Am I slow like a turtle or what ? ;-)
07-17-12, 01:26 PM
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Am I slow like a turtle or what ? ;-)
I have an Devinci Prague hybrid with 28/38/48 rings with an 7 speed 14/34 cassette.
Am I a turtle or what ? Most of the peoples seems to ride at 18/20 mph on their bike
I'm mostly on middle front gear , fifth gear at the back, guys how fast are you cruising in this configuration ? I am 52, 250 pounds, keep my HBeat at 140, RPM around 75/80 and all I could get is on average 14mph....Am I in the ballpark or way too slow ? Thanks ;-))
Am I a turtle or what ? Most of the peoples seems to ride at 18/20 mph on their bike
I'm mostly on middle front gear , fifth gear at the back, guys how fast are you cruising in this configuration ? I am 52, 250 pounds, keep my HBeat at 140, RPM around 75/80 and all I could get is on average 14mph....Am I in the ballpark or way too slow ? Thanks ;-))
07-17-12, 01:33 PM
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There's a lot more to riding a bike than going fast. You're too slow to win the Tour de France or the Paris-Roubaix, but, if that isn't your goal, then you're riding fast enough. Personally, I like climbing mountains, and I'll get to the top in good time; I wish I could average 14 mph up Steven's Pass. 
If you go out and ride a lot, though, speed will come.
If you go out and ride a lot, though, speed will come.
07-17-12, 01:36 PM
#3
aka: Mike J.
Efficiency often comes down to cadence, so what pedal revolution cadence are you pedaling at?
I think most pedal at around 80-95rpm, above 100 and you're probably a fast twitch muscle build, below 70rpm and either you're just going slow or are pedaling too big of a gear and your knees might not last long.
Cadence times gearing gives you your speed, gear ratios by themselves without a cadence number is only somewhat helpful.
I think most pedal at around 80-95rpm, above 100 and you're probably a fast twitch muscle build, below 70rpm and either you're just going slow or are pedaling too big of a gear and your knees might not last long.
Cadence times gearing gives you your speed, gear ratios by themselves without a cadence number is only somewhat helpful.
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07-17-12, 01:48 PM
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There's a lot more to riding a bike than going fast. You're too slow to win the Tour de France or the Paris-Roubaix, but, if that isn't your goal, then you're riding fast enough. Personally, I like climbing mountains, and I'll get to the top in good time; I wish I could average 14 mph up Steven's Pass.
If you go out and ride a lot, though, speed will come.
If you go out and ride a lot, though, speed will come.
Thanks for helping the french canadian newbie ;-)
07-17-12, 02:22 PM
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your faster than me and I ride a road bike
I find with cadence if my legs burn I shift up the back cog, and if my lungs burn I shift down the back cog. I try to get a good balance where both are burning the same.
I will say though that after I trained myself to spin at 95-100 that I was able to ride longer on consecutive days. I didnt go faster just taxed my heart and not my muscles, heart/lungs recover faster than leg muscles.
I find with cadence if my legs burn I shift up the back cog, and if my lungs burn I shift down the back cog. I try to get a good balance where both are burning the same.
I will say though that after I trained myself to spin at 95-100 that I was able to ride longer on consecutive days. I didnt go faster just taxed my heart and not my muscles, heart/lungs recover faster than leg muscles.
07-17-12, 02:49 PM
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If you're staying upright, you're going fast enough.
07-17-12, 02:55 PM
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18 - 20 miles an hour is fast for even a club rider. I would say average speed for most people is 12 - 15 mph if even that but regardless who are you comparing yourself to and why? Cycling by and large is an individual sport and you know when you are pushing yourself or slacking off. For some people 10 miles an hour is pushing... there is nothing wrong with that...
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07-17-12, 03:49 PM
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You gonna eat that?
Cadence-schmadence. 90 rpm is for little guys. If you got the weight, use it. Mash, baby, mash.
The key is to be comfortable when you ride and have fun, and don't worry about the people who are faster than you. Stick with it and you'll get faster.
My average speed is typically about 13 mph; plenty fast enough for me. With a group I can push more speed, but if I can't keep up, I don't care.
The key is to be comfortable when you ride and have fun, and don't worry about the people who are faster than you. Stick with it and you'll get faster.
My average speed is typically about 13 mph; plenty fast enough for me. With a group I can push more speed, but if I can't keep up, I don't care.
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07-17-12, 04:00 PM
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That's reassuring, maybe I was reading only the post where some liked to brag a little about their performance ;-) Its not that I wanted to go faster its just that I tought that I was out of the average recreative rider performance. I'm far from being ready for the tour de france, le tour of my belly is way too big for me to consider a new carreer.I started about 1 year ago to ride almost every day , a little 7 miles right after work and 14 miles during Sat and Sun. Its not a lot but its more than what I was doing before. I feel much better , diabetes more in control. Now I have to control my forks and knives.......:-( thanks again guys :-)
07-17-12, 04:03 PM
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07-17-12, 04:04 PM
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You're 52, have a heartbeat and are pedaling. That's faster then a lot of folks 
Some good advice has been given above...
CJC puts it right with respect to cadence imho - it's either your legs or your lungs. Try to alternate.
Speed along with the ability to go distances will come in time.
I averaged 10.6 on a ride I did back in June. For that ride it was a decent average. 100Km with 2538 meters of gain.
Some good advice has been given above...
CJC puts it right with respect to cadence imho - it's either your legs or your lungs. Try to alternate.
Speed along with the ability to go distances will come in time.
I averaged 10.6 on a ride I did back in June. For that ride it was a decent average. 100Km with 2538 meters of gain.
07-17-12, 04:19 PM
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Age, fitness, terrain, cycle style and your individual motivation for being on a bike, all contribute to how quickly one cycles.
The averages in frying pan flat Florida for the same cyclist will be a couple mph higher than if that cyclist was in a hilly or mountainous location. Locally, we adjust the expected average on group rides by as much as 2 mph to account for variation in road surface quality (rough chip seal vs asphalt).
Typically, if a "clyde" is averaging 16mph on rolling to hilly terrain, they're doing pretty good. It might not compare with what roadies in the 41 are claiming. But, I can tell you that I ride with a lot of skinny, fit, middle aged men who have been cycling for many years and they have to push it to maintain 16 mph over the course of an entire ride.
Enjoy your rides for the reasons that you enjoy riding. If you want to go faster, work at doing so. If you don't, then don't worry and go have a great ride.
The averages in frying pan flat Florida for the same cyclist will be a couple mph higher than if that cyclist was in a hilly or mountainous location. Locally, we adjust the expected average on group rides by as much as 2 mph to account for variation in road surface quality (rough chip seal vs asphalt).
Typically, if a "clyde" is averaging 16mph on rolling to hilly terrain, they're doing pretty good. It might not compare with what roadies in the 41 are claiming. But, I can tell you that I ride with a lot of skinny, fit, middle aged men who have been cycling for many years and they have to push it to maintain 16 mph over the course of an entire ride.
Enjoy your rides for the reasons that you enjoy riding. If you want to go faster, work at doing so. If you don't, then don't worry and go have a great ride.
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07-17-12, 04:35 PM
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Let's not forget this is a subsample group containing OCD cyclists. I would expect the average poster here to be faster than the average cyclist at large.
07-17-12, 04:41 PM
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Speed is nothing really UNLESS it is one of your goals. But Seattle is right, sit on the saddle and enjoy the ride. Things are really pretty and change according to the seasons.
07-17-12, 05:05 PM
#15
aka: Mike J.
Ah, I glossed right over the rpm's. You're doing just fine.
edit to add: I'm currently 57 at last count, weight down from 250 Lbs in January to about 234 Lbs at last weigh-in mostly just through changing eating habits (quality and quantity). Have not been able to get out much on the bike this year yet due to helping family and friends in need (helping people move has been my exercise lately). Only adding this since this is the Clyde/Athena section in case anyone was curious.
Anyway, enjoy your riding, you are doing just fine.
edit to add: I'm currently 57 at last count, weight down from 250 Lbs in January to about 234 Lbs at last weigh-in mostly just through changing eating habits (quality and quantity). Have not been able to get out much on the bike this year yet due to helping family and friends in need (helping people move has been my exercise lately). Only adding this since this is the Clyde/Athena section in case anyone was curious.
Anyway, enjoy your riding, you are doing just fine.
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Last edited by treebound; 07-17-12 at 05:36 PM.
07-17-12, 06:06 PM
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Its all about terrain. I usually average 12mph but can easily cover 1800ft of climbing in 20 miles whereas the 18-20mph folk, 9 out of 10 times are on flat bike paths or live in Texas 
.
I was amused a few months back when a member who regularly posts 18+mph average posted his garmin stats He 'climbed' 300ft over 15 miles and complained it was a 'rolling hills' ride. I have to climb more than that leaving the driveway.
In March, we went camping in another state and I took a ride around the area - 50 miles later (and less than 800ft of climbing) I was fresh as a daisy. Its amazing how far you can go when things are flat.
.I was amused a few months back when a member who regularly posts 18+mph average posted his garmin stats He 'climbed' 300ft over 15 miles and complained it was a 'rolling hills' ride. I have to climb more than that leaving the driveway.
In March, we went camping in another state and I took a ride around the area - 50 miles later (and less than 800ft of climbing) I was fresh as a daisy. Its amazing how far you can go when things are flat.
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07-17-12, 06:20 PM
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Put a 60 big ring on the front. Yesterday in the forum, a person was talking about how fast that made him.
Maybe it was a spelling mistake. 50 is big enough.
You have a fine bike and gears for riding for pleasure. Do that, and enjoy it.
Maybe it was a spelling mistake. 50 is big enough.
You have a fine bike and gears for riding for pleasure. Do that, and enjoy it.
07-18-12, 07:38 AM
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Cadence-schmadence. 90 rpm is for little guys. If you got the weight, use it. Mash, baby, mash.
The key is to be comfortable when you ride and have fun, and don't worry about the people who are faster than you. Stick with it and you'll get faster.
My average speed is typically about 13 mph; plenty fast enough for me. With a group I can push more speed, but if I can't keep up, I don't care.
The key is to be comfortable when you ride and have fun, and don't worry about the people who are faster than you. Stick with it and you'll get faster.
My average speed is typically about 13 mph; plenty fast enough for me. With a group I can push more speed, but if I can't keep up, I don't care.
07-18-12, 07:48 AM
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That's reassuring, maybe I was reading only the post where some liked to brag a little about their performance ;-) Its not that I wanted to go faster its just that I tought that I was out of the average recreative rider performance. I'm far from being ready for the tour de france, le tour of my belly is way too big for me to consider a new carreer.I started about 1 year ago to ride almost every day , a little 7 miles right after work and 14 miles during Sat and Sun. Its not a lot but its more than what I was doing before. I feel much better , diabetes more in control. Now I have to control my forks and knives.......:-( thanks again guys :-)
07-18-12, 08:01 AM
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The best advice on speed i got here from someone (sorry forgot)
You dont have to be the fastest person in the group, when being chased you just have to be faster than the slowest person.
You dont have to be the fastest person in the group, when being chased you just have to be faster than the slowest person.
07-18-12, 06:30 PM
#22
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I mostly ride on a MUP near my home. I often feel like if I'm going too fast to smile and wave at people I pass and laugh at the silly grins every dog seems to wear, it's too fast. I know I'm way faster than the person sitting on the couch watching TV.
07-18-12, 06:55 PM
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Remember that you're on a $400 bike that - unless you changed them - doesn't have road slicks, but knobby 700c tires... You're also in a very upright position on that model. Averaging 22km/h or 14mph is pretty darned good in that scenario. Put on some 700x28c slicks and you'll move a little faster...
Yes, many of us can keep up 20mph for 100km fairly easily, sure - on a reasonably flat ride with a much-more expensive true road bicycle... I wouldn't maintain 18-20mph for long on your bike...
If you're getting in better shape and enjoying riding the bike you have, that's fantastic and it's what's important. If you want to go faster, start looking at a true road bike - used is a great way to start... As I approach your age though (nearing 50 myself) I find it best to not worry about speed... Just enjoy riding!
Yes, many of us can keep up 20mph for 100km fairly easily, sure - on a reasonably flat ride with a much-more expensive true road bicycle... I wouldn't maintain 18-20mph for long on your bike...
If you're getting in better shape and enjoying riding the bike you have, that's fantastic and it's what's important. If you want to go faster, start looking at a true road bike - used is a great way to start... As I approach your age though (nearing 50 myself) I find it best to not worry about speed... Just enjoy riding!
07-18-12, 07:02 PM
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Remember that you're on a $400 bike that - unless you changed them - doesn't have road slicks, but knobby 700c tires... You're also in a very upright position on that model. Averaging 22km/h or 14mph is pretty darned good in that scenario. Put on some 700x28c slicks and you'll move a little faster...
Yes, many of us can keep up 20mph for 100km fairly easily, sure - on a reasonably flat ride with a much-more expensive true road bicycle... I wouldn't maintain 18-20mph for long on your bike...
If you're getting in better shape and enjoying riding the bike you have, that's fantastic and it's what's important. If you want to go faster, start looking at a true road bike - used is a great way to start... As I approach your age though (nearing 50 myself) I find it best to not worry about speed... Just enjoy riding!
Yes, many of us can keep up 20mph for 100km fairly easily, sure - on a reasonably flat ride with a much-more expensive true road bicycle... I wouldn't maintain 18-20mph for long on your bike...
If you're getting in better shape and enjoying riding the bike you have, that's fantastic and it's what's important. If you want to go faster, start looking at a true road bike - used is a great way to start... As I approach your age though (nearing 50 myself) I find it best to not worry about speed... Just enjoy riding!
07-18-12, 07:38 PM
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14?? That's right around the ballpark. I once averaged 13.9 average on a hilly ride.
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