Fifty Plus (50+) - I now know I am slow

Went for a ride today my 25 mile loop. Anyway about 1/2 way met up with a follow on a comfort bike. You know setting almost stright up, big tires and it was windy he looked to be my age or older. Let me tell you he ran off and left me. I am tellun you it aint the bike it's the motor. I had a great ride what a great day sunny about 55*. Plus I learned something my moter needs a lot of work:D

I always get a kick out of the threads over in Road Cycling where people get all hot and bothered about bike brands and related snobbery. I'm sure that the bike expensive dodads make differences around the margins, and on long rides, but my estimate is 90% motor, 10% bike. Is that right?

but my estimate is 90% motor, 10% bike. Is that right?

Sounds about right to me....I'm just as slow as ever even with the new bike:o

Sounds about right to me....I'm just as slow as ever even with the new bike:o


Same here - but I sure FEEL faster on the new bike :D

I always get a kick out of the threads over in Road Cycling where people get all hot and bothered about bike brands and related snobbery. I'm sure that the bike expensive dodads make differences around the margins, and on long rides, but my estimate is 90% motor, 10% bike. Is that right?

Ive always thought of it as 95%/5%, but thats just a guess, and that is assuming the bike is in good working order. To me the only real need for the ultra-light highest end gear is in racing where differences of fractions of a second mean a win or loss. Anyway if you want to look like a pro, just use what your sponsor gives you instead of pretending.

One of the true miracles of cycling is to be trying to hang with a pack on an organized century and watching some guy on a mountain bike wearing an ancient helmet, cutoffs and sneakers go blaizing past everyone. I love it.

It doesn't bother me when I get passed by a roadie but it is insulting to a roadie or MTB rider to get passed by someone on a folding bicycle.

Did a ride in September on the Tandem. If you want to see how unfit you are- Try a Tandem uphill with a new riding partner. But the ridiculous thing was- there was one hill that you could even class as offroad and the Tandem was the only bike around us that made the hill. Even shocked my stoker when I yelled out- "We are not walking this hill". First time he had climbed it in 5 attempts.

You normally find that the fast boys that overtake you are only good for 25 to 30 miles. Those of us that are slow are conserving our energy for a 60 mile ride.- Or at least thats what I tell the groups that catch me when I am caught and overtaken 20 miles into a ride.

I always get a kick out of the threads over in Road Cycling where people get all hot and bothered about bike brands and related snobbery. I'm sure that the bike expensive dodads make differences around the margins, and on long rides, but my estimate is 90% motor, 10% bike. Is that right?



Sounds right to me. This guy wae a rider had on a jersey and helmet. He followed me up the bigest hill on the ride. When he passed me at the top he said "that's my favorite hill" and he was gone. I love it. Maybe some day I will ride like that.:)

Sounds right to me. This guy wae a rider had on a jersey and helmet. He followed me up the bigest hill on the ride. When he passed me at the top he said "that's my favorite hill" and he was gone. I love it. Maybe some day I will ride like that.:)

How long had the other guy been riding- How far had he travelled and it was his favourite hill. Anyone that has a favourite hill- does a lot of hills. + the fact, you had just towed him up the hill. The only bit you remember when hill climbing in a group is who went over the top first. Never who has towed the rest up- or if offroad- who showed you where the slippery bits were or what route not to take.

I used to work this on the rest of my offroad group. Sit in 2nd or 3rd spot and watch their wheels slipping or them finding the ledge they have to put effort in to get over. By following- I was getting the advantage and no matter how slow I was going- I hung on. Then comes the critical bit of the last 50 yards and I was gone.

Could tntom be challenging this Tom to a slowness throwdown match?

Could tntom be challenging this Tom to a slowness throwdown match?

I ride this 25mile loop a lot. Maybe because I am a new rider and am just working my way longer. The best I can do is average 12mph. It is hilley and has some greenway in it. It's hard to make good time on a greenway. If I was on the road all the time I "MIGHT" do a "little" better.:rolleyes:

Do you mean that you can complete a 25 mile ride in just over 2 hours?

Do you mean that you can complete a 25 mile ride in just over 2 hours?

Yes. In just under 2 hours if I work hard at it. I am trying to get to 30miles in 2 hours. Today was my first ride in a week outher than riding to work which is just 5miles round trip and I don't ride in the raine so this time of year it is not every day. I am hoping this summer when I can ride more because it stays light later I will improve.

Back in those days, I knew some Cat 1's who would dress like a total newb and riding a cruiser, give pacelines a hard time.

knotty

Yes. In just under 2 hours if I work hard at it.

:eek:

You would beat me on my best day by at least 20 minutes.

One of the true miracles of cycling is to be trying to hang with a pack on an organized century and watching some guy on a mountain bike wearing an ancient helmet, cutoffs and sneakers go blaizing past everyone. I love it.That reminds me of the time I was running an organized 5k event (before I took up cycling). Two ladies trotted past me, discussing their soap operas (and they looked more folks you'd see parked in front of a TV than running a 5k). I might have spoken to them, but I was breathing too hard to do anything more than grunt.

Oh my! What's the hurry?:)

Find a flat route- that some of us have to ride- and see how quick you can do that. Bet its faster than your current route at 12mph.

And if you want slow- I have a 10mileroute I take for coffee that has a few slopes in it like yours. Good day and I do it in 40 minutes. Bit of a headwind- Not feeling like pushing and and around an hour is the usual time.

90% motor, 10% bike sounds about right. When I got here in August, I took over ownership of the pass down MTB. Cleaned, lubed and started riding. Worked up to about 100 miles a week. Got an odometer for Christmas. Found I was doing 18 MPH. On the road bike at home, I'm just about 16. This place is flat and home is hilly but the elevation here is 5000'. I think I have a good base for when I get home. Yup, it's the motor. But the bike at home looks faster....

I've always struggled with a four cylinder engine in a vehicle with driver that should be using a six cylinder for the weight involved. I know I can't keep up with those running eight cylinder power plants. Translation: Some of us, by nature or genetics, have less power capacity than others. Moral: Accept what you've got and keep it in the best working order possible.

To me the only real need for the ultra-light highest end gear is in racing where differences of fractions of a second mean a win or loss.

True, but you've left out the enjoyment of life factor and that's why I ride my bike.

If you've got the money anybody can buy a Corvette, even if your name isn't Andretti. Most SUV's never leave the pavement and might not even get into 4 wheel drive. How about your home? Do you really need pictures on the wall? None of these things have to do with need, it's enjoyment of life.

I've always struggled with a four cylinder engine in a vehicle with driver that should be using a six cylinder for the weight involved. I know I can't keep up with those running eight cylinder power plants. Translation: Some of us, by nature or genetics, have less power capacity than others. Moral: Accept what you've got and keep it in the best working order possible.

Well then, I must be a three cylinder. Or less. This ride yesterday kicked my butt:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Ride-to-Jim97172

Only 1500 feet of climbing, but look at the big climb!

Yes. In just under 2 hours if I work hard at it. I am trying to get to 30miles in 2 hours. Today was my first ride in a week outher than riding to work which is just 5miles round trip and I don't ride in the raine so this time of year it is not every day. I am hoping this summer when I can ride more because it stays light later I will improve.

I've been trying to get 30 miles in 2 hours and I just about kill myself. Good luck and keep trying, like me.:p

The other day, when we had May weather in January, I rode the MUP to a client's office. As I eased by a guy on a 'bent trike at a whopping 13 or 14 mph, he yelled at me, "Speed demon!"

A motor is a prerequisite, but beyond that I wouldn't want to assign a % because there's so much variability in bikes.

Back in those days, I knew some Cat 1's who would dress like a total newb and riding a cruiser, give pacelines a hard time.

knotty

I'd love to be able to do this. What a kick. My dream is to get invited by a bunch of "kids" for a ride, they'd snicker at the old man and promise to be gentle and then I'd smoke them, even on a MUP. Never happen. I'm slow.

I've been trying to get 30 miles in 2 hours and I just about kill myself. Good luck and keep trying, like me.:p

Our regular Sunday ride is 30 miles and the best time I had last year was 2:07.....Maybe I'll hit it this year.

I always get a kick out of the threads over in Road Cycling where people get all hot and bothered about bike brands and related snobbery. I'm sure that the bike expensive dodads make differences around the margins, and on long rides, but my estimate is 90% motor, 10% bike. Is that right?

I'll go more like 95/5% myself. My riding this weekend is probably a decently good indication:

Did 50 miles yesterday and today, split equally between the days. Yesterday I was riding a five year old Fuji Finest (9 speed Ultegra, brifters). Today I took out my twenty year old Rossin RL (six speed Dura Ace SIS, downtube shifters). The two bikes are reasonably close to each other in size weight, run the exact same chainwheel combinations, same tyres (tubulars) and have reasonably close in weight wheels. And, as best as I can tell, I was in approximately the same physical condition, mood, etc. on each day. And these are the two bikes in the stable that I'm the most confident and comfortable on.

Average speed for the run on the Fuji was 15.9mph. For the Rossin, 15.4. This isn't odd, actually both speeds are about average for me on a day's run, and the speed difference between the two bikes is about the usual.

The difference? I'll credit it to the brifters and the additional gears in the back. I tend to shift two to three times as often on the Fuji as on any of my vintage bikes, mainly due to the convenience and having more choices out back when the terrain varies - which means I'm keeping a more even cadence, I'm more willing to power down a hill when there's an uphill immediately following (on a downtube shifted bike it's often more convenient to coast and ready oneself for the climb), and I'm pushing more steadily throughout the route.

However, put me up against someone else on either of those bikes, and I've probably got an equal chance of dropping or being dropped, depending on my conditioning as opposed to the other person's.

Just the same, then next build project, be it a modern or vintage-ish frame (I don't do brifters on anything older than mid-1980's) will be done with a seven speed minimum and modern shifters. I'm getting addicted to the convenience.

A few years back one of the fittest, fastest guys I knew showed up at the Solvang Century, (1000s of riders) on a heavy mountain bike with knobbies and clips/straps. He started late and caught my group on a long grade, where he proceeded to call riders out of the line and taunt them until they tried to chase him on their race bikes. I remember those knobbies singing higher and higher as he dropped those who went after him. He eventually got bored dropping back to tease us and went ahead. That was fun to watch.
These days, one of the best climbers on our club rides is Bike Forums member Cassave, on his hand made steel bike, sometimes the one with fenders and rear rack.
It's not about the bike.

A motor is a prerequisite, but beyond that I wouldn't want to assign a % because there's so much variability in bikes.

Even on the two bikes I ride at present- I am beginning to find the differences on the bikes- One goes up hills and the other flies up them.

One of the things that you have to remember aswell is that it takes a couple of years to get bike fitness. Whilst getting that fitness- you will improve- Not in leaps and bounds- but gradually for about 6 months- Then you hit a plateaux when nothing happens. Then another little jump and another plateaux. Then one day- it suddenly happens- the hill is just a slope- The average for the ride goes up a knotch and Was there a Headwind today?

Unfortunately - the next stage is the one to worry about- You get complacent- don't put as much into your rides and over a few months the levels drop. That is the time to start worrying as you now have to get some serious training in- and then keep it up.

I'd love to be able to do this. What a kick. My dream is to get invited by a bunch of "kids" for a ride, they'd snicker at the old man and promise to be gentle and then I'd smoke them, even on a MUP. Never happen. I'm slow.

Don't you believe it.-Happened to me in 2003 on the long ride I do. The kids were snickering - "Look at that old man- and on a Tandem". Cut it short- Sponsored ride so side bets taken on where we would drop out- Got to the 20 mile checkpoint and two of the kids were holding their hands out with their money- We had chased them all the way to here. As we passed other kids- We reminded them to donate their money- Got to the end and only one of the kids was there in front of us. He collected from the other riders and paid double for the ones that dropped out.

Next year and on the riders briefing- The Tandem was given as a warning to the other riders. "Watch out for the Tandem as it takes different lines through the corners- It requires a lot of space uphills as it wobbles a lot but Don't try and stay with it on the flat or Downhill- This things will eat solo riders for breakfast and just toss you out the back"

One of the things that you have to remember aswell is that it takes a couple of years to get bike fitness. Whilst getting that fitness- you will improve- Not in leaps and bounds- but gradually for about 6 months- Then you hit a plateaux when nothing happens. Then another little jump and another plateaux. Then one day- it suddenly happens- the hill is just a slope- The average for the ride goes up a knotch and Was there a Headwind today?

I, for one, am delighted by this. Nearing the end of my second year, my averages have moved up to my old records, and some days when I feel really slow, I'll look down and see a speed that I once considered was really fast.

I also agree that, while the engine is the most important part, there's more to the bike than just five or ten percent.

Even changing things on one bike makes a difference. I have two wheelsets for my Portland. The wheels are identical, but one has my 28mm road tires and the other has my 35mm studded snows. Mounting the snows, I lose 2-3 MPH across the board. From an average speed of, say, 15MPH, 3MPH is 20%.

When I first switched from a hybrid to a road bike, my average immediately jumped by 2-3 MPH. Going in that direction, it was 25%.

But there are days when the engine just can't cut it. No matter which bike it's on, it's slow.