Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Distance or Speed?

Who here mainly rides for distance, and who here primarily rides for speed?

I ride for distance. I like to see my average speed go up through the year, but I pay more attention to the miles I ride. Over a century I have averaged 15.5, for years, but I pretty much average around 15 mph all year round, whether it's 20 miles or 100 miles.:o

I ride solo 98% of the time. I'm sure my average would go up when riding with another rider, or a group.
I have done group rides in the past, with an AVS over 20 mph. But, like I say, I rarely ride with anyone else, but myself. I have some lovely conversations with me.:D

Who here mainly rides for distance, and who here primarily rides for speed?
it's not an either/or for me. I like to ride fast enough that on a brevet I don't have to spend too many miles riding in darkness, or on an organized/charity century I can get to the finish before the rest of the crowd mobs the portapotties and cookout lines, or on a solo ramble I don't lose the entire day to my bike. but I'm not so focused on speed that I won't stop to admire a sunrise or won't pull over to a country store that claims to have the best root beer in the county.

I ride far to explore the world. I ride fast so that I have the time to enjoy it.

Distance.
(I'm not very good at speed):D

on an organized/charity century I can get to the finish before the rest of the crowd mobs the portapotties and cookout lines,

No kidding. I did the flying wheels a couple weeks ago in Redmond, WA. 3000 people all climbing the same hill, and all stopping at each of the same rest stops as me. We figured out, we spent 6 hours riding, but more than 7 hours out on the ride. :(

Note to self, avoid giving blood and catching the flu days prior to riding a hilly century :o

Depends. I still like to go out for the club runs and follow the racers around. Nice to know my legs are still up for the occasional 30mph paceline.

OTOH, I consider myself primarily a distance rider, as my ego is deflating as my age is inflating, and the racers get on my nerves after a while. Most of my riding is for distance, at a comfortable speed, like 17-18mph.

I see folks going out for 80 mile rides at 12 mph. This would drive me -- and me arse -- crazy. I also see folks going out for an hour of intervals and calling it good, which would leave me feeling as though I hardly accomplished anything at all. So I guess I'm saying I like a nice mix. :)

it's not an either/or for me. I like to ride fast enough that on a brevet I don't have to spend too many miles riding in darkness, or on an organized/charity century I can get to the finish before the rest of the crowd mobs the portapotties and cookout lines, or on a solo ramble I don't lose the entire day to my bike. but I'm not so focused on speed that I won't stop to admire a sunrise or won't pull over to a country store that claims to have the best root beer in the county.

I ride far to explore the world. I ride fast so that I have the time to enjoy it.


+1 Couldn't have said it better myself. :)

No kidding. I did the flying wheels a couple weeks ago in Redmond, WA. 3000 people all climbing the same hill, and all stopping at each of the same rest stops as me. We figured out, we spent 6 hours riding, but more than 7 hours out on the ride. I did the Great Mass Getaway this weekend (2 day, 175 mile ride from Boston to the tip of Cape Cod) and finished early enough that there were no lines for bike drop-off, hot showers or lunch. By the time I finished lunch, the tip of the main crowd showed up and it was, like, a 30 minute wait for everything. Me? I just walked off and killed three hours reading Hemingway and drinking Guinness at a bar while waiting to board the chartered ferry.

I ride far to explore the world. I ride fast so that I have the time to enjoy it.

I love that quote!
But for me, I try to ride fast to enjoy it. As with most people, the world conspires to prevent me from riding as long as I'd like, so I try to improve my speed to maximize the exploration side of riding. I love to get to a fork in the road and flip a mental coin because I don't know where either fork leads! As George Harrison said "If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there"

When I go out on a long ride my main goal is distance while trying to figure out how fast I can go without running out of energy, but mainly distance. When I commute, it's speed speed speed.

There are rides that are great when done slowly to experience everything, when the weather is warm and vistas to be looked at. Lots of daylight hours so need to rush.

But I love to get my best times down on certain rides, and then I feel the need for speed.
Brokenword is right about getting to checkpoints before the rush!!!!
Get out early and try to stay there.

george

I'm now riding for distance, because I'm pokey.

I'm now riding for distance, because I'm pokey.


+1, I don't have much of a choice, I'll be 67 in Aug.

I ride to ride.

Sometimes I ride long distances. Sometimes I ride shorter and faster.