Fifty Plus (50+) - Getting More Speed.

With several people wanting to get more speed out of their bikes-I should just like to tell you of a couple of things that I have done in the last few weeks.

First of all I am new to road biking- only had a Road bike for a year but just under 2 weeks ago- I picked up my new bike. I have been out as much as possible trying to get the thing run in and for me to get to know the bike. As this has higher gearing on it- I have been doing some flatter rides since I got it and only taking in slopes of around 5% for about 1/2 mile.

Last Sunday I got to know the bike so went on a Ride with more slopes in it and a lot more climbing. It showed me that I could take the easy rides with ease so tonight I tackled a harder ride that I use for a quick ride. Only 20 miles and it is a lot up and Down but it gives me a work out if I do not have more than a couple of hours to ride in. It is split in 2 parts with the first 10 miles down to the Seafront for a coffee. The best I have ever done this in was around 40 Minutes and average speed is normally in the 14.5 mph bracket. Normally a bit slower and the best Ever was 14.9 mph. Tonight I went out and as I know the bike- Know the gears- and I felt good- I went out and pushed all the way. Not greatly but kept pressure on the pedals and kept myself breathing hard all the way. Average at the Cafe was 16.1 mph and 33 minutes. Then the route back and it is a gentle ride with just a couple of slopes but continual gentle rise all the way home. It was going to be just the same with putting in the pressure all the way but I always lose another 1.5 to 2mph off my average for the whole ride. Not tonight- I just lost .1 off the average and finished it in 16mph average.

Now possibly some of this is down to the new bike- But it wasn't last week. Since getting the New one- I have been trying to strengthen the legs by pushing just a bit harder for as long as possible on a ride. Tonight was the first time that I managed it for a full 20 miles.

So if you want to increase your speed on the bike- Then you have two choices

Spend $5,000 on a new 15 lb bike

OR

Get out and take some training rides where you set yourself a target- and get to it


Or Spend $5,000 on the new bike and Set up a training regime to make certain you have not Mis-spent the kids Inheritance.

When I lose two, 15 lb. bikes worth of weight from my body, I will consider a new bike.

Okay, sounds like a plan!

stapfam- I read your post a couple of times because something bothers me. Then I see it: England!
One of my guys just did a vacation in England and told me what things cost compared to here. Things like hotels (simple ones) and meals in restaurants (again simple ones). It seemed as if it was well above double the cost here (small town USA).
That seems to carry over to your $5,000 for a 15# bike. We can get that here for $2,500 or less if you take last years model.

If I had a $5K bike, I'd feel like I'd damned well better train harder or feel like Mr. Peepers driving a Maserati.

Seriously, I think us older guys should play and have fun with all the abandon we can. If I had the bucks, I'd be the happiest, bony legged Mr. Peepers out there on my wonderbike.

stapfam- I read your post a couple of times because something bothers me. Then I see it: England!
One of my guys just did a vacation in England and told me what things cost compared to here. Things like hotels (simple ones) and meals in restaurants (again simple ones). It seemed as if it was well above double the cost here (small town USA).
That seems to carry over to your $5,000 for a 15# bike. We can get that here for $2,500 or less if you take last years model.

Are you considering the weakness of the dollar???????

That's why we travel to South America instead of Europe.:eek:

Get out and take some training rides where you set yourself a target- and get to it


I couldn't agree more. I'm riding with a couple of groups where I'm frequently the slow guy. SOoooo, it's speed up or get dropped. The fellows that helped me train for the Firecracker insist on riding hills for training, THEN ride your speed ride, and watch the MPH climb. I thought they were a little weird, but it worked.
There is one other observation, just my opinion, you gain more practicing on hills if you're a good spinner, high cadence rider to begin with.

Are you considering the weakness of the dollar???????

That's why we travel to South America instead of Europe.:eek:

Yes:eek:

stapfam- I read your post a couple of times because something bothers me. Then I see it: England!
One of my guys just did a vacation in England and told me what things cost compared to here. Things like hotels (simple ones) and meals in restaurants (again simple ones). It seemed as if it was well above double the cost here (small town USA).
That seems to carry over to your $5,000 for a 15# bike. We can get that here for $2,500 or less if you take last years model.

The $5,000 was set as an example of What I actually paid for a decent bike at $2 to the £. And yes- We are Expensive at the current time for everything- But I can remember when We brits could not afford to Go to the USA as it was so expensive. And Can Many of you remember Laker Airways who went bust because the Exchange rate went the wrong ways on £ to $?

I have built up bikes before-And They have always been exactly what I want. I do not have to put up with bits of the bike not fitting- Or Spending money where it is not required- or Even worse- Not spending enough on the Vital parts. Not exactly the same with an off the shelf Bike. You are stuck with what is supplied.

Congratulations on the improved speed. Always feels good to take some time out of a personal best, or even your "usual" time. :beer:

The secret of going faster on a bike - pedal harder. :D

If you're overtrained, it means you aren't trained enough to support your current level of training, so you really aren't overtrained, you're undertrained. :eek:

Seriously, if you want to get faster, you have to go faster. Hills are good for you, too, as Stapfam's experience demonstrates.

I have also found that by upgrading to a lighter more rigid and responsive bike my speed has improved. It may not add 5mph to your average but by putting more of your power from the pedals to wheels with less loss I think that 1mph increase is reasonable to expect. Also climbing is much easier. So while training will make the best performance gains those gains can be more efficiently applied with a bike that is designed for racing vs cruising.