Bike Forums

Bike Forums (https://www.bikeforums.net/forum.php)
-   General Cycling Discussion (https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/)
-   -   The Truth? (https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cycling-discussion/1077036-truth.html)

gringomojado 08-18-16 06:30 PM

The Truth?
 
How many riders post their true speeds and distances without padding? Are riders like weight lifters,runners,fishermen and lovers?

FBinNY 08-18-16 06:35 PM

I'm sure there are some, maybe even many who lie. I'm equally there are many, maybe even most, who don't.

I don't get lying since it doesn't matter anyway, but I guess there are people who want to look bigger or better than they are. OTOH I don't care since I get my satisfaction riding, and don't record any rides, much less publicize them.

one4smoke 08-18-16 06:47 PM

If I was going to lie, I'd make up something better than a 15-17 mph average speed. :roflmao2:

canklecat 08-18-16 06:49 PM

I just go with whatever Cyclemeter or Wahoo Fitness apps record. I'm only interested in long term results as a general indicator of fitness and activity, so I don't have any real use for Strava. Cyclemeter and Wahoo are only approximations anyway. Occasionally they'll record different distances for the same routes. If there's a way to fudge those numbers I haven't figured it out.

Wahoo is handy because it's free and features auto-pause/resume, but it also continues recording while I'm walking around doing grocery shopping, etc., so if I don't manually stop/start the app it'll usually reflect slower average times. Cyclemeter's free version doesn't feature auto-pause/resume, so I have to remember to pause/restart.

Not a big deal. The apps only tell me my average speed has increased gradually from around 10 mph when I first started riding again last year, to 13 mph now. Last year I typically rode no more than 10-12 miles per ride. Now I'm up to 20-40 miles. That's enough info for me as a general indication of fitness over time.

NYMXer 08-18-16 06:49 PM

Many, like me, will post their Strava link. As far as I know, that isn't something that can be manipulated.

Tonight's ride: https://www.strava.com/activities/68...ts/16690356678

FBinNY 08-18-16 06:55 PM


Originally Posted by one4smoke (Post 18994987)
If I was going to lie, I'd make up something better than a 15-17 mph average speed. :roflmao2:

Effective (for lack of a better word) lying is a skill, and requires some care.

In the case of speed/distance info, you want to lie upward to impress people, but you have to be careful to stay within the bounds of the plausible. Over-inflating the data defeats the purpose, since all you demonstrate is that you not only are lying, but are so ignorant that you don't even know the bounds of reality.

I have an automatic go/nogo filter for this kind of stuff. It weeds out the obvious liars, but I sometimes find myself wondering when folks just slightly shade the truth.

tclune 08-18-16 06:57 PM

I imagine lying is pretty cut-and-dried, but padding seems to me to be in the eye of the beholder. For example, my GPS reports my average speed -- but it's for the time that I'm actually moving. Stopping for a drink or to give my behind a rest or even taking a lunch break isn't included. I sort of think that the number of miles covered divided by the actual wall clock elapsed time is a more "honest" report of how many miles per hour I rode. I'm sure others would view the matter differently, and I am loathe to say that they are lying. While the two numbers are quite different for any decent ride that I take, they are both accurate in their own way.

ab antiquo 08-18-16 07:00 PM


Originally Posted by gringomojado (Post 18994962)
How many riders post their true speeds and distances without padding? Are riders like weight lifters,runners,fishermen and lovers?

Why do you care?

CrowSeph 08-18-16 07:07 PM

to be honest , i record but just for myself to know how many km i made for season , i don't share and i just feed my ego with the results not with the lies as a lots of ciclyst do ;)

JohnDThompson 08-18-16 07:10 PM

I don't even keep track of speed or mileage.

one4smoke 08-18-16 07:11 PM


Originally Posted by ab antiquo (Post 18995017)
Why do you care?

Why do you care why the OP cares? :rolleyes:

WizardOfBoz 08-18-16 07:16 PM


Originally Posted by one4smoke (Post 18994987)
If I was going to lie, I'd make up something better than a 15-17 mph average speed. :roflmao2:

Alas, 14.5 to 17 (lately ~15-15.5). :cry:

Arizona Nights 08-18-16 07:25 PM

I do 50 mph up mountain dirt roads and two centuries before breakfast on my Walmart Huffy.

Every. Single. Day.

ab antiquo 08-18-16 07:38 PM


Originally Posted by one4smoke (Post 18995037)
Why do you care why the OP cares? :rolleyes:

I care because his odds on silly justification/response should be entertaining.

Why do you care that I care why the OP cares?

bulldog1935 08-18-16 07:40 PM

the only way you're going to find out is by chasing them, and they clobbered a guy on a thread yesterday for doing that

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7.../aP3120010.jpg

Johnny Mullet 08-18-16 07:56 PM

Been cycling 3 years. Average speed between 3 bike computers = 12.6 MPH

DrIsotope 08-18-16 07:58 PM

For 2016, over the course of 7,333.3 miles and 298,776 vertical feet, I have averaged 16.4279mph.

That aside, average speed is a virtually meaningless metric, unless viewed as a trend. Because rides with my wife are 14-15mph, rides with the kids are under 10mph, and solo interval rides can be 20mph+.

Today I didn't even manage 15mph average, because it was hot, I climbed 1,800ft in the first 14 miles, and frankly, I just didn't feel like going faster.

ab antiquo 08-18-16 08:05 PM

One of the more fun rides that I've done over the last few months averaged 4.0 mph.

Average speed is a meaningless metric IMO.

JanMM 08-18-16 08:06 PM

Guess it's not kosher to say that I rode at [max speed] instead of [average speed] or [average moving speed]? Perfectly honest would be not so fast but steady.

jon c. 08-18-16 08:11 PM


Originally Posted by NYMXer (Post 18994998)
Many, like me, will post their Strava link. As far as I know, that isn't something that can be manipulated.

I don't use Strava, but I'd guess the road I live on is a segment as a lot of club riders come here to ride. One day I was out for a ride on a quiet afternoon and coming in the other direction was a car with their flashers on and a rider drafting behind. I had to suspect Strava might be involved.

gringomojado 08-18-16 08:14 PM


Originally Posted by ab antiquo (Post 18995017)
Why do you care?

who cares if I care? Just asked if figures were inflated People also inflate incomes and preachers inflate number of souls saved

ab antiquo 08-18-16 08:15 PM


Originally Posted by gringomojado (Post 18995186)
who cares if I care? Just asked if figures were inflated People also inflate incomes and preachers inflate number of souls saved

Non responsive. As expected.

bulldog1935 08-18-16 08:21 PM

maybe he's all out of pee?

ThermionicScott 08-18-16 08:25 PM

Is it dishonest to live vicariously through other people's inflated speeds?

one4smoke 08-18-16 08:40 PM


Originally Posted by ab antiquo (Post 18995095)
I care because his odds on silly justification/response should be entertaining.

Why do you care that I care why the OP cares?

Because the OP deserves to get legitimate responses, not negative wise-cracks.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:39 PM.


Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.