Road Cycling - I raised my avg by 3mph

Yesterday, I rode up to tiburon around paradise loop and back, starting from San Francisco. We averaged 15.9 mph. Last week, taking the same route, we averaged 12.3! I was really ecstatic, I guess i wasn't really trying last week. I had also never taken that specific route before.

I'm just curious, i remember a post about avg mph a while ago. What is a good avg to aim for? If i remember correctly, 13-14 is ok, 15-16 is pretty in shape, 18-20 is pretty fast, and 20 plus is like what racers put out? Please correct me.

there are so many variables (hills, wind, heat, stoplights, traffic, group vs. solo)

the best part about cycling is that you don't necessarily have to compete against people...only yourself if you want to.

3 mph increase represents quite an increase. i'd be happy too. it is a great accomplishment. i remember when i started out and i thought my first century in 8 hours was a great accomplishment. now i am disappointed if i am over 5.25 hours.

it is much harder to ride and improve on a more consistent basis, but savor this increase.

...and it never gets old to do your best and improve.

Yesterday, I rode up to tiburon around paradise loop and back, starting from San Francisco. We averaged 15.9 mph. Last week, taking the same route, we averaged 12.3! I was really ecstatic, I guess i wasn't really trying last week. I had also never taken that specific route before.

I'm just curious, i remember a post about avg mph a while ago. What is a good avg to aim for? If i remember correctly, 13-14 is ok, 15-16 is pretty in shape, 18-20 is pretty fast, and 20 plus is like what racers put out? Please correct me.
You just had a "Tail Wind" both directions :D
LOL, J/K
Congrats, now shoot for 17mph avg speed, slowly work your way up..
I used to ride a 20mph avg speed, but that was years ago when i was Uhmm young.. Now my son and I avg between 15 and 17mph on a good day.. Keep pedaling, just set a goal.

Yeah, right. =)

Although, what riphraph says is really true, now that i think about it. There are a good amount of climbs and inclines in the bay area, which probably slowed me down. If i lived in the flat lands of the midwest my avg speed there would definately be higher, i think. So i guess it's useless to compare avg speed.

Yeah, right. =)

Although, what riphraph says is really true, now that i think about it. There are a good amount of climbs and inclines in the bay area, which probably slowed me down. If i lived in the flat lands of the midwest my avg speed there would definately be higher, i think. So i guess it's useless to compare avg speed.

I'm no expert, but I live in Maryland where we have some rather unfriendly hills and flat straches too. I have several rides I take depending on the workout I am aiming for. I find that my average stays about the same (14-15) whether I am doing hills (not the monster ones we have here though) or the flatter route. Keep in mind that with the climbs you also get to coast and have the decents (with periods of 30+ mph) and on the flats you are pedeling almost constantly (and you don't get the decents to enjoy).

The important thing is that you are out there riding!!!

My experience is a little different from wlevey's.

Here in the Bay Area, we have some terrific 1100-1500 ft climbs that are manageable as far as degree of slope, but really long. I've found my avg speed dips significantly when doing those routes, because I can only go 7-10 mph up the hill, which takes 4-5 times as long as the descent does at 22-30 mph. Net effect: avg speed suffers by a couple mph, because the climbs take so much longer than the descents.

The only way avg speed is meaningful is to log your rides and see if, on the same route and roughly the same weather conditions (wind, especially, temp., too), your average speed is improving. Otherwise, it's all comparing apples to oranges....