well, the headwind I encounter on every ride seems to average out to be ~20mph.

16-18mph for two hours

Does average cadence include any times where you are coasting?? There are plenty of times where I stop pedalling going downhill, or approaching a stoplight or whatever else.

Since you can get a regular cadence counter on an Astrale for under $40, that might be a good option for the OP.

high teens

14-16 mph (rolling hills)

I can't do math. So I just count revolutions for 60 seconds and multiply by 1.

18 - 18.5 mph

Going with CDM here average cadence isnt too useful for your exact point... coasting, downhills, etc. Unless you have a computer that allows uploading to a computer for further review (like with WKO+ software) I would just spot check cadence while riding.

so...when my friends and I were doing 90-100 mile days at 17-18 mph, while screwing around, we were doing alright?

For my 31 mile training route (which includes a few ~100+ ft hills):
19-20 mph when the wind is less than 15 mph (drops to the 18's in higher wind conditions)

For my 45 mile training route (which also includes a few ~100+ ft hills):
18-19 mph when the wind is less than 15 mph (drops to the 17's in higher wind conditions)

All the above is while riding solo.

I try to maintain 100-105 rpm. I only drop below 95 on the end of the steeper parts of hills (and even then I stay above 90). My knees don't like lower rpm.

Too many variables to make any meaningful comparisons.

If you want to find out how fast you are in relation to others, put on a number.

If you don't want to race, then it doesn't matter how fast you are in relation to others.

Live in VA. Just went down to Ft. Lauderdale. Averaged 19.3 on a FLAT windless 76.8 mile ride. Here in Va. I average between 17 and 18mph with 2-5% grades all over the place, if i am pushing myself. I am 54 and started biking in August. I credit my bike and all those years of not biking!! Of course when I read 30-43mph, makes me feel like S%&* . Doubt at my age, that I will get much faster. My legs are sore everyday. I've avg. about 100 miles per week and as high as 152. Have lost 32 Ibs. now at 197 down from 229. Great sport. wish I had found it sooner!!:D Shamless way to insert my buddie!!!
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...der/PPP002.jpg

On flat lands, no wind, I'll average 30 km/h (about 18,8 mph), but on windy days it's more like between 9 mph (head wind) and 28 mph (tail wind). With a front gusty wind, it's like going uphill for hours... But then, how sweet is the return home.

Winter training rides: 14-16
Summer training rides: 15-17

So far this year: 17.13 mph. (256 miles in 14:57)

I wish I had thought more before I bought the computer I have on my bike I have one of those wireless cateyes, i like it but i didn't really look what else was out there. Now that I've done a 160 miles since i started riding I'm starting to wish i had gotten something with a rpm counter and calories.

Welcome to our world.:)

Don't feel to bad. Take those numbers with a grain- no, a healthy chunk- of salt.

Insanely beautiful bike, by the way. If you continue to feel bad, you could always flow one to a young guy who will undoubtably get faster... ;)

I don't really care what my average speed is. I ride as fast or slow as I feel that particular day.
The day my average speed is important to me is the day I realize the enjoyment is gone. Time to hang up the bike.

^^

Flip side is... the day I get lackadaisical enough not to care about some of the variables of bicycling that interest me most, is the time to hang up the bike.

(18mph, BTW).... :)

My average speed matters to me a couple of times a year: The State TT championships, and the one or two TT's I do as part of omniums. Other than those days, I'm not much concerned with average speed.

Avgd about 21-22kmh the other day on the way home. shivering and totally lost the plot. I thought the tupperware company car was 't-mobile' cos they looked the same and I asked for a bidon. what a ******.

:roflmao: ^

Century Time
 

I've done a century at 19.1. Wind aided on teh way out - fighting wind on the way back. Very flat course along a river.

Brad