Southern California - Decent average speed for the Bowl

Today I did 4 laps around the rose bowl, and averaged 17.8mph. Is this a decent average? I know the distance wasn't much, but for some reason the air was really harsh on my throat this morning(excuses aside now). In comparison to some group rides, and possibly cat5 races, is this average and distance indicative of how well or if at all I can do in either?

Thanks

I've noticed recently that I have been on the bike less frequently and my average speed and climbing(trash truck hill), have both improved. Didn't expect that to happen.

Average speed by yourself is almost irrelevant for racing unless you're strong enough to get off the front and stay there, which typically doesn't happen much in lower categories or without teammates (there are exceptions, though).

For racing it's largely about ability to ride in the pack, maneuver around in a pack safely, and keep up with the high speeds in the attacks (or launch them yourself). If you can't keep up with the attacks you get popped out the back and have to exceed the speed of the pack on your own to get back in.

Today I did 4 laps around the rose bowl, and averaged 17.8mph. Is this a decent average? I know the distance wasn't much, but for some reason the air was really harsh on my throat this morning(excuses aside now). In comparison to some group rides, and possibly cat5 races, is this average and distance indicative of how well or if at all I can do in either?

Thanks

I've noticed recently that I have been on the bike less frequently and my average speed and climbing(trash truck hill), have both improved. Didn't expect that to happen.

it sounds like you have been overtraining and/or doing too many hard workouts in a row. Don't hammer every time you ride, you will become much faster by going slower... I sound like a fortune cookie:lol:

you can't gauge on avg speed. sometimes the wind kicks up around the soccer field and slows you down, sometimes you carry more momentum up the false flat... you should try the tues/thurs group and see how you hang in.
For racing, intervals will help you as that's all racing is.

two breakthrough workouts a week. the rest is recovery and some aerobic endurance. throw in some core workouts and a couple strength training sessions and you've got plenty to recover from.

I have friends that get so caught up on average speed. We go for a ride on a clear, sunny day on some really beautiful roads and when we stop the first thing they start doing is punching numbers on their computers. Sometimes you just gotta ride . . .

Once, I averaged about 17 mph for nearly 12 miles. I thought that was pretty decent!:thumb:

it sounds like you have been overtraining and/or doing too many hard workouts in a row. Don't hammer every time you ride, you will become much faster by going slower... I sound like a fortune cookie:lol:

you can't gauge on avg speed. sometimes the wind kicks up around the soccer field and slows you down, sometimes you carry more momentum up the false flat... you should try the tues/thurs group and see how you hang in.For racing, intervals will help you as that's all racing is.


I've been told by mechanics at my lbs that the tues/thursday ride is a high intensity ride with race mentality. I have also been told that it is wise not to attempt this ride unless I am a cat 4 and up.

I have also ridden further than 12 miles prior to today(lol, that isn't my accomplishment today), and at varying averages and intensities. The reason I posted today is because I don't ride many "flats" and therefore don't know how to guage my speed with those of others and if I will be able to keep up. The only true way to know is to try a good non race tactical ride and hope I last until the end.

Thanks

Instead of worrying about average speed, get a HR monitor and see what your average and max hr's are for different workouts..

I finished the State TT Chmpionship just under 1 hour for an aveage of 24mph for an hour. I still find the Tueday Bowl ride challenging. Last weeek there was a lot of auto traffic slowing the ride and it still averaged over 25mph for 30 miles (10 laps). My hot warm-up lap wil be over 18 on the west side and 25 on the east side.

I have also been told that it is wise not to attempt this ride unless I am a cat 4 and up.

Do you do any group riding? If your group skills are good you should try it anyway, regardless of your racing category, if you can't hang you'll get blown out the back. Besides, a Cat 4 is only 10 mass starts away, anyway.

the Tues/Th Rose Bowl rides are not good first group rides to try. You should first hook up with a local group/club and get in some group riding to get comfortable in a pack and learn the ropes about group riding. Rather than worry about average speed, for the rose bowl (and fast group riding in general) you should train with some intensity (intervals). On the Rose bowl course, you should ride the incline side (going the normal clockwise direction) averaging 25mph for as long as you can. Once you can't maintain that speed, go at a recovery speed for a bit until you get to the slightly downhill side. There you should ride averaging over 30mph for as long as you can. Recover until you get around to the incline side and repeat (do it until you can no longer hit either speed). Both of those speeds are ones typical of the Tues/Th rides.

If you don't have much group riding experience, then I would not suggest riding Tuesday/Thursday Rose Bowl laps as a good way to get that experience.

To answer your question: Riding solo, I average around 10 minutes per 3.08 mile lap at the Rose Bowl (~18.3 mph). The T/Th riders fly past me like I'm standing still. Could I jump on and hang? Perhaps for a lap or two, but the back of the pack is often filled with scary riders who I wouldn't want to be riding behind at 18mph...much less 25-30mph.