Southern California - How slow is 18.3?

Rode SART today from Angel Stadium, up to Imperial, down to the beach, and back to the stadium. Garmin said about 42 miles and 18.3 MPH average. Passed my share of riders, but only got passed once, just a couple miles from the end of the ride. I am not saying I couldn't have been passed by others, only that I wasn't, for whatever reason. The guy that passed me, dropped me like I was a rock sitting on the river bank. I hit 25 MPH for about 3 seconds trying to catch up to him before I broke into pieces and almost scattered with the tail wind. I was doing 25 and this guy was pulling away, LOL, which made my day. It just got me to thinking he was doing way over a 25 mph average, and I wondered where that left me and my puny little 18.3 in the scheme of things. So tell me, what do you guys (and gals) average for a flat 42 mile ride? Just curious. :50:

P.S. Todays ride gave me reason to remain doing most of my rides in the mountains where I can go at a much slower pace, which is more my style.

Hb, I've done that ride many times and 18.3 is not bad but I usually average 20.0 on that ride. I've averaged 23.0 before and it all depends on what your training for. You climb a lot so that slows you down. When I start to do a lot of training in the mountains all of my averages on flat training rides went down. Don't get caught up in average speed because it's all relative. If you want to get faster you need to train with people that are faster than you. It's hard to get faster training solo.

You climb a lot so that slows you down. When I start to do a lot of training in the mountains all of my averages on flat training rides went down.

I find that climbing during the week slows down my average on weekend flat rides. I think mainly because I'm using the SART ride as a recovery ride.

When I actually tried to go fast, my averages were always 19.0 whether I did a 40 or 50 miler solo rides. Last couple of years, my SART rides are just cruising with Gina.

Once I did draft with a couple other riders and the average was 19.6 for 60 miles. That was pushing it for me.

We did a forum ride a couple years back, 86 miles and my average was 18.0. Solo 100 milers were at 17.3.

But I don't really pay attention to much to average comparisons anymore. Seems that even cruising with Gina at 17.0, we're rolling by lots of riders that claim to be averaging 26 into the wind, with no shoes on!:D

Today I did 17.4 but wasn't pusing very hard. If I had pushed, I still don't think that I would have averaged 18.3. Maybe I'm getting old!:D

This is the kind of stuff that has me inspired. I've been riding for a couple of years now and I just reached the point where I can average (a mere) 15 mph on a 50-60 mile run. I'm hoping if I keep at it I can pedal with the big boys (and girls, too!).

I wondered where that left me and my puny little 18.3 in the scheme of things.

Not familiar with your route, but that sounds decent.


So tell me, what do you guys (and gals) average for a flat 42 mile ride? Just curious.

Flat rides are hard to come by around here, about all I can do is go out on the freeway. Here (http://connect.garmin.com/activity/44142796) is one from the other day.

Well, this thread inspired me as well so I went out and rode the course today.

I'll preface my speed by saying I just got my bike 6 weeks ago, hadnt ridden for 20 years, and, my bike is a $500 trek hybrid which apparently means I'm some sort of useless newb if the posts on this forum are anything to go by :rolleyes:

Anyway, 17.4mph was my average (bike computer said 17.3, gps said 17.4). Fastest ride to date for me. 6 weeks ago I would have been somewhere around 15mph, if I could have even done the ride at all.

How long have you been riding, and what kinda bike?

I find that riding SART depends on wind conditons, which can vary. If it is the typical breeze it will help on the way inland, but also hurt on the way back. I actually prefer a light crosswind, but that doesnt happen often. Remember - the more it helps, the more it will hurt on the way back. At least for me - riding from HB to Yorba Linda and back.

While yes it is a flat course, that is misleading. There are numerous underpasses especially between the golfcourse and PCH, and if you want to maintain good momentum, you will need to work harder on those. 18.3 is not bad - that is what I started doing over a year ago. Now I can do over 19 for 30-50 miles. Did 20+ with a small group once, that was cheating ;)

BTW, Gina's best on the 42 SART ride is 18.4....:innocent:

Well, this thread inspired me as well so I went out and rode the course today.

I'll preface my speed by saying I just got my bike 6 weeks ago, hadnt ridden for 20 years, and, my bike is a $500 trek hybrid which apparently means I'm some sort of useless newb if the posts on this forum are anything to go by :rolleyes:

Anyway, 17.4mph was my average (bike computer said 17.3, gps said 17.4). Fastest ride to date for me. 6 weeks ago I would have been somewhere around 15mph, if I could have even done the ride at all.

How long have you been riding, and what kinda bike?

Off and on for maybe 15 to 20 years, with long gaps (3 to 4 years) at a time when I didn't even look at a bike. For this latest period, I started back up the beginning of last September, but took this April,May, and June off (only 5 rides in those 3 months) to get in shape and do some mountain climbing. Ropes,crampons, and ice axes, not wheels. My main deterrents are 1) closer to 60 then 50 2) weigh 225, rather than the 200 or less I would like 3) the worst one, I ride after having been up from 11 PM and working almost 9 hours a day. If I didn't, then I would hardly ever ride. Which means I am tired before I even get on the bike. For this last ride on SART, I started at 10:30 AM,After already having been up 12 hours. I was riding a 1996 aluminum framed Cannondale with 105 on it. I also have an all carbon fiber Scattante with an Ultegra group on it. I ride for the fun of it, and it do most of my riding in the mountains. Have never been competitive, but would really like to improve my climbing times. WCD rightly points out to get better, ride with those that are better than you. Seeing how more than 70 % of my rides are solo, that is not always possible. The person that I do ride with a couple times a week, is much better, and it really does help riding with him. I push myself, when I can,:lol:, trying to keep up with him. The riding after work though kicks my butt. Anybody have points that could make easy improvement in my riding? :50:

BTW, Gina's best on the 42 SART ride is 18.4....:innocent:

:troll:Ya, but I am meaner than she is.:50:

:troll:Ya, but I am meaner than she is.:50:


Don't be so sure!:D

Hb, I've done that ride many times and 18.3 is not bad but I usually average 20.0 on that ride. I've averaged 23.0 before and it all depends on what your training for. You climb a lot so that slows you down. When I start to do a lot of training in the mountains all of my averages on flat training rides went down. Don't get caught up in average speed because it's all relative. If you want to get faster you need to train with people that are faster than you. It's hard to get faster training solo.

You can get "faster" by training with other people. To become a better rider and in turn faster you need to train properly. Training properly involves utilizing individualized training. The utilization of individualized training is best and most easily achieved by training solo.

18mph on a river trail makes you an intermediate recreational rider

18mph on a river trail makes you an intermediate recreational rider

:eek:DAMN. Well at least you didn't say " First timers on a bike go faster". Must have been a slow day on SART, as like I posted, only got passed once in 42 miles. Oh well, guess I will go back to the mountains where I can justify my slow assed pace. Thanks for all the input . :50:

:eek:DAMN. Well at least you didn't say " First timers on a bike go faster". Must have been a slow day on SART, as like I posted, only got passed once in 42 miles. Oh well, guess I will go back to the mountains where I can justify my slow assed pace. Thanks for all the input . :50:

I'm a newb, but almost all I ever ride is the SART (as I live a block from it) and I almost never get passed. I've been passed maybe 7 times in 550 miles over the last 6 weeks, and 2 of those were motorized bikes. SART is mostly recreational riders, and even the road bike guys that I see are usually just cruising at 16-17mph. As long as you're up over 15mph, I think it'll be rare to be passed on the SART.

I rode 100 miles on the SART yesterday, and averaged 19.6 mph with just a few minutes off the bike. The thing is though, I cheat. I ride one of those lay down contraptions, rather than an old fashioned bike.

My 85 year old Grandma averaged 18.4 on SART in her wheelchair. She would of done better if her dentures hadn't flew out when she hit a bumb near LakeView. :)

As long as you're up over 15mph, I think it'll be rare to be passed on the SART.

BS! I was doing 24 and got passed by a woman. I wouldn't have caught back up if her dentures hadn't flown out. :D

My 85 year old Grandma averaged 18.4 on SART in her wheelchair. She would of done better if her dentures hadn't flew out when she hit a bumb near LakeView. :)

Did she tell the "bumb" she was sorry ?:50:

Did she tell the "bumb" she was sorry ?:50:

You know a "b" is an uside down "p". That's a good determination of how fast she was going when she hit it!:D

You know a "b" is an uside down "p". That's a good determination of how fast she was going when she hit it!:D

:lol: And people say you have no sense of humor. You just made a funny. Nice one. :50:

:lol: And people say you have no sense of humor.

Me? I'm not the one riding one of those lay down contraptions!:D

18.3 isn't slow at all. That's better than a 5:30 century. But the numbers are rendered meaningless by so many unknown variables like wind speed & direction, if you had to wait at any stoplights (or if your computer is set up to count your non-moving time),

I noticed that riding became more enjoyable (and I got much faster) when I quit submitting to the cruel AVS-Mistress and instead completing my rides focusing on:
~deep yoga-style breathing (which invariably helps you to remain relaxed and stronger)
~remaining up on your sit-bones with spine extended (but relaxed)
~maintaining a fluid & supple, but strong spin

Might sound laughably simple (and even a little new-agey), but remaining focused on all three of those for the entire ride is harder than it sounds! Our backs naturally tense up when we approach large bumps in the road, and this tension accumulates and distracts you from maintaining your breathing, posture and fluid spin. I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that if you can maintain focus on the above three elements over that same 42 mile ride, that you'll completely crush your 18.3 avg; and feel a lot better at the end of it.

BTW, Gina's best on the 42 SART ride is 18.4....:innocent:

:fight: Ya, well you can tell Gina I am looking for her. :50:

Anybody have points that could make easy improvement in my riding? :50:

Yeah, ride smoothly. Once you are smooth, you will naturally get faster. I can't count how many bozos I see bouncing all over their bikes on the Santa Ana River bike path every week, somehow thinking they are going fast. That said, there are very few really fast riders regularly on that bike path, percentage-wise. I'm old, slow, usually in business casual attire when on that path and have only been passed once in the past year or so.

My 85 year old Grandma averaged 18.4 on SART in her wheelchair. She would of done better if her dentures hadn't flew out when she hit a bumb near LakeView. :)

Well if she can't keep her dentures in while moving, no GMR for her.:50: