how slow am I?

[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.

[jeannierides]

wow

[Eden]

RAAM Winners 2006
distance 3,042 miles
terrain - varied, flat and windy to very mountainous
temp- death valley to cold of night

men's winner: Daniel Wyss, avg speed 13.36 mph
women's winner: Shanna Armstrong, avg speed 10.63 mph

[eclectic]

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.[/QUOTE]

I LIKE this. It can give us cause to celebrate our acheivements

Years riding seriously: 1
Miles per Year: 800 -1200 (season's not over yet) excluding winter trainer
Terrain: rolling with at least 1 good climb
Wind: High except for 1 day a year
Heat: cool, cold, warm, hot (had 4 layers on one day)
Avg Speed: ~13.5 - 14.5 oh 14 MPH !

AND NOW EVERYONE I STARTED THIS THREAD AND I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO SHAKE HANDS AND MAKE PEACE!

[FreshNewbie]

I will agree with CR400 about comments that were thrown back and forward between some of the gals on this thread. I believe most of women who post here are grown up, intelligent and friendly people, which leads to believe that one can handle a situation much better than it was. I don't think that some of the remarks that were posted were any better than an ignorant ( to some) posts by Lenusik or RoadRaven. Anyway, conversation about drinks way better than this blahhhhh conversation

[li10up]

Oh, one more thing...when it comes to weather it varies so much...just pick whatever your recent rides have been. Base all your info on your last few "normal" rides.