Originally Posted by
DnvrFox
There is a 65-85+ thread, if you are interested.
You talking uphill or downhill?
Your bike on the top of car or pedaling it yourself?
Wish I could remember your question.
OP here - no LOL for me! Your third sentence inspired me - I can now see my way to posting results on Connect.Garmin.com that show my ride with 20+ averages. The trick will be to avoid becoming greedy - would you believe 38 MPH average? Thanks, DnvrFox, for the inspiration.
Originally Posted by
chinarider
+1. No matter how fast you are, unless you're world class there is always someone who can crush you. So the only meaningful measure is your own potential and goals. If you reach them, you win. And if you don't but have fun trying and get healthier in the process, you win.
I agree 100%. My hesitation in posting was that my post would sound like I thought I was the greatest. I know I will get crushed regularly, by young and old alike. I am winning by my (and your) definition - I'm definitely getting healthier, and I enjoy it most the time (although I got pretty weary in the last 90 minutes of my 68 mile ride today).
Originally Posted by
stapfam
...it was long distance rides that got my interest. Metrics and 100 milers----But offroad. If you want to find out where your limits are- get a mountain bike and do a 100 miler with plenty of hills.....
I am staggered by the very thought. And you look so very, very young in your picture. And then it's made more impressive to me because it's in England - I don't picture England with lots of undeveloped land.
[On a side note, I got my first "racing bike" in England when I was 9 years old. I used to ride it to the American military school 6 miles away rather than take the bus. I lived there 4 years, starting on my 8th birthday, a little south of London (my Dad was stationed at South Ruislip {sp?**)]
Originally Posted by
ciocc_cat
"How fast are old folks?" I'm 55 and typically average around 17 mph riding solo. I live in south Louisiana, so there's not much in the way of climbing or descending. I started riding again in May 2009 after a 17+ year hiatus. I've cranked out a 27.3 mph sprint which I guess ain't too shabby for an "old fart".
I saw 27 today on a flat stretch. But I noticed I was under 18 on the return leg. Maybe it wasn't as flat as it seemed through my rose-colored glasses.
Originally Posted by
seemunkee
The quickest I've done my regular 10 miler this season is 17.8mph. Longer rides tend to average 16-16.5. Have only riden with other people once this year so I don't really have anyone to push me.
I find that I regularly do ride faster in groups. There's always that group just ahead that dropped me - I don't like to accept the fact that they're faster. They drop me on climbs (my extra 30+ pounds really hurts on ascents) and I just dig a little deeper on the flats and smile as I pick them off on descents.
[Then, of course, they just drop me repeatedly until I simply can't keep up! Foolish behavior by me, but it's part of my motivation.]
Originally Posted by
Floyd
I am only 58 so not old yet ... I go out for exercize and the thrill of the ride so am not concerned about speed. I do not know my average but I see the speedometer saying anywhere from 14 up to 17 or 18. Here in the hills of Kansas it is hard to say unless i would look at the average computed by the electronic wonder.
peace and enjoy the ride.
I often ride with a group on Wednesday that goes somewhat slower - there's a sweep rider, whoever is riding with the leader will peel off and mark each turn until the sweep appears, and they usually have well-planned breaks every 15-20 miles. I enjoy the rides a lot. But like I said in the original post, I wanted to be able to do group rides without slowing them down, and that means working at it. Work is OK with me. And I like the results.
Originally Posted by
HiYoSilver
Turtle. Barely over 12 mph, but then I include total time, including time stopped at lights, and divide by distance.
Exactly how I started. My first real group ride was 38 miles in 2:50 overall - 13 MPH, and I worked like a dog! It was my first ride longer than one hour. I didn't have a computer at the time, and I found the 13 MPH was pretty consistent for a while.
Thanks all - you made me feel better. And that's on top of a woman I haven't seen in a couple months telling me I look ten years younger - "much more fit." Ahhh...