I've been to the Ozarks. and I've seen those HILLS. My brother-in-law that lives there calls them the Ozark MOUNTAINS, not the Ozark HILLS. And I agree. so I think your being to hard on yourself.

My normal route is mostly flat and I average around 12.5+

Are you a masher or a spinner? In other words, do you know your cadence?

If you're mashing, then that may be why your speed isn't improving.

If you want to improve your speed, they try using a lower gear and doing a higher RPM.

But if you're enjoying your rides and taking your time, then just keep doing what you're doing.

GH

Riding is riding; ride your ride the way you like it. If while riding with others your "buddies" get their panties in a not, f'm and go on riding your ride

12.5 to 13.5 mostly depending on the day, and typical max speed 25. Only reason I know this is a lower end Cateye I bought mostly to keep track of mileage. Don't want nor care to "improve" speed just for the sake of it. Cycling for me is just a fun, daily recreational workout.

Since that slow race competition reportedly gets pretty fierce, I wonder if those guys dope. You know - muscle relaxants, tranquilizers.

Hmm. When I started my reply, there weren't any other comments...

When by myself, I'm sort of a "middling-poke". My old cro-moly hybrid is not light, by modern standards, especially when I have my grocery-getter pannier bags attached, so I couldn't be "fast" if I wanted to be!

Since my Mom has gotten to the condition where I can't be gone for extended periods of time, my longer rides have been curtailed, but when I could, I was always a slow-poke, since my long rides were always about enjoying the view.

Ride your own ride. Enjoy the pace YOU set for yourself. If you WANT to go faster, then set that as a goal. If you're just enjoying the ride, then just enjoy the ride. I'm way past needing to impress anyone or even myself. I'm getting exercise and enjoying myself. That's what it's all about. For me, to set a goal that requires real work becomes, well, "work" rather than recreation. I blow off a lot of steam and stress relief by riding. Sometimes I push, mostly I just settle into a nice comfortable pace and go as long and far as I can given that day's energy levels and time constraints.
So like I said, ride your own ride.

Cycletouring , my pace averages about 7 MPH, but with long summer days and 6 + hours turning the pedals

I managed to tour through many countries. west Europe to East and back ..

Who rides the slowest century among us?

I thought I did one two years ago but found out later that I was two miles short. Still haven't finished it, but I will one day!

I enjoy pushing myself but I can't say that I am fast. Nor do I care. I like it when I feel I'm getting fitter and faster - compared to me, not to others.

Ha..I anticipate, or not, my first century to occur 28 years from now

I rode a century and may never ride another.

I'm not slow but the guy who dropped me yesterday sure was

I just had my cassette switched from a 13-23 to an 11-28 with a 52-39 chain ring. Granny gears are for grandpa's, too. Only a couple of rides with it but the hills are much more tolerable now. Not faster, just more tolerable. I also recently came across a bike quote to the effect "I might be slow but I lap everybody on the couch."

While I can't claim YEARS like Gerryattrick, I have ridden Hilly Hundred based out of Bloomington IN twice back in the '70s - and that is/was 100 miles over two days.

When it comes to cadence, everyone is different. I didn't get faster until I gave up on the high cadence riding and just went with what felt natural for me (63-70).

I rode a slow 30 miles yesterday, 10 miles just sitting back on the saddle with no hands on the bars, and my legs hurt more this morning than from Saturday's 71 miler with 40 being on an "A" ride. Go figure.

True, but if you have a low cadence and want to improve your speed, going to a higher cadence will help in the long run.

And interval training is supposed to be good for improving your speed.

GH

The main thing is to enjoy it no matter what others are doing. You're out in the fresh air and doing something positive.

My kind of cyclist.

What is really funny is all the "fast" riders will always have to contend with the fact that someone is alway faster than they are. OTOH slow riders seldom worry or care if someone is slower than they are.

I'm one of the slowest--if not the slowest--on our Wednesday night rides of 20 - 25 miles. Fortunately, the ride leader of this no-drop ride makes it a point to cruise back to make sure we are still alive. I've decided that I ride for the enjoyment. Being slow is a state of mind and, so far, my mind is fine.

Just a thought...

Eh. I can't say that I have a natural speed per se. I do have a very natural instinctive, burned in cadence, though. When I climb onto a bike and begin riding, it doesn't take long to lock in to about 88-92 rpms depending.

From there, it's just a question of gearing, how I'm feeling power wise, and whether I'm in a group or alone. Speed will be whatever it is. Now that I've become a regular commuter and I know exactly how far I must ride and how many minutes it takes, it looks like my riding speed is ~13.5 mph. That's over fairly hilly terrain, maybe 450-500 feet over ~8 miles. That, and hauling some clothes and food and stuff.