a bit frustrated
09-27-13, 01:24 PM
#51
Senior Member
If speed is your goal, a hybrid is not going to cut it. Heavy, slow tires, and an upright posture. Get a road or cross bike. My cross check is my good weather commuter, not the lightest but I can get into the drops when fighting a headwind. I think that after 15mph, wind resistance cuts into the speed factor. I'm more of a mt biker and commuter, so speed is seldom one of my main goals.
09-28-13, 08:20 AM
#52
Big Boned Biker
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Ok, so for fun I went and tried out a trek crossrip. I see the difference, and I am kicking myself for doing it...what a sweet ride!
09-28-13, 08:59 AM
#53
Carpe Velo
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Stamina for distance comes before speed.
I've been on and off the bike my whole adult life, but until recently I was off more than on. when I got back on 2 1/2 years ago, I could manage to cruise at 11 or 12 with a decent effort, and my average was 10-11. I got passed one day by a guy on a rusted Huffy cruiser with the saddle way too low. Yesterday morning I did 33 miles and was able to hold an average of 13 on the way out into a headwind. On the way back, going with that wind, I was flying at 17-20 and averaged 14.2 for the entire ride, which is .1 mph from my personal best.
That represents a major improvement in my performance over several years, but numerically, it doesn't sound like a lot. I still get passed by most of the types that look like serious racers and the occasional rider in cutoff jeans and flip flops.
My wife has been riding with me for 1 1/2 years now. At the beginning, her cruising speed (not average) was about 6 1/2 mph, which I find painfully slow, and she could ride perhaps 5 miles tops. She's still fairly slow, but now averages over 8 mph and has done 20+ mile rides a number of times now. But she has to do them at the pace her legs want to take her. I'm hoping she can get to where she can cruise at 10-12, but she doesn't get out on the bike as often as I do, so it is still a ways off.
It takes time and mileage.
I've been on and off the bike my whole adult life, but until recently I was off more than on. when I got back on 2 1/2 years ago, I could manage to cruise at 11 or 12 with a decent effort, and my average was 10-11. I got passed one day by a guy on a rusted Huffy cruiser with the saddle way too low. Yesterday morning I did 33 miles and was able to hold an average of 13 on the way out into a headwind. On the way back, going with that wind, I was flying at 17-20 and averaged 14.2 for the entire ride, which is .1 mph from my personal best.
That represents a major improvement in my performance over several years, but numerically, it doesn't sound like a lot. I still get passed by most of the types that look like serious racers and the occasional rider in cutoff jeans and flip flops.
My wife has been riding with me for 1 1/2 years now. At the beginning, her cruising speed (not average) was about 6 1/2 mph, which I find painfully slow, and she could ride perhaps 5 miles tops. She's still fairly slow, but now averages over 8 mph and has done 20+ mile rides a number of times now. But she has to do them at the pace her legs want to take her. I'm hoping she can get to where she can cruise at 10-12, but she doesn't get out on the bike as often as I do, so it is still a ways off.
It takes time and mileage.
09-28-13, 12:56 PM
#54
Senior Member
There are often days I think to myself I rushed into the purchase of the Detour, I should have shopped around more, etc. but overall looking at my stats I think the Detour is infact working at strengthening my leg muscles, I've done some long distance rides (up to 50 miles) without killing myself, my shorter training rides have been slowly getting faster as well. For example, I started out riding 10 miles at less than ~10mph and have to stop 5 times to rest in such a short distance - now I can do the same distance at a 14.5mph average speed (cruise speed 15-16 mph). So I'd say the engine needs work before you jump to conclusions and say the bike is the problem.
The key is to set up a training program that works for you. Don't do too much but push yourself at least twice a week to see improvements. Over the summmer I would do 10 mile loops every evening (not including commutes to the store), take Fridays and Sundays off and ride longer distances on Saturdays (25+). Stick with it and you'll do better.
09-28-13, 01:19 PM
#55
Big Boned Biker
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Just curious, how long have you had the Detour 4.5? Would an upgrade to the Trek be feasible financially? Maybe you could work out a deal with your LBS to trade-in the Detour.
There are often days I think to myself I rushed into the purchase of the Detour, I should have shopped around more, etc. but overall looking at my stats I think the Detour is infact working at strengthening my leg muscles, I've done some long distance rides (up to 50 miles) without killing myself, my shorter training rides have been slowly getting faster as well. For example, I started out riding 10 miles at less than ~10mph and have to stop 5 times to rest in such a short distance - now I can do the same distance at a 14.5mph average speed (cruise speed 15-16 mph). So I'd say the engine needs work before you jump to conclusions and say the bike is the problem.
The key is to set up a training program that works for you. Don't do too much but push yourself at least twice a week to see improvements. Over the summmer I would do 10 mile loops every evening (not including commutes to the store), take Fridays and Sundays off and ride longer distances on Saturdays (25+). Stick with it and you'll do better.
There are often days I think to myself I rushed into the purchase of the Detour, I should have shopped around more, etc. but overall looking at my stats I think the Detour is infact working at strengthening my leg muscles, I've done some long distance rides (up to 50 miles) without killing myself, my shorter training rides have been slowly getting faster as well. For example, I started out riding 10 miles at less than ~10mph and have to stop 5 times to rest in such a short distance - now I can do the same distance at a 14.5mph average speed (cruise speed 15-16 mph). So I'd say the engine needs work before you jump to conclusions and say the bike is the problem.
The key is to set up a training program that works for you. Don't do too much but push yourself at least twice a week to see improvements. Over the summmer I would do 10 mile loops every evening (not including commutes to the store), take Fridays and Sundays off and ride longer distances on Saturdays (25+). Stick with it and you'll do better.
i know part of it is the engine, but is also think a few other factors might be part of it. When I tried out the crossrip I noticed it fit me better. I think my current bike might be a size to small, as guessed at what he thought would work. I figure though, no matter how fast, or slow, I'm still doing better than my couch a t home.
