how slow am I?

[Lenusik]

You are still really missing the point here. The only thing you can tell from watching your average speed over your familiar route is whether or not you personally are improving. As far as how competitive you would be against others it doesn't mean diddly. You still seem rather intent on putting down those gals here who ride much longer distances at slower speeds than you can achieve over 10 miles. Your devotion to this is almost comical. You might be quite surprised to find that many of these women that you are putting down for riding slowly are twice as strong as you when put on a short flat course. They have the base miles and are strong - they just do different types of rides than you do.

Where are you getting that I am counting my achievent over 10 miles. I said that I have a 10 miles strech of the road that does not have intesections. This helps to maintain rythm and speed. it does not mean that all I do is 10 miles rides. My week day rides are between 25-30 miles. And my weekends rides are about 50-60, or insted I may just do hill repeats. Sometimes with a group or with my husband, or just alone.
Another point. I am not trying or even thinking about putting anybody down. The only person who can do that is yourself. I don't mean You, but it is what people chose to do to themselves. What I am saying is there are way to improve if you want, it is all possible. I want to improve, and I am the only person who can choose to do that or not. So, please, understand that if you are in your comfort zone, then why even worrying about what I say. Do, whatever you wish to do. I am not putting anybody down by sharing that I tend to ride a bit faster and that there are other riders who ride way faster than I do. I hope that Tour de France cyclist do not put anybody down by having an average speed of 35 mph after a 100 mile ride.

[mimitabby]

Lenusik
your statements about how fast YOU ride are not the problem. It's the ignorant comments about what constitutes a "normal" bike ride or "normal" bike speed that I find galling.
You apparently do not understand what average means.

[Lenusik]

Lenusik
your statements about how fast YOU ride are not the problem. It's the ignorant comments about what constitutes a "normal" bike ride or "normal" bike speed that I find galling.
You apparently do not understand what average means.

I understand it very well. I think that this discussion should be over because verybody will keep thier own opinion.
I am glad though that everybody here likes cycling.

[caligurl]

Lenusik
your statements about how fast YOU ride are not the problem. It's the ignorant comments about what constitutes a "normal" bike ride or "normal" bike speed that I find galling.
You apparently do not understand what average means.

to coin a "phrase" from bikeforums: +1

and the "attitude" that comes across in the posts...

[FreshNewbie]

Common, we are all in the same sport, getting out and doing it for ourselves! Why do we need to argue about something so not important. Who cares who is faster, rides longer, has more endurance, etc? The most important thing is that you get out and ride, no matter how long, fast, uphill , downhill, mountain, road, cross, hybrid, tricycle, unicycle...... If you want to improve- then just doing, otherwise sitting on the board and compare youself to others is POINTLESS. Remember, the time you spent here on this thread could be used outside doing riding!

[Lenusik]

Remember, the time you spent here on this thread could be used outside doing riding!

Well said, I wish I didn't have to be at work now.

[caligurl]

Remember, the time you spent here on this thread could be used outside doing riding!

lol... actually... no... not in my case... i'm stuck at work... what better way to spend time than on cycling (or fitness) forums!!!!!

i NEVER give up my ride time for forum time!

[Lenusik]

and the "attitude" that comes across in the posts...

I am pretty sure that online discussion forums are not the best place to judge anyone's attitude.
Again, I am glad that all of us made cycling a part of our lives.

[Eden]

Lenusik
your statements about how fast YOU ride are not the problem. It's the ignorant comments about what constitutes a "normal" bike ride or "normal" bike speed that I find galling.
You apparently do not understand what average means.

Well put Mimitabby, yes Lenusik - its not that you've shared your speed - its your attitude that anyone who is not doing your speed is somehow below par and not trying hard enough. I'll say it again - your average speed means little to nothing in comparison to others, unless you are riding the same course under the same conditions.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I hope that Tour de France cyclist do not put anybody down by having an average speed of 35 mph after a 100 mile ride.

You seem to be pulling these numbers out of thin air. Just out of curiosity, I checked the Tour de France web site to look at the average speed of the winner on each of the stages so far this year.

The prologue was the fastest stage (from a speed kph/mph standpoint), but it was also very short at 7.1 km (4.6 miles). The speed? 51.4 kph or 31.9 mph.

Of the other stages completed so far, stage 2 was the slowest with a speed of 40.775 kph / 25.33 mph over 228.5 km / 142 miles, and stage 6 was the fastest at 45.308 kph / 28.153 mph over 225 km / 139.8 miles. Let's see, fast professional racers riding in a pack and drafting off each other. Yes, they are moving very fast - and while there are some hills, these are the sprint stages, no mountains here. Most of us couldn't come close to their speed given the same conditions.

Your statement that the TDF riders are averaging 35 mph makes me really question your numbers - especially given that they didn't come close to this speed even during the short prologue.

--- Denise

[Lenusik]

Your statement that the TDF riders are averaging 35 mph makes me really question your numbers - especially given that they didn't come close to this speed even during the short prologue.
--- Denise

Oh, sorry for using the word "average" refering to the riders of the Tour. They certainly produce that speed at a certain point of the stage. But you just prooved with your numbers that they ride faster than any one of us after several days of very long miles. So, does this put anybody down?
Sorry, I am done here. i was tryign to do this a little while ago. My apologies for disterbing peace.

[li10up]

Oh, sorry for using the word "average" refering to the riders of the Tour. They certainly produce that speed at a certain point of the stage. But you just prooved with your numbers that they ride faster than any one of us after several days of very long miles. So, does this put anybody down?
Sorry, I am done here. i was tryign to do this a little while ago. My apologies for disterbing peace.

Lenusik, I think you missed her point. The point being if the top cyclist in the world "only" go 40 kmp/25 mph while drafting off of one another on a flat stage in the TDF then it is reasonable to assume that the women here on TE are riding pretty doggon fast if their "average" speed is 15 mph - because they are factoring in traffic, hills, etc. - shoot, even less then 15 mph is pretty good for us recreational riders. If you can average 20+ mph (by definition avg. means factoring in the climbs too) then I would recommend you go pro...you're not far from being able to compete with the very best.

Even though this thread has ruffled some feathers I'm glad it was started. All new riders wonder how we are doing. It's only natural to question if your speed is considered "okay". I think we all know there are a lot of variables but I think most new folks probably search out about the same terrain...not too many hills! And I'm finding out that to go from 14.7 mph to 15 mph is hard!! So, I'm guessing that if you bear in mind that your ride isn't the same as my ride we can still use each other's averages to give us an idea of how we are doing. To me it obvious not to compare myself to someone who is riding 5,000 miles a year...they are obviously much fitter than I. So I try to "compare" myself to those who do about 1000 miles a year and have been riding for for only a year or two.

So here is my recommendation, let's see if we can post something that others can compare to:

Years riding: 2
Miles per Year: 700/1,000
Terrain: Rolling (options: flat, rolling, hilly, city)
Wind: Moderate (options: none, slight, moderate, windy)
Heat: Hot (options: cold, cool, warm, hot)
Avg Speed: 14.7 mph / 23.66 kph (this is what your computer says, or what your speed averaged over the entire ride, not just what you did on the flats sections)

Maybe this will help those of us interested in how we are doing to "compare" ourselves with people doing at least somewhat the same ride. I know there are more factors than the above, such as age, weight but I'm trying to keep it short.

[mimitabby]

Years riding seriously: 1
Miles per Year: 700/1,000
Terrain: hilly, city
Wind: Slight-Moderate
Heat: cool
Avg Speed: ~12.2 mph

[caligurl]

Years riding seriously: 2 years & 9 days!
Miles per Year: 7277 (that's 1/2 of my 2 year grand total.... so a good average)
Terrain: rolly, hilly, town with some stop lights/signs or open desert usually...
Wind: moderate to stong
Heat: desert (upwards of 110-120 in the summer... and yes... i ride in the afternoon after work in the summertime!)
Avg Speed: ~13.74 (my average using all rides for the 2 years according to bikejournal) (13.66 for just this year alone)

i'll add one more:

elevation gain: 201,316 for this year (jan 1 to jul 4th rides) 343,945 for last year

[CR400]

Years riding 2, serious around 5 months, started in March.

Miles per year: Bike has 3,525 miles total on it, 1,326 so far this season. I live in the north so riding in the winter takes a really dedicated cyclist to get miles in outside.

Terrain: it really depends on my route that day mostly rolling to flat with a few good hills thown in. A few rides this year have been on steep route though.

Wind: really does change daily try not to ride in winds over 20mph.

Heat: Moderate, it can range anywhere between 95 to 30 during the spring to October riding season. Did a race this year at start time it was 28 degrees.

Average: between 17-18.5 mph, my bike journal ave is 16.77. this includes my much slower rides in freezing January to early March.