Pace-lines are like communes. Each rider "gives according to ability, and takes according to need". Don't sweat it. I'm sure they don't, because they've all been there. And better pace-lines rotate more quickly. There is a difference between "taking turns pulling" and a real pace-line.

+1 If you aren't racing, then fast enough is whatever you decide it is!

I like the fact I am riding faster now than when I was in my 40's. That is the key, kiptest, to enjoy the ride. If you enjoy riding faster, keep pushing the envelope. Finding a club you are comfortable riding with might help. If riding faster makes cycling less fun, slow down, accept that fact, and enjoy.

I agree, My measure is to keep my heart rate in the mid 150's for the ride, and the speed, is what it is,(usually14to16) I am 68 and rode 9Kmiles last year.

I'm in my mid-60's and don't ride my single very much, but a 30-40 mile ride with 50'/mile of climbing I'd probably be around 17 mph, but I'd be working. We'd actually be a bit slower on the tandem since my wife is not a good climber. The tandem is more fun, however, especially on the downhills. We just want to be able to enjoy 100K and Centuries in a reasonable time, maybe averaging 15 mph on the century.

If you're not a racer, why does speed matter?

Average speed is so misleading. So much so that I don't even pay attention to it anymore.

I ride in an area that has lots of ravines and rollers as well as a pretty brisk wind. It was a little cool today at 35-40F but who cares , the sun was out and I'm on a brand new bike! :)
This is from today, my third ride this spring. I haven't hooked up my cadence sensor yet on this bike so I don't know what it was for this ride but I usually average around 89-92 rpm.

Distance 18.27 mi
Altitude gain 1200 ft.
Avg speed 11.7 mph
Avg HR 156

Some of those hills have over a 10% grade so I'm not surprised that my average speed is so low.

I've been averaging about 16-17mph on the flats when I'm not dodging people and dogs :notamused: and I wasn't pushing it because of the cool weather.

I was in the saddle for about 1h33min and I took a break of about 20 minutes comparing notes with a guy my age who lives in the neighbourhood and rides an Cervelo RS. The one common thing I've noticed whenever I talk to anybody in the 50+ age group while I'm on the road is that everybody complains about all their various ailments. :lol:

I have to admit that I am guilty of having some sort of an idea as to what I'm going to work on when I'm out there but since I don't race I keep things flexible. I ride solo and I know my average speed will get better as the year goes on. Did I have fun ? Damn right I did !

The point is, you just want to get out there and enjoy yourself !

I've noticed this too. We rolled by another rider on a ride then stopped at a park to rewater. The rider came up and said, "wow, your wife is strong, I couldn't keep up with her". I said thanks then he said," of course I am almost 50. I said we are too. He said well I have 3 grandkids , I said we have 8, he said well she's on a Bianchi, I said we only paid $40 for it (1984) and you're on a Cinelli (high end frame and wheels, too rich for my blood). He said I had pnuemonia last year, I said she donated a kidney.:D

He finally gave up and left.:p

She's only 48 but her best average is 18.4 on a flat 42 miler and an Athena in weight class.:thumb:...I'm a clyde.:D
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...me/021409B.jpg

averaging 17 mph solo w/ some ups and downs is decent I think

Hi
I'm 47 yrs old and bought a secondhand road bike in the week. I went for my first ride yesterday, 68 km, and did 48km this morning, both with mild/ rolling hills. I averaged 20 km/h and 21.1km/h and as a starter that is good enough for me. I was the slowest cyclist on the road as many, even guys on mountainbikes pass me with ease , but that does not concern me. Although I check the basic cycle computer at times, I ride according to my body. If my body tells me i'm too fast, I slow down. With regular riding my average over the same routes will become faster, even I don't plan it (depending on the weather)

My advice is too go as fast as your body allows, for the time that you intend ride. If you plan a 20km ride, the average could be a fit faster than for a 60 km, if the conditions are the same. I believe in starting conservative/ slow, and to finish fast/ strong
(Maybe i'm too inexperienced as a cyclist too give advice to others, but i'm applying the principles which i used as a runner for the past 7 years. As a runner, I never walked, not even up the toughest hills- as a wanna be cyclist, I wont push my bike up the toughest hills, or call my wife to fetch me halfway)

My cynical self says it matters because you've been told it matters, because speed sells products... much like sex. You are not a real man, or "cyclist" unless you can cruise at 20mph and drop that loser off your wheel. So...you must go faster, and buy the equipment that promises you wil go faster. And, analyze your rides afterward to verify to the world you are going faster.

For the OP, I don't ride a modern roadie bike, so my knowledge of "how fast are you" is limited to looking down at the speedo, or asking a friend riding next to me what our pace is if I'm on a bike without...like fixed gear, on a bike not made to be fastest. Generally, a cruising speed in the flats of 15mph on a heavier tour-type bike is a good ride, if my bike has 26" wheels it may be less. On my fixed gear or cafe racer I might pop up to 17 or 18 for a run, but I see no reason to stay there for long distances, because I want to get off the bike in few hours and be normal; go do other things and not feel tapped. I'm 58 and a fairly fit 225lb, mix gym routines in with biking. On long rides I stop often, take in the view, have my espresso. If the weather is OK, I'll do a century a month and lots of 30-60 mile loops.

If you have a dismissive attitude to the hype about bike performance and speed, riding can be purely about the joy of the experience. However, you do lose the companionship of all those riders who see it differently. And, when you friends go over to the other (dark) side, buy $5K carbon bikes and become obsessed with speed and analysis, you become the odd man out. But, you have maintained your sanity. :)

I happen to like being the odd woman out!

You don't have to race just to have fun and see how you do in comparison. It's enjoyable to better a previous time or average speed. But it doesn't have to be an obsession either.

Uuuuh Yeeeeeeah! The day we went out to test the Bianchi, you dropped us like a bad habit!:eek:

If you're riding centuries at age 55, you're doing pretty well. If you're having fun riding your bike, you're doing pretty well.

I'm 55 and got up to an average of about 220 miles per week from last July through November (highest week was 305) and also tried to get in about 8 hours a week (including some intervals) on the trainer in the winter. My definition of "having fun" includes challenging myself to get faster on local time trial courses and Strava segments. I don't race either, but I'm highly obsessive and just love to push myself to get faster. I've done a solo 30 miles in 1:28:15 (20.4 mph) with no aero components on a loop with 27 feet per mile of "climbing" (nothing above 2.6% grade). I'd guess that's well above average for a Fred who started riding at age 50, but it's still downright slow to a lot of people, including me - I still have this fantasy of doing a solo century under 5 hours someday. Judging by what I've seen from the local club riders, the "average" 50+ cyclist who rides enough to do regular 30-milers would probably do about 13-14 mph for 30 miles on that moderately easy course just cruising along talking and would do 16+ mph pushing the pace solo.

But it all boils down to what's fun - that's how fast a 55-year-old "should" be able to ride.

Anything is possible. I am up to averaging 13.5 to 15.6 depending on elevation and wind and if I had two cigars the night before. I just turned 60. That said, at 60 I am turning in my best times since returning to riding in 2008. There is still room for improving if you put in the effort.

A friend who rides 800 miles a month averages 20+ all the time, elevation is nothing for him. He also weighs 30 pounds less than me. For his 62 birthday he is planning a 250 mile day.

The best part of cycling is just competing against yourself. Root for your friends, whatever their averages might be.

I added whey protein back into my post ride recovery. I am getting stronger, but I can't loose weight and use protein.

:thumb:

65 in flat FL here. Average time on my 32 mile loop is 2hrs 6mins. If there is wind it doesn't change much because I am head in half the time and tail wind the other half. I am not straining or trying to prove anything that just seems to be my natural gate.

Over 45 miles I start to lose average speed, and that feels good too.

Mike

Protein supps are great for strength if you like to do hills or crank hard on the flats.

The easiest things to measure are how fast and how far you have ridden. To me that's nice to know but it's not how I define myself.

I want a meter that gauges how much fun I'm having. If I had such a device I suspect that, while it might take a serious speed push or hill climb to peg the meter one day, I might have to slow down or completely stop and talk with more people to max out my fun meter on the next.

Good question but too many variables. Will be 69 very very soon and road biking just two years. Also heavy but live in South Florida with wind but no hills.

Alone I average between 15.5 and 16.5 and in a group 16.5 to 17.5 or so for 45 to 50 miles, so 30 would be less. Ride with friends in early to mid 60s who go about 3 MPH faster but they are serious riders.

get Strava app and pay for premium and can compare your rides with others in your age, gender and weight group on same segments. If you do core strengthening exercises and weights and do hi intensity runs and get your heart rate above 85% of Max! you will get stronger and faster.

As noted by others, just enjoy riding and don't worry about comparing yourself to others.

He's 58 now.

Here in the open farmland, I have a pretty high number of windy days (although today is over double the typical prevailing wind). Most days, here, I would cover that distance in about one and a half or two hours if I push myself. If I ride at the leisurely pace (with my wife along), three hours.

It seems the OP posted once and disappeared.