Fifty Plus (50+) - Average speed?

Alrighty, I need to know if I am just really slow or a lot of you are really fast.

When you post your average speed, how do you figure it?

Basically, I just turn on the timer function on the computer and turn it off when I'm going to stop for a while. It runs on during traffic lights and that sort of stuff, it runs unless I'm getting off the bike. I can sit at some of the lights and watch my average go down. My computer has an atuo function which I've never used, but theoretically it would turn off the timer at traffic lights and such. Should I turn on the auto function? I know it would make a difference. I would like to know how you all do it so I can be comparing apples to apples.

My normal average now is in the 13 to 14 mph range. I usually only go 12 to 15 miles on the weekdays and 20 to 25 on the weekends. I only ride 6 days a week.

Use the autopause, but the comparison will still not be very valid. Avg speed does not tell you anything about elevation or wind or even distance so it is not really a good way to judge yourself against others unless you ride the same course in the same conditions.

Mangoes and avocados…. The only time I ever even concern myself with average speed is when I ride lets say from Havasu to Parker Dam. Once I get out of town it is all highway, no lights, no stops. One way is mostly down hill (out) and the other way is mostly up hill (back) so I occasionally look at average speed. At this point in my life I am afraid to report that it is 17 mph average for that trip.

Not recommending this, but just adding to the conversation:

Last year, I really focussed on improving my speed, and I was pretty successful--until my back exploded in pain toward the end of the season. I was in recovery for several months. In fact, I'm thinking of this entire spring and summer as a "recovery season." I've decided to completely forget about speed. I just ride adding miles as I feel stronger.

I must say I've come to love this more easy-go approach to cycling. I still plan on taking a cycling vacation or two and maybe riding a century or two. But I'm just not gonna care about speed.

As I say, I'm not recommending this to others. Just putting it out there as part of the dialogue.

As Stone has suggested, use the auto stop mode. It stops the timer when the wheels are stopped so you get a more accurate reading on average speed. However, don't ever fret over the number at all-there's just way to many variables to put a lot of emphasis on the number. The only time I ever really look at avg speed is under a very controlled environment or event. For example, I do time trials and avg speed is pretty important for that but I only look at it after I've finished riding.

Blackberry has an interesting concept. This past Sunday I did a 100 mile century in the rain. My trusty cyclocomputer got too damp and decided to stop working 20 miles from the start. It was aggravatiing while I was riding as I always use the odometer to gauge upcoming key turns, or when some tough climbs are coming up, the length of a climb or the next rest stop, etc.

It helped that I had done the route before so Sunday all I could do was just ride and watch my cadence. Interestingly the ride seemed to go a little faster and I had a terrific time. If I had not known the course and if there had been more turns it might have been different but I might just try not using the numbers so much on a ride or two in the future and see how it goes.

On second thought, I've been doing it so long I might have to enroll in the 12 step program to wean myself from looking at the data during the ride........

There are three ways of stating speed that seem to pop up all the time.
1. Cruising speed - the least accurate of the bunch - it's a 'feeling' for a representative speed you do on a proverbially flat, no-wind section of road.
2. Average speed - If you have an auto-start/stop computer, this is what the display reads. It's miles divided by time in the saddle. This is the most commonly-stated number.
3. Elapsed time - average speed, counting time spent at rest stops. Mostly used for those in training for races, particularly brevets.

I agree that average speed is great for measuring against yourself or your riding buddies, but poor for comparing to somebody in another part of the country. Local conditions can make such a huge difference in speed, they can render an average speed number almost (but not quite) meaningless.

Since '86 I've ridden perhaps 90,000 miles. I tried racing for about three or four years in that time and got pretty strong (for me) but never could match the REAL(tm) racers. Nevertheless I was faster than the vast majority of riders in the road.

In town I generally average about 12-13 mph because of stop signs and lights. On open road I generally average 15-17 mph with 16 a good guess most of the time as long as there aren't any really hard hills in the mix. My fastest averages were 17.2 mph with some good climbs on it but a tailwind for 50 miles and 17.5 mph for a metric century that was pretty flat but had some climbing. I did criteriums where we averaged 28 mph for a 40 minute race.

Averaging 15 mph is a good ride and on tours I try to average around 14 mph or perhaps a little slower. Fully loaded simply doesn't allow you to ride very fast so you have to ride very steadily to get a good average.

All these times are rolling speeds only. As BlazingPedals points out there is the elapsed time method but cyclists generally don't want to know that because it's almost always pretty low. If you use elapsed time for a metric or a century you'll probably calculate half the average speed shown on your bike computer.

Despite many of us no longer bothering about the computer- because we realise the differring routes- differring weather conditions and differring fitness on the day conditions.--- I still think that Milage- top speed- distance travelled and average speed are important. I can give you my averages for the ride tonight and they are nothing to what you have done- Perfect weather conditions- but a hilly route on the road but with knobbly tyres and on the Tandem.

The only averages- or distance or top speed that matters are yours. But I can tell you now that so far- you are doing well. Our ride tonight- 21.94 miles-Max of 25.4 mph. average of 12.7.---- But I forgot to change the computer for the different tyre size- and we were on a consistant cadence run to get ready for a ride in 2 weeks. And the point is we only put in effort up the hills. Thats my excuses over with - but every ride will be different. Month ago we did a 40 mile ride in 2 hrs 30 minutes and that was over a flat road but with lots of short sharp rises and lots of tight corners. Then in the winter we did a ride on a windy day- only 30 miles- 3 hills at 15% for a mile each - Average was good for that offroad ride at 10.1 mph.
See what I mean-- The only average you can go by are your own but to me- it sounds that you are doing well.

...My normal average now is in the 13 to 14 mph range...

Hi Makeitso!

I'm about 13 mph also, but that average includes some off-road, some "craters-of-the-moon" bike paths (where to go faster is to ensure wheel damage), and some streets with heavy traffic and/or pedestrians.

I haven't used my computer on a long, unobstructed ride yet, but the last time I measured (map mileage & time via watch), I averaged 17 mph. That speed included the time used for water stops & rest-the-bottom stops.

All these times are rolling speeds only. As BlazingPedals points out there is the elapsed time method but cyclists generally don't want to know that because it's almost always pretty low. If you use elapsed time for a metric or a century you'll probably calculate half the average speed shown on your bike computer.

On a personal note, my computers, like most, gives me rolling average. However, whenever one asks me how I did on a century, I give total elapsed time from start to finish. If you took a nap halfway, it was included in your total time. No one seemed to question how you arrived at your number; they just assumed that if you said your century took 6.5 hours, then you started at 7:30 AM and got done at 2:00 PM. No fuzzy math, there. :)

Dennis

I always use the stopwatch function and the mileage and ignore the cyclocomputer's average speed. Time doesn't stand still when you are waiting for traffic to clear, so why should your "clock" stop ticking?

Average speed doesn't mean much out of context. My average speeds are all over the map. If it is nearly flat with almost no wind, smooth pavement, and my ride plan is to go hard solo, then it is pretty high for a recreational/fitness rider. Of course those rides trash me for a day or two. If I go out for a recovery ride it's 3 to 4 mph slower. My "normal" rides are in between the two extremes. I have some routes that are pretty flat and sheltered from the wind (lots of trees) with smooth pavement. These give me very high average speeds. Others are hillier with rough pavement and exposed to the full force of the wind. These are very different rides and very different average speeds. One of the slowest average speed rides I've done recently was one where I did 15 miles of low intensity spinning followed by two different interval sets of ten (30 seconds on/30 seconds rest followed by 1 minute on/2minutes rest) with a slow "cool down" ride home. I hurt for two days after that and it was the slowest average speed ride I've done in the last year. It was also the toughest ride I've done over the last year.

The moral of this story is that you shouldn't worry about average speed. You should be more concerned about whether or not you got what you wanted out of your ride. People ride for all kinds of reasons and you shouldn't feel pressured to meet someone else's expectations.

I use mph once or twice a year as a guage of overall fitness. I have a set course that I do when the weather conditions are similar to the last time I rode it. I always ride it faster in the fall than in the spring; a consequence of living in Wyoming. Flat 40 mile course, no stops and only one turn. ONE time I did it in just under two hours, but I thnk I had a slight tail wind coming home. I normally ride in the 17-19 mph range (but again I am blessed with riding in areas were you essentially don't have to slow down for anything). Even slowing down for a bunch of turns will really reduce your average mph.

If you really want to enjoy a ride, forget your computer on the kitchen table.

It's amazing, but my average speed is just about right everytime I ride.

4 mph

My average speed is always about average. Still, it's faster than my average in the old days, riding that couch and flicking the remote.

You know, it's not that I really care that much. I am considering going on some group charity rides and don't want to get left in the dust. I just ride the way I ride. Just want to know the way most folks determine this so I have an idea where I stand.

I do some rides trying to go as fast as I can but also just to enjoy. If I wasn't enjoying the ride I wouldn't do it. I use the computer mostly to know how far I go as a gauge to the group ride distance. So far I'm not there. I could go on the short ones, but not the long ones I want to go on.

Average speed?

Years ago, I used to commute. The route was 11 miles, one way. As I recall, my lowest average speed (computer avg with auto stop) was something like 7 mph into a hellacious headwind and my highest average speed was 27 mph with a huge tailwind. Usually I cruised around 20 mph. Even on the exact same course, conditions can affect the average markedly.

Now I am older and a bit slower. Solo, I generally average 17 and up to 18. Oddly enough, most groups I ride with tend to cruise a bit faster than I do solo but don't average any faster largely because they slow way down at times. Since I live in Central Florida, most of my riding, unless I get over to Clermont, is on pretty flat terrain. My fastest recent average speed was 22 mph for a 50 mile ride in which I rode with another guy and I pulled. I had a considerable wind assist though.

Pat

Pat

I just don't consider myself an "average" kind of guy, therefore, I only have "excellent" speeds, not "average," as I like to think of myself as an "excellent" person.

My "excellent" speeds are just fast enough to get me there when I arrive, no sooner and no later.

My "excellent" speeds are just fast enough to get me there when I arrive, no sooner and no later.

You're starting to sound like Abraham Lincoln.

If you want to go faster (I sort of do, but not really enough to work as hard as I'd have to ), you just have to GO FASTER. There's a lot of information on line about it, but basically it says to train at higher speeds (intervals, not steadily).
I can ride all day at 13mph, but all that prepares me to do is ride all day at 13mph. I'm content with that--but I have friends who are nearly 10mph faster, and they work hard at it.
One thing that helped me a lot, though, was losing weight. I used to be pretty proud that I'd gained "only" about two or three pounds a year, until I realized I'd done it since the Reagan administration. A couple of years ago I dropped from 270 to 230 (I'm 6'4"), and I picked up 2-2.5mph on most of my normal rides. It made a big difference in climbing, of course. One source i read said that on a long climb, each extra pound costs you two seconds a mile. One pound, no big deal, but 40?

My average speed is about 165, BPM. I try to control by the heart rate and cadence, changing gears to hold them in the range I know I can handle, and let the MPH fall where it may.

If you really want to enjoy a ride, forget your computer on the kitchen table.

+1

The main reason I carry the computer is to know how far I go but it isn't like I'm obsessing over it, but then again I do look at it a lot. hmm. How would I brag to my wife about how far and fast I went?

If averages don't mean anything, why do riding groups post averages as their pacing? I'm doing well when I can get an average 17mph on a ride. Yet the local groups post speeds starting at 18mph and ranging much higher. So I figure there's not much point in joining one. I don't have to go on a group ride to get dropped :)

So far, if I'm in a low-traffic area, I find I need a cruising speed about 2+ MPH higher than the final average speed. If I'm in a downtown area, avg. might be 5-7 MPH lower than cruising speed (cruising speed is the speed at which I look down because, gee, I'm going so *fast*).
I'd be ecstatic to do an average 20 ... but my speed doesn't seem to be building that fast.

Notice that no one who drives worries about average speed :)

You know, it's not that I really care that much. I am considering going on some group charity rides and don't want to get left in the dust. I just ride the way I ride. Just want to know the way most folks determine this so I have an idea where I stand.

I rode my first metric century on a Sedona DX weighing over 300 pounds and averaging 12 MPH on a good day with a flat route... you will be fine. I averaged about 11 mph on that ride, started 1/2 hour later than I wanted to and took a wrong turn that added a few miles to my ride. There were still people that finished behind me.

Will you be able to stay in a paceline with the Lance wannabees in their full kits who ride 100 miles every week? Probably not, but there are a lot of other people you will have fun riding with.

Remember, in the big organized rides, there will almost always be some people who got on a bike for the first time about a month before the ride... you will not be left in the dust... in fact, I would urge you to take your time and enjoy the comeraderie of the event.

I rode my first metric century on a Sedona DX weighing over 300 pounds.
Dude, you need a new bike!:eek:

It always bothers me that people are so worried that they might not be able to keep up with someone they don't even know.

If you pass some guy riding on the street, as like as not he'll accelerate to try to keep up with you even if he was enjoying his ride and even if riding faster is really painful.

Now, don't get me wrong - I do the same stupid stuff. It isn't like I'm immune to the competitive urge.

But when I was starting I rode my own speed until I gained enough confidence to learn that I could keep up with some others while others could kick me in the chops every time.

Now that I'm older and (hopefully) wiser I tend to ride my own speed more than not. If I can't keep up with someone and stay "within myself" (meaning I suppose maintaining my own limitations) I ride slower and let them ride away.

And that's PRECISELY why group rides have regrouping. Generally on the flats every rides along together but when the speed clicks up or the hills hit the group invariably breaks up and everyone rides at their own comfort level. You then regroup when everyone can stay together again. Or on hills we usually regroup at the top or where ever there's a turn so that no one gets lost.

Clubs are SUPPOSED to be about mutual support. While these days they often seem more involved in mutual annihilation that isn't really their point.

I rode my first metric century on a Sedona DX weighing over 300 pounds

Where could I get one of those? I would let my neighbor ride it and race him. I might even win!

Alrighty, I need to know if I am just really slow or a lot of you are really fast.

When you post your average speed, how do you figure it?

I let the 'puter do the figuring with a bit of help. Linda and I have Polar cycling 'puters, and while they have the autostart feature we haven't been using it (not for any particular reason, we just haven't tried it). We figure the average over the length of the ride. So, whatever the 'puter says the average is, that's what we go with. We will edit out breaks manually or the results would be skewed on the slow side.

A "typical" ride for us will be in the 17+ mph range for 30+ mile rides. That varies depending on the mood. We have our hammer days and our ride in the park days when we just have a nice mellow ride. On club rides, Linda and I split up. I'll ride with the "fast" guys (at least try to) and average 20+ over 30 miles. Solo, that's about what I'll average also.

HTH,

Steve

Since I posted this I've been paying a little more attention to my speed. I usually putter around riding through the park and go down streets I've never been on before and check what's there, half the time it's a dead end and I have to turn around and go back. The area I'm in is a resort area, there are lots of places that are blocked off, large areas that are country clubs and gated communities or very limited access. I guess that's part of the reason my average is slow. I guess I should try going into an area where I can actually go unobstructed and see what I can do.

The main thing I do when I'm on the bike is have fun, If I didn't I wouldn't ride. Hope you all do the same!

You know, honestly, I prefer to focus on what gear I can stay in if the route is the same. I know that my cadence stays pretty much the same, so if I move up ( or down! ) a gear - it is the key for me.

That being said, I just replaced my computer - I find them fun since I am a Digit Head (much different than a Ditto Head by the way) and love data. Therefore, seeing it numbers is good.

One thing that was always interesting to me is how much different surfaces effected my speed. We used to live near great canal trails - pretty smooth, straight, pretty flat. I have a hardtail and I could cruise about 19 miles an hour on it (before people started waking up) - but, when I went on pavement next to it - I jumped up another mile, put slicks on, yet another.

I used to train for charity rides on the canal - then switch to slicks for the ride. It was having an electric motor behind me. :D

The other thing that I noticed was come spring my speed was normally 2 miles an hour lower - for a month or two. Not sure how much was the my poor conditioning - or the fact that the canal trails were not hard packed and dry yet.

I did mention I am a digit head?

However, what I had to do to preserve sanity is not care how well I did. However, an evil thing I used to do was race people on road bikes (obviously not in great shape) who were riding parallel to the canal trail on the road. They could stand that I could walk away from them, and I was riding a MTB and on a canal trail.

I rather doubt I would impress anyone right now - but that is going to change.

Aside from torturing people who only ride occassionally - don't sweat how fast you go. Put in the miles, and drop weight and you will find the speed creeping up. As was said, if you ride regularly - you have nothing to worry about in a charity ride. I knew one guy who drank a six pack the previous night (and was at least 50 lbs over weight) that road in one. We couldn't believe he finished. :eek:

When I read that the cadence for the average cyclist is 80 or 90, and I read that the average speed for this group or that is 18 mph, it confirms for me that I belong right where I am - riding alone at my own pace.

I have checked my cadence - usually around 40 to 50 is comfortable for me. My average speed over some 2000 miles in a year will be around 12 mph.

When I follow someone else that I meet on the road, or I observe other riders, it does not appear to me that either their speed or their cadence is that much faster than mine.

I don't know if these numbers are inflated or I am doing something wrong in figuring my speed/cadence.

I have a speedometer on my bike (cateye), but it doesn't measure cadence or pulse rate or anything like that. Just average speed, current speed, max speed, etc.

My max speed on any given ride can be as high as 50 mph - and of course, that is on a long downhill with me crouching low.

I have purposely set my bike up with a very wide gearing range - max CR 63T with a min 11T on the cassette - so I expect my cadence to be slower - but, I have other bikes to ride, and I don't ride any of them at a sustained rate that approaches 80 or 90 cadence.

I average 20 miles per day during the week, 150 miles over the two-day weekend - feel fine, can chug up the steepest hills at 7 mph or better - most any other at 10 mph or better. Have yet to fine a hill too steep or too lengthy that I cannot get up it in one try without stopping - so, what's the scoop on this speed/cadence thing?

Am I weird or what?

Caruso

If your pedals are turning, you are going forward and you have a smile on your face - you are not weird! Why worry what others do or think? Just keep riding.

I have checked my cadence - usually around 40 to 50 is comfortable for me. My average speed over some 2000 miles in a year will be around 12 mph.



+1 what Dnvr said.

When I'm pushing a cadence of 50 it really strains my legs and knees. Over time I'll have knee and hip joint problems from pushing that hard a gear-and I wouldn't be going all that fast. Your cadence could very well be that low but I'd really be surprised, particularly with the miles you're doing. My guess is it's probably in the 65-80 range.

If you're ever interested Cateye makes a very inexpensive odometer with cadence (I might be wrong but I think it's the Astrale)-just like the one you're using except it has the wired cadence feature. Sounds to me like you're very content and doing extremely well with the set up and style you're presently using though.

I have no idea what my cadence is. Is there some way to check it if you figure gear inches and speed? Would you have to get a computer with a cadence option?

One idea might be: next time you are out riding and you are passed by someone who "looks" like he know what he's doing, tell him you are trying to guess what your own cadence is. Most guys who have been around a while can estimate pretty close and I for one would be complimented that someone was asking me for guidance. And if he is snooty, heck with him and ask another. Waddya think?

...Waddya think?

Sounds LOTS cheaper than having a computer! I was given a "Specialized Elite" computer for Christmas & just now put it on the bike. I already don't like the wire that runs to the crank sensor - that part is getting taken off this weekend!

I also find that the computer enforces its own special tyranny - I find myself in internal dialogue ("There's no reason why I can't maintain 15 mph into this headwind!" "Since there's no wind here I should be able to kick it up to 20 mph!") Although this is a plus when trying to burn calories, the computer decreases my pure enjoyment of the ride (I'm focusing on the computer - not on the passing landscape).

I think I'll leave the computer on the bike until I've lost the extra 50# around my middle. When that happens, the computer goes! How's that for motivation? :D

Thanks for the encouraging posts.
It is not that I'm worried what others think. My natural curiosity, however, nags at me to understand how I can be reading that the average (that's AVERAGE) rider typically has a cadence of 80 to 90. When I try that it seems so fast that, if I kept it up, my legs would probably fall off. When I look around at what I consider to be average or better than average in-the-know type riders, they don't appear to be whizzing along faster than me, so I question whether 80-90 is really the average or, perhaps, I still don't understand what cadence really means. My take on it is that a cadence of 1 would be one revolution of the crank in one minute (now, that's slow, but, on a downhill, you could go pretty fast at 1, LOL).

So, in my mind, to average 80 would be to turn the left pedal 80 complete revolutions in one minute - is that right?

I just don't see folks spinning that fast out there.

At any rate, as someone correctly surmised, I'm quite happy with my riding. I generally ride alone or with one of my grown children. We love just getting out and going places - any place.

I've taken my bike to NYC - rode from the GW Bridge to the Brooklyn Bridge with a stop at the Fishtown market for some food and refreshment before heading back to the GWB. City riding or doing the seven bridges of Lancaster County (I think that one's around 50 miles) or the Lehigh Gorge (that's 55 round trip) on a cinder path - or the grueling hills of Bluemarsh (near Reading, PA). I don't care where I ride as long as I can ride.

Sorry if I got a little off topic. Great thread - I'm tryin' to learn something - please keep on teaching.

Caruso

A computer was the first toy I bought for the bike, after I had got the essentials. I've had various types over the years and thought the Cateye wireless ones were marvellous. They ain't. Kept getting no signal- Interference would stop it from working and I still want to know the route I took to the local shops that registered 60 miles. Have gone back to the wired type for reliability and just got a Cateye Astrale 8 with cadence. The computer side of it is the same as most of the others, but that cadence reading is becoming invaluable. I know that eventually I will stop looking at it, but Riding a Tandem- it has confirmed that me and my pilot are in sync. On the road we like to ride at 90 and gear changes come in at 85 and 95. Off road is a bit lower, and when you hit that lowest gear on the steepest hill- it is how low can you get- For us about 60 and below that we really struggle. It also acts as a reminder to the pilot when he forgets to change gear- as all I have to do is ask him what the cadence is, and we get into the right gear for the speed at our prefered cadence.

Computers are what I said- A toy. Have no real meaning as to how fast you can go, how high an average you can manage, or what your top speed will be. Reason is that every ride is different, whether it be the route, the conditions or how much effort you put into a ride. Only thing is- I am still proud of the fact that My highest speed off road is higher than my highest speed on the road. Mind you- that was one hill that went for just enough time before we had to brake before we registered 53.4 mph.- Then the top road speed was cut because we had to brake for a car that got in our way at 52.8. Sounds like bragging but the hill still has to be long enough and steep enough to be able to do it. And you have to leave the brain at the top of the hill and hope it catches up before you fall off.

I have no idea what my cadence is. Is there some way to check it if you figure gear inches and speed? Would you have to get a computer with a cadence option?

Use the timer display on your computer (or a wristwatch). Count the right pedal revolutions for 10 seconds and multiply by 6, or, easier: count for 15 seconds times 4.
For 15 seconds, I'm usually between 20 (80 rpm) and 23 (92 rpm).

Use the timer display on your computer (or a wristwatch). Count the right pedal revolutions for 10 seconds and multiply by 6, or, easier: count for 15 seconds times 4.
For 15 seconds, I'm usually between 20 (80 rpm) and 23 (92 rpm).


This is a great idea, I'm goin to try it the next time I go out. This will at least give me an idea of where I'm at. Thanks for the post.

I was at the fitness gym riding a recumbent exercycle and at first a cadence of 95 felt like I was flying. Slowly I got my cadence up to over 110. When I got used to that, 85 felt slow. I just had to keep trying to increase it to get faster. I'm doing that now on the trails and roads.
One thing though, I don't pay alot of attention to speed and cadence. I just want to enjoy the ride. If I were to figure my average speed over the course of a day including breaks and meals, it would be about 8 mph.

It is not that I'm worried what others think. My natural curiosity, however, nags at me to understand how I can be reading that the average (that's AVERAGE) rider typically has a cadence of 80 to 90. When I try that it seems so fast that, if I kept it up, my legs would probably fall off. When I look around at what I consider to be average or better than average in-the-know type riders, they don't appear to be whizzing along faster than me, so I question whether 80-90 is really the average or, perhaps, I still don't understand what cadence really means. My take on it is that a cadence of 1 would be one revolution of the crank in one minute (now, that's slow, but, on a downhill, you could go pretty fast at 1, LOL).

So, in my mind, to average 80 would be to turn the left pedal 80 complete revolutions in one minute - is that right?

I just don't see folks spinning that fast out there.
You are interpreting cadence correctly.

I'm 50 years old, and for more than a decade I got effectively no exercise at all. When I first started riding, about eight months ago, I typically spun at a cadence of 50-60 RPM. 14 mph was a good workout. At 80-90 rpm I would have felt like a gerbil in an exercise wheel. Insane.

But with time, things have changed. 90 RPM is just about right for me now... if I'm turning the pedals significantly slower than that it means that either (a) I need to change gears, or (b) I'm on a really steep hill. And 14 mph isn't a good workout anymore. I don't know if that's average, or what. Depends on who you're averaging, I guess.

It's funny how things change. But it's a very natural progression. When you ride, ride in the style that's right for you. If and when you're ready for a different style, your body and your bike will tell you so. You won't have to try to make it happen... it'll just happen. Until then, just keep the rubber side down and the pedals turning. :)

And have fun!!!

Raketmensch (ok, 'fess up, what's the significance in that handle?):
I hear you loud and clear - except that I've been riding all my life - and doing 2000+ mpy for four years now. Except that I came upon the cadence threads on this site, I would not even know the meaning of the term as it relates to bike riding.

If my body or my bike had anything to say to me, they should have been singing a loud duet long ago.

I doubt if my cadence ever breaks 60 - and I'm doing around 100-200 miles per week. Somethin' doesn't add up. I don't get it - but will not sweat it, either.

I'm getting good exercise, my weight is under control, and I feel good - good about my riding, good physically - no aches, pains, sore joints, shortness of breath or any of that.

Still stumped on this cadence thing, though - mainly from watching other riders, some of whom should be average, none of whom I observe to be spinning significantly faster than me.

Go figure.

Caruso

Use the timer display on your computer (or a wristwatch). Count the right pedal revolutions for 10 seconds and multiply by 6, or, easier: count for 15 seconds times 4.
For 15 seconds, I'm usually between 20 (80 rpm) and 23 (92 rpm).

OK, I tried this today. I was completely suprised to find my cadence near 100 consistently. I didn't go up any hills and there was no wind to speak of today but, the next time I do the hill route I'll be checking.

Avg speeds probably don't mean much individually and day to day, but over time they become more indicative of your level, or a group's general pacing, because the variables tend to merge together over time....providing you ride the same kinds of terrain, same distances, etc.

So, avg speeds are useful, but mostly when looked at globally-- or when you can equalize most of the variables such as wind, terrain, traffic, needs to stop, etc.

They also are a general label for the tempo of a ride for recreational/fitness riders......leisurely, brisk, fast, gasping. Around here, 18+_is considered "brisk", 15+ is moderate, and so on. But these speeds are referenced to flatland/rollers and winds less than 20mph. Some of you ride in far different local conditions.


**I don't use the automatic on/off because what about unexpected slow downs due to traffic, lights, etc.? Just have to stay awake to manually keep it accurate and not forget to turn it back on.

jack/makeitso:
So, at a cadence of 100, roughly, on flat terrain, how fast would you be riding - and is that a cadence that you can comfortably sustain for an entire ride (absent steep hills that might cause you to slow down even in your lowest gear combination)? Not that it will make any difference to my riding, but, I'm just curious.

I rode some tonight and made a point of checking to see what I needed to do to get my cadence up to 80 (20 revolutions in 15 seconds).

I can do it - and I'll probably experiment to see how long I can remain at that pace and still be comfortable - for no reason other than my own curiosity.

I've read on other threads that a faster cadence is not only better for you in terms of exercise, but easier on your knees and leg muscles. I'm not sure about that as it applies to me - I can ride for 50 or 60 miles and not even be tired - my legs are usually a little rubbery when I first dismount - but, within a minute or so, they are back to normal. I never experience any knee pain - so, maybe my riding pace is ok for me. I'm probably burning fewer calories than I might, otherwise, but, I'll just eat one or two less scoops on my multi-scoop ice cream cones.

I have found this thread to be very interesting.

Caruso

jack/makeitso:
So, at a cadence of 100, roughly, on flat terrain, how fast would you be riding - and is that a cadence that you can comfortably sustain for an entire ride (absent steep hills that might cause you to slow down even in your lowest gear combination)? Not that it will make any difference to my riding, but, I'm just curious.

It depends on what gear I'm in, which I really don't pay attention to. I know I'm on the middle ring (triple) on the front and probably on the 3rd or 4th from the smallest on the rear (7spd). I am going about 17-18 mph at this point. If I'm going up a grade I might drop a gear or two but will still be going at the same cadence. No I don't keep up the cadence through the whole ride, I will stop pedaling at times and slow down but I can keep it up for quite a while depending on the grade I'm on.

Like I said before, I only started back riding this Feb. so I'm still not in that great of shape but I'm working on it. I used to ride all over the place on my MTB when I lived over near Temecula, CA. I didn't have a computer then so I had no idea about average speed, cadence or how many miles I had gone.

I will definetely check what gear I'm in tomorrow and recheck my cadence. I will be on the MTB but it shouldn't make any difference. I usually go on a little longer ride on the weekends.