Laps in Prospect Park

[mattyknacks]

Hi. Can someone tell me what are good lap times in Prospect Park? And average times? And bad?

I have never ridden on group rides and all the bike tours I did years ago were solo.

I wanna sneak into the park when no BFers are looking a do a few laps and compare times to see just how pathetic I am.

Also, when you guys and gals do laps there, how many do you do?

Thanks

Matty in Brooklyn

[superslomo]

Dude, don't worry about a thing. No one cares, and no will know who you are anyhow :)

Plus, if you are out in the park in January/February you are pretty much throwing down the gauntlet and demonstrating your commitment.

Even in the summertime the place is just absolutely filthy with slow folks, people walking dogs, rollerbladers and joggers/walkers/lurkers.

A good time for a lap around prospect is: whatever time is a little better than the last time you were there :D

I think the most time I've spent in prospect was about 10 laps before I just started getting bored. I have more fun going down toward the Rockaways or Bay Ridge when I have more time and daylight... usually it's more like 3-5 laps just to get an evening ride in.

[mattyknacks]

Dude, don't worry about a thing. No one cares, and no will know who you are anyhow :)

Plus, if you are out in the park in January/February you are pretty much throwing down the gauntlet and demonstrating your commitment.

Even in the summertime the place is just absolutely filthy with slow folks, people walking dogs, rollerbladers and joggers/walkers/lurkers.

A good time for a lap around prospect is: whatever time is a little better than the last time you were there :D

I think the most time I've spent in prospect was about 10 laps before I just started getting bored. I have more fun going down toward the Rockaways or Bay Ridge when I have more time and daylight... usually it's more like 3-5 laps just to get an evening ride in.

Thanks for the reply, super. I was not actually worried that I would be spotted. I am curious to know how I fair against other riders. I have these thoughts of riding with the other brooklyn dudes such as yourself and the people on slvoid's list, but would probably decline, since I have it in my head that you guys are much faster than me. I know that nobody cares, but I would still feel like a jerk if I was invited on a club type ride, and then I ride my slow pace while everyone else in the group flys by at 25mph! I just wanted some sort of guage as to average speed.

Matty in Brooklyn

[Hambone]

Thanks for the reply, super. I was not actually worried that I would be spotted. I am curious to know how I fair against other riders. I have these thoughts of riding with the other brooklyn dudes such as yourself and the people on slvoid's list, but would probably decline, since I have it in my head that you guys are much faster than me. I know that nobody cares, but I would still feel like a jerk if I was invited on a club type ride, and then I ride my slow pace while everyone else in the group flys by at 25mph! I just wanted some sort of guage as to average speed.

Matty in BrooklynI don't do laps in the park, "That's just not my bag, baby..." but I can tell you that my ride to work is 12-15 miles and on a good day I do it at 16mph. (About 45 minutes.)

If hills are in play, that avg drops significantly.

(That said, I can have as much fun and get in as good a workout with the wife and kids in the trailer doing 10-12mph.)

[carpediemracing]

fyi a group will go a lot faster than an individual.

My training speed is 14-16 mph, 18 or more if it's flatter. I race at Prospect (no idea of lap times, I think we average ~25 mph), I can place top 10 in the race, but there's no way I could go that fast on my own. Well, maybe for a mile or two.

What makes the group fast is the draft and the accelerations. If you can stay with a group when they accelerate, you'll be fine. Figure 30-35+ mph bursts on flats, 50 on that descent, maybe 30 mph for a very sharp attack on the hill. With some headwind take 10-15% off those numbers. I think we do mid 20's on flats, 18-20 on hill, 40+ on downhill when cruising along.

Work on increasing your burst/sprint speeds. Your workout will be more quality vs quantity.

And if you're out there now, like superslomo said, that's really committed.

cdr

[slvoid]

The park RACES are like averaging 26-28mph but that's a race. The groups usually average around 22-23.

If everyone goes out for a ride, say up 9W (which is probably the most popular get out of the city place), the group will usually split along the way but we always slow down to let others catch up.

[timmhaan]

since i just got back from Prospect Park doing a nice endurance pace i'll give you my ride stats:

2 hours 0 min 40 seconds.
30.2 miles
max speed: 29.5
ave speed: 15.0
ave heart rate: 145 bpm
max heart rate: 163 bpm

i was actually surprised to see 15 ave speed, considering the wind is like 25+ mph today with gusts that would blow me sideways at time. the worst is up the hill when i was going about 8-9mph with the wind blowing right into me. urg!

[superslomo]

I ride in the park because it's right by my place. When I have extra time to spare I'll go further afield, but it's also a nice spot because it's possible to go for miles without having to stop for anything.

Timmhaan is cooking along in the winter about as fast as I was in the summer, so kudos :)

There are regularly people going by in group pacelines at over 20, but for every person doing that there are a bunch tooling along on MTBs or hybrids, just taking a spin (at least in the summertime.) In the winter there are barely any people there at all, so it's possible to get a feel for the place.

Where are you living? There might be some other rides you would dig, or some you might want to share.

[slvoid]

I'll be doing laps there tomorrow night if anyone wants to join me, 7pm.

[superslomo]

18 degrees fahrenheit tonight... ouch.

[gfrance]

soon, very soon. just too cold now and not quite enough daylight.

[superslomo]

The daylight doesn't have to be a problem, but I just can't seem to keep my feet warm below 30 for all that long. I think I need a bigger pair of shoes to make it into the teens with extra socks.

[Lucky07]

Matty, If you don't know him already, let me introduce you to a Prospect Park legend. R600DuraAce!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=235945

[mattyknacks]

Matty, If you don't know him already, let me introduce you to a Prospect Park legend. R600DuraAce!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=235945

Wow! That was some interesting reading!

Matty in Brooklyn

[Hambone]

Matty, If you don't know him already, let me introduce you to a Prospect Park legend. R600DuraAce!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=235945that is just mean... let the guy form an opinion first. They didn't start M*A*S*H with Major Burns. First they introduced Hawkeye and BJ; Radar and Hot Lips... then Major Burns. Slowly.

[Lucky07]

that is just mean... let the guy form an opinion first. They didn't start M*A*S*H with Major Burns. First they introduced Hawkeye and BJ; Radar and Hot Lips... then Major Burns. Slowly.

Haha. Well, I think you have to warn a guy. Full disclosure & all that. Better that than have R600 yell at you randomly one day as you're taking a leisurely ride & scare you off the Park.

[zacster]

Can't we leave the guy alone. I've never gone riding with him, but I bought wheels from him a couple of years ago, good wheels at a decent price. I'll have to say he does blather on on the forums.