! I don't consider that a true average!

[Lenusik]

Does 50 miles with average of 18.4 with 2 hills 8 and 9 miles respectfully and about 5-6 shorter (about hafl and mile to 1 mile) count?
I must admit, I am not as consistant as it sounds. If I don't get enough sleep or the food was not right the day before, or I have head wind, or my saddle hurt like hell, I may not be able to fo faster than 17 mph. But if everything is fine I can hold over 20. If you have some sort of disbelieve, please, you are more than welcome to come and ride with me and my friends. We will host you, provide you good food, find a good bike for you, and even take you on those hills which you think are "flat". Maybe you will find that riding with a good group is not all that bad and people are quite nice.

[Trek420]

OMG, where have i been?

Lenusik writes "I must admit, I am not as consistant (sic) as it sounds."

well yes, you seem consistent enough in ways.

"If I don't get enough sleep or the food was not right the day before"

food was not right? When is food not right?

"or I have head wind"

I hate it when I have wind in my head

"If you have some sort of disbelieve"

Well, I do have "some sort of disbelieve".

I can't believe I'm responding to this when I could have head wind.

"please, you are more than welcome to come and ride with me and my friends. We will host you, provide you good food, find a good bike for you"

Oh my, you saying I don't have a good bike? Darlin' you have no clue how good a bike I have do ya? Or anyone else heres bike? Keep your bike, dear, thanks very much, ya got nothin' on mine.

"and even take you on those hills which you think are "flat". Maybe you will find that riding with a good group is not all that bad and people are quite nice."

I've found a good group darlin'.

I'm a member of the best bike club IRL the velogirls

And the best dang club in cyberspace TE.

Come ride with us, if you're woman enough that is.

Whether I'm leading the fast group (rare) trying to hang with the fast group (pant pant), trying to even keep the fast group in sight hanging back (because darlin' the fun is in the back of the pack) or sweeping in the last riders...it's all good, it's all cycling.

[tprevost]

Okay, now I am REALLY in NEED of one of those smilies that are rolling around laughing!!!!

Trek420 you are the BEST!!! Of course, maybe not, since I think I just peed my pants!!!!

Thanks for that - I've not had that good of a belly laugh in a long time!!!

Tracy

[HipGnosis6]

I don't care who thinks my 11.5 MPH average is slow. I'm still happy with it (proud of it, even), because it's better than my average walking speed - 2.8 MPH!

I don't care when chicks like Lenusik blow by me - I'm glad to let 'em. I don't care when guys in team kits give me snotty looks on the bike trail - I smile at them anyways and sometimes feel a little sorry for them because I'm having a nice time and can smile and ride at the same time. I don't care if climbing that last little hump of hill is done on foot or on the sidewalk at 1 MPH - and if you have a problem with that, then it's your problem and not mine. I feel joy and pride in being out on my bike and refuse to let the opinions of others affect this.

I'd like to improve my average speed, sure - it means that I'm growing as a cyclist and getting fitter. But that only matters to ME in the long run; there's no sponsors, no bettors with money riding on my performance. I use my average only to mark my own progress and growth. I also use my distance and TITS for the same purpose - judging myself, and not others.

And, for the record, I prefer beer to liquor and wine. BeerFest this year was a scream - my friend and I got to taste a huge variety of brews. My dream vacation would be a cycling tour in Germany that would allow us to go to Oktoberfest!

[CR400]

Ok, Ok, I just have to reply now. Most of this thread has been quit entertaining, I was thinking there was a flame war coming for sure.

Anyway back to my point 13.5 or 13.9, whatever the first poster said is a fine speed, if you feel that you like it. My very first ride on my road bike two years ago was a whole 11.98 mph. Yes, I remember it exactly becuase I knew I was slow, and knew I was pathetic. Ok so I weighed 240lbs. But the ride was mostly flat with a slight false flat. I got to the end of the false flat and thought I would die. Fast forward almost two years later and 17-18mph is an avearge ride for me. Oh and I got down to 185, I know that is what helped the most. And for me personally I'll never be fast enough for what I want to be. But do I impose that on others NO, I really don't care what you average or how far you go as long as you are moving. I really and truely like to go fast because it makes me feel free, and and adds a little bit of danger and out of control. Kind of like riding a roller coaster. To me it is so liberating to know that I am going say 25mph under my own power and not some motor powered machine.

But what does gall me in all of this is how you attacked Lenusik and then RoadRaven. They were stating there opinions on the topic. Ok, so most of you feel that Lenusik came off as arrogent and rude, and hurt your feelings, so ignore the comments then don't encourage it by replying to it. Even I did a double take and said yeah right when I read that post, only two women I know that can do those speeds all the rest would be men. And by the way both those ladies lapped me three times in a crit.

You know what annoyes me even more and I think at least one of you has been in on it. Those threads that end up "I'm so thin and scrawny that size 0 and 2 don't fit me." You know some of us can litterally never be that small, I weighed 150 pounds in high school right on for my height and build and was a blasted 16. Got down to one point recently to only 5 pounds above weight where I could go into the military, and had to lay down on the bed to button a size 10. Which if one considers the change in sizing it would have been like an old 14. As far as cycling clothes you'd have to cut off my breasts to even fit into the biggest of the regular size womens jerseys in most lines.

Oh wait I have another one lets put each other down based on miles we ride. I know I'll be toward the bottem on that list. Just because you can ride 300k which is less then a double century doesn't make you all that just like an average of 26mph doesn't. Are both admirable, very much so, would I like to be able and go out right now and do both, you bet. But I'll bet that double century comes long before that 26. Ok the rant is over.

I don't care what speed you ride or how far you go, just ride your bike.