deanp

Less than three years ago I was like many others here, a struggling rider happy to get home after a six mile ride. Last night I had my first ride with an average over 19 mph. It was 32.71 miles in 1:43. Nothing that is going to make Levi quake in his cleats or anyone else. But I wanted to make a post about it for the lurkers and others to encourge them to keep riding. You can get faster and ride farther. It just comes in small gains. This is very shocking and earth shaking so get ready, I got faster and can ride farther by doing just that. Don't be afraid to show up for the fast group ride, getting shelled a few times will encourge you to try harder. I have been lucky to have a few faster friends who are patient enough to ride with me. Having someone to chase who will just stay a few yards off your wheel is a good carrot. Overall not bad for someone 47 years old and in 240s. The march to 225 and 20 mph continues.

CliftonGK1

Nice work! Soon that 31 miles will be 40, then 50, and a metric, then a full century at speed.

As much as some people may not want to believe it, the big guys can be fast distance riders, too. Last weekend I pulled out a 6:48:45 rolling time for 108.44 miles with 6100' of climbing. I'm 240 pounds and I ride a 30+ pound bike.

ncherry

Nice!

You want further scary news? You can go faster! Get in with a group and you'll break twenty easily. Two of us did 120 miles at 18.3 mph with a nasty head wind in one section. If we had had five people we would have done a lot better yet. If we didn't have that head wind we would have been close to 19 mph. BTW, I'm a bit lighter than you so that really is a very impressive speed. I'm down to 193 lb (down from 205 in January).

deanp

Oh the miles aren't a problem. Last Wednesday I rode 100 miles, followed by a group ride for 30 more Thursday and then 50 on Saturday and 70 more on Sunday. I'm approaching 2300 miles for the year. I just hadn't been able to crack through the 18s on any ride yet. Like many other clydes I really struggle on the hills. When the road tilts up my speed drops quickly. I have been working on that aspect of my riding, and there is some improvement, but there is still just a lot of me to drag up the hills.

ncherry

While I don't qualify as a Clyde directly (I do wear a Camelbak with about 20 - 30 lbs in it, no really!) I do have trouble with hills. I just go up the hill at my own pace. For some odd reason my friend and I have been going up the hills at a much better pace as of late (but not breaking any speed records). We're not really sure why yet. We've been training for a double century and we'll keep 17.0 - 17.8 as the pace for the day. The first 50 miles of the double has 3400 ft of climb but we'll still avg in the 17's for the day. I can't wait for that ride. :-) I'm looking forward to the climbs (and I'm a flat lander), I'm looking forward to the distance and I'm looking forward to the heat of the NJ Pine Barrens! I hate the cold!

UniversalFrost

ok, for those of you with problems on the hills go out and hit the leg press and squats or just go hiking up a lot of steep hills or mountains. I have bad knees, but do the hiking and leg press thing a lot and have zero problems with hills. I also don't have to get out of the saddle when hitting the hills and I make sure to gear correctly. You should be maintaining a constant cadence whether on the hills or flats.

when you race, the hills are where you can really put some distance between yourself and everyone else. also, breathing is a big factor. Many say in through the nose out through the mouth, personally, I just breathe from the mouth all the time and concentrate on pulling in air with my lower chest muscles and use the entire deep breath. If you take short quick breaths it is actually hurting you. Slow, steady and deep breaths will help out tremendously.

Also, congrats on the mph, you will improve even more in the long run.

zpl

I'm curious if your training was just riding in fast group rides or if you did any speed-specific training drills, such as intervals and/or hill repeats? - Scott

deanp

No, I have done any specific drills. I just ride and I try to pedal all the time. My area of Kansas has lots of rolling hills. You are almost always going up or down. If I was to coast down the hills I would only get half of a work out. I have just tried to ride faster each time I go out. I have moved through several group rides. If I get to the point were I'm leading the group I will find a new one. Chasing the faster people has worked so far. I have been considering adding some hill repeats lately to try and improve in that area.

st0ut

Singing....
go clyde racer
go clyde racer
go clyde racer goooooooooo

scrapmetal

WOW!!! Good for you, keep going.

Spartan112

I find myself much faster than last year as well. Of course I've shed 30lbs since the fall and another 8 or so lbs of weight with the new bike. I did this ride this morning at a 17.7mph avg, last year I would have been around 15 maybe 15.5mph.

https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...r/206504111741

deanp

Your experience is much like mine. My average has steadily climbed for the last three seasons as my weight dropped. It is not rocket science: more accumulated riding, less weight and I'm going faster. One thing slightly different so far this spring is that while I haven't lost much weight according to the scale, people are commenting about me being thinner still. And some of my clothes are noticeably looser. So I think I may have taken some weight off the middle and added it below, which is a good thing.

Quads>spare tire

Mr. Beanz

So true! I've done a timed event, 10,000 ft century with a roling time of 7:05/7:38 actual time at 220 lbs. It was beautiful man! Rolling past a bunch of liteweights!

5:45 solo flat century.

mkadam68

Congrats.

jaxgtr

Nice job