General Cycling Discussion - rate me.

I went on another bike ride this morning, it was for one hour 15 minutes. about 30 miles up/downhill, average speed 15 mph. up hill is about 10-12 mph, down hill is 25-32 mph. Im 250 pounds, 6'5", and Im on a mountain bike on paved roads. From a rating between 1-10, 1 being the lowest - 10 being the highest, how good do you think I am. BTW, I have only been on a few rides this year because of the nasty weather, befor that it was last summer.:beer:

no replys, that must mean a zero :D

Originally posted by smelly
I went on another bike ride this morning, it was for one hour 15 minutes. about 30 miles up/downhill, average speed 15 mph. up hill is about 10-12 mph, down hill is 25-32 mph. Im 250 pounds, 6'5", and Im on a mountain bike on paved roads. From a rating between 1-10, 1 being the lowest - 10 being the highest, how good do you think I am. BTW, I have only been on a few rides this year because of the nasty weather, befor that it was last summer.:beer:

30 miles is a lot, especially if you haven't ridden in a while. Good work!

Good work.

I am a little confused on the math. 30 miles in 1 hour 15 minutes is a 24mph average and that seems pretty high for a mountain bike. No matter what the speed 30 miles is great. Good Job.

One thing I have learned (especially since I am just getting back into cycling again) is that what other people think, and how fast they go doesn't matter. At this point as long as you are riding farther and faster than you did before then you are making progress and that is all any of us can ask for. I am always thrilled when I look down and I have gone farther in an hour than I did last week or When my time on my commute is faster than before. I ride for me and no one else!

Originally posted by MI_rider
I am a little confused on the math. 30 miles in 1 hour 15 minutes is a 24mph average and that seems pretty high for a mountain bike. No matter what the speed 30 miles is great. Good Job.

One thing I have learned (especially since I am just getting back into cycling again) is that what other people think, and how fast they go doesn't matter. At this point as long as you are riding farther and faster than you did before then you are making progress and that is all any of us can ask for. I am always thrilled when I look down and I have gone farther in an hour than I did last week or When my time on my commute is faster than before. I ride for me and no one else!

This bike ride was on rolling hills, I was either riding up or down hill. It was never flat! and like I said the speed changes as I start to go back up hill.

If you are doing it on a MTB, then you are doing it well. Come hades or high water, I will have a computer this weekend. If you want to start a log, MS Excel makes a good workbook tool for doing this. I keep a daily log, and a weekly log that I post to my web page. Best - Ted

Sounds like you are beating my two pair.

Originally posted by The Terminator
If you are doing it on a MTB, then you are doing it well. Come hades or high water, I will have a computer this weekend. If you want to start a log, MS Excel makes a good workbook tool for doing this. I keep a daily log, and a weekly log that I post to my web page. Best - Ted I have been keeping track of my rides HERE (http://www.bikeprolog.com) Very cool site. I found the link in these forums. here are my stats. (http://www.bikeprolog.com/profiles/riderprofile.jsp?id=johndoug)

Originally posted by smelly
This bike ride was on rolling hills, I was either riding up or down hill. It was never flat! and like I said the speed changes as I start to go back up hill.

Something is still wrong here. You said 30 miles and rode for 1 hr and 15 minutes. No matter how you cut it, if those numbers are accurate you have to be averaging AT LEAST 24 mph! It could be more if you were including any stop time (if you had any), but it can't be less. And unless the wind was always at your back and pretty strong, that is flying, especially with hills.

Now, if your figures are wrong, that would be a different matter. For example, did you measure the 30 miles or is that just a guess? Same for time, though that would be less likely to be off.

Bob

Even average speeds can be very misleading, as on any given ride you may be going into or with, a strong wind. On an out and back ride you'll spend more time on the into wind leg, so it will affect the average more. I guess you have to average the averages to see how things are going!

Just go out and enjoy your rides!

Originally posted by aerobat
Even average speeds can be very misleading, as on any given ride you may be going into or with, a strong wind. On an out and back ride you'll spend more time on the into wind leg, so it will affect the average more. I guess you have to average the averages to see how things are going!

Just go out and enjoy your rides!

Oh, tell me about it. In Hawaii we have trade winds most of the time. They are nice for keeping things cooler, but they almost always come from the ENE or thereabouts which the way I'm heading when I ride out. Most commonly they run at 15-25, yet we get days that are only 5-10. Makes a big difference in times!

Also, I have no less than 56 traffic lights, plus two other normal stops. Even though I don't count stop time, I lose from slowing down and accelerating.

As for the example smelly posted, he wanted to know how he was doing. I can understand that as I'm the same way. Part of my "enjoyment" is to compare myself with others (as well as tracking my own improvement). But somehow his numbers don't seem to add up. That makes it hard to give him an opinion he is asking for. If he actually did 30 miles in 75 minutes, that would be darn impressive, in my opinion. My best average for 12.5 miles is only 18 mph and even if I didn't have any stops, I wouldn't come close to 24 mph!

Bob

Originally posted by johndoug
I have been keeping track of my rides HERE (http://www.bikeprolog.com) Very cool site. I found the link in these forums. here are my stats. (http://www.bikeprolog.com/profiles/riderprofile.jsp?id=johndoug)

Johndoug

that's a great site.. I just finished adding this months data.. here's my stats click here (http://www.bikeprolog.com/profiles/riderprofile.jsp?id=dexmax)

Thanks.

smelly, what's with the pink dress on your avatar. You aint' one of those strange ride-by-night folks are you, on account that you'd be locked up during daytime?:)

it was for one hour 15 minutes. about 30 miles up/downhill, average speed 15 mph.
I think you're full of it! You're so full of braggadoccio, I doubt there's any truth in your statement. You only post junk, anyway. In the end, you are a:

Originally posted by smelly
I went on another bike ride this morning, it was for one hour 15 minutes. about 30 miles

Yeah, right.

let's just agree that the figures are wrong and keep it at that. if there is a computer on the bike then it needs to be calibrated out of the box.

internet forums are the worst place for pissing contests.... which is why i would say it was unwise of you to look for approval here.

don't view cycling or fitness in general as a competition. make YOU be your own competition. there's always gonna be someone faster or more fit than you.... and there will always be someone you're better than. when you see things from this perspective, you can pat your OWN back, and push your OWN self harder at the same time.

There is pure joy to be found in riding for its own sake... I hope that you will find this joy too.

THANK YOU

D*Alex & Closetbiker; please read our community guidelines: http://www.bikeforums.net/misc.php?s=&action=faq&page=1#about (Harrassment and Vulgarity.)

Please do not keep up this behavior, or further action will be taken...

Originally posted by Joe Gardner
D*Alex & Closetbiker; please read our community guidelines: http://www.bikeforums.net/misc.php?s=&action=faq&page=1#about (Harrassment and Vulgarity.)

Please do not keep up this behavior, or further action will be taken...

You're right, I'm sorry. I should be more imaginative in the future.
:blush:

Originally posted by MI_rider
I am a little confused on the math. 30 miles in 1 hour 15 minutes is a 24mph average and that seems pretty high for a mountain bike. No matter what the speed 30 miles is great. Good Job.

Hmmm... I noticed something else odd with the math.... 15mph avg for 30 miles is 2 hours..... now that sounds much more realistic. i'm just puzzled as to where these numbers are coming from, because they seem to contradict each other.

rate me.
sounds like self esteem issues. seek a psychaitrist. :D
if you really want to know how you measure up to others try a good ol' fashion race. but really I'd worry not about rating oneself, instead focus on the fun (or pain) your having. FYI most 30 miles rides I do (in the mountains) take a good 3 hours in the saddle extra for pit stops. No clue what my average speed is. Extended uphills: probably .5-2mph, downhills: "hang on to your butts"

Originally posted by deliriou5
Hmmm... I noticed something else odd with the math.... 15mph avg for 30 miles is 2 hours..... now that sounds much more realistic. i'm just puzzled as to where these numbers are coming from, because they seem to contradict each other.


its up hill then down hill, up hill again then down hill!!!!! Dont you get it?!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I go down hill, Im around 25 to 30 miles per hour sometime even more.:D

Smelly, I think where all these guys are coming from is like this, this is how I look at it anyway: I ride a fair amount and have ridden for a long time, it is hilly where I live and if I do a twenty miler,say, ride into work, it takes me a little over an hour. My best average ever was 19.5 miles per hour. So based on my time, yours seems high. I don't think I could maintain a 24mph average for more than a few miles and I would probably shoot my heart out of my chest doing it.

Originally posted by Rev.Chuck
Smelly, I think where all these guys are coming from is like this, this is how I look at it anyway: I ride a fair amount and have ridden for a long time, it is hilly where I live and if I do a twenty miler,say, ride into work, it takes me a little over an hour. My best average ever was 19.5 miles per hour. So based on my time, yours seems high. I don't think I could maintain a 24mph average for more than a few miles and I would probably shoot my heart out of my chest doing it.

I never said my average was 24, I said it was 15!!!!!!!!! Stop putting words in my mouth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

they got 24 by dividing distance by the time (you probably already know that)....dont get too hung up on things though if u feel good about it then thats good enough

btw 30 miles is very good..u riding with a partner?

Originally posted by Rev.Chuck
Smelly, I think where all these guys are coming from is like this, this is how I look at it anyway: I ride a fair amount and have ridden for a long time, it is hilly where I live and if I do a twenty miler,say, ride into work, it takes me a little over an hour. My best average ever was 19.5 miles per hour. So based on my time, yours seems high. I don't think I could maintain a 24mph average for more than a few miles and I would probably shoot my heart out of my chest doing it.

Chuck,
Doing a daily 14 miler in 52 minutes (today) is pretty rough on me. I swear it is uphill all the way. My average today was 16.15 mph. My last 4 miles is downhill, a very low downhill, I can hit the top gears and really burn for the last 3 miles. I spend the 1st downhill mile recovering from the harder uphill. This is probably the best that I have done, or could do, right now. I would like to work up to a 20 mile daily before the end of the summer, but I feel as if I really have my hands full now. The bummer is that I work 10 hour shifts, so I have 2 hours less per day to get it done. - Ted

Smelly,

Here is some math.

30 miles / 1.25 hours = 24 MPH average.

Assuming you hit 30 MPH downhill, and did that for 15 miles (.5 hour), you would still have to maintain a speed of 20 MPH in the flats and on the hills for the remaining 15 miles (.75 hour).

more math:

well let's just say that for 50 minutes, you were travelling at 30mph. in 50 minutes you would've covered 25 miles. so that leaves you 25 minutes to cover another 5 miles, which would mean you had to travel 12mph for the next 25 minutes.

but you said you average 15mph for that ride. which by definition means, in 1 hour, you can travel 15 miles. doesn't matter if you hit 30mph downhill (by which the above example says you have to do it for at least 50 minutes straight to get even close to a 30 mile ride in 1.25 hours). so, if you are going 15mph on average (average meaning you are taking into consideration your slowest and fastest speed throughout the whole ride), then the most you can travel in 1.25 hours is 18.75 miles.

unless you're using some new math that i don't know about.

As Rodney once said "Can't we all just get along?". No matter what the math says 30 miles on a mountain bike is a good ride. Just keep riding.

Originally posted by MI_rider
As Rodney once said "Can't we all just get along?". No matter what the math says 30 miles on a mountain bike is a good ride. Just keep riding.

30 miles is nothing. I was alot better when I was in high school. Back then I could ride 50-70 miles in a day, but I was also only 205 pounds. Today Iv got a much nicer bike, better clothes and shoes w/ clipless toe pedels. Give me a few months and I should be back. :beer:

Originally posted by MI_rider
As Rodney once said "Can't we all just get along?". No matter what the math says 30 miles on a mountain bike is a good ride. Just keep riding.

That's true enough. But smelly asked for opinions on how he was doing. Since the math doesn't add up, that is kinda hard to do (at least with any value) and I have no idea why he is upset when people have pointed out the problem with the math.

I mean, consider the possibilities, depending on which part of his report is accurate:

He averaged 15 mph for 75 minutes - thus he actually rode around 18 miles, not 30.

Or he rode 30 miles in 75 minutes, so his average speed is actually an astounding 24 mph aveverage, not 15 mph.

Or he rode 30 miles at an average of 15 mph, thus his trip was actually 2 hours long, not 75 minutes.

If he wants opinions, we need to know what the correct numbers are because at least one must be wrong. If more than one is wrong, it may be hopeless.

Bob

OK, it's put-up-or-shut-up time. I live near Rochester, and once my sprained ankle heals, I'll take you to task by riding with you for a couple of hours. Heck, I'll even do it on my touring bike, loaded with gear and running a dyno-hub light if you want! We'll start in Henrietta, ride up through Wheatland, down to Mumford, then traverse over toward Mendon before returning. Ready for some hills, boy??

Originally posted by MI_rider
As Rodney once said "Can't we all just get along?". No matter what the math says 30 miles on a mountain bike is a good ride. Just keep riding.

I did?:D

Originally posted by smelly
30 miles is nothing. I was alot better when I was in high school. Back then I could ride 50-70 miles in a day, but I was also only 205 pounds. Today Iv got a much nicer bike, better clothes and shoes w/ clipless toe pedels. Give me a few months and I should be back. :beer:
WOW!
That will be great! At your rate, in about a year, you will be going so fast that you'll get there 5 minutes before you start. I wish I could do that!

Originally posted by D*Alex
OK, it's put-up-or-shut-up time. I live near Rochester, and once my sprained ankle heals, I'll take you to task by riding with you for a couple of hours. Heck, I'll even do it on my touring bike, loaded with gear and running a dyno-hub light if you want! We'll start in Henrietta, ride up through Wheatland, down to Mumford, then traverse over toward Mendon before returning. Ready for some hills, boy??

oh look, you're trying to be funny again!!!!!!!:rolleyes:

8 3/4.

:D

(I gave you a 16 1/2--scale 1 - 10--until I realized your math needed work, so I subtracted 7 3/4.)