How fast is fast?
05-06-09 | 11:54 AM
#51
Banned.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,938
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From: Post-partisan Paradise
Bikes: GF Wahoo '05, Trek T1000 '04, Lemond Buenos Aires '07
"Raymond Poulidor wore his malediction like a virtual coat of shining armor."
That has nothing to do with anything but that's one of the coolest quotes I've ever come across. I'd love to have that etched into my gravestone.
That has nothing to do with anything but that's one of the coolest quotes I've ever come across. I'd love to have that etched into my gravestone.
05-06-09 | 11:58 AM
#52
well i don't want to jump into the nice argument here, but don't most TdF stages end up around 40 km/h avg? (50 for TTs)
anyway, i was happy to find out last thursday that while races do obviously have a faster pace, you don't need to be able to average 25 mph by yourself to hang on.
i can at best average 20 mph over shorter distances (it's hilly out here, what can i say?), but was able to hang on in the (4/5) crit and end up with an average speed of 38 km/h. yes it was harder than my normal training rides, but i lived and never got dropped. (and yes i know that's a "slow" crit, but like i said we have hills out here)
a lot of it is about drafting, don't let race speeds scare you too much. my $0.02.
anyway, i was happy to find out last thursday that while races do obviously have a faster pace, you don't need to be able to average 25 mph by yourself to hang on.
i can at best average 20 mph over shorter distances (it's hilly out here, what can i say?), but was able to hang on in the (4/5) crit and end up with an average speed of 38 km/h. yes it was harder than my normal training rides, but i lived and never got dropped. (and yes i know that's a "slow" crit, but like i said we have hills out here)
a lot of it is about drafting, don't let race speeds scare you too much. my $0.02.
05-06-09 | 07:25 PM
#54
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Joined: Aug 2008
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05-06-09 | 08:43 PM
#58
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 508
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From: Orange County, California
05-06-09 | 08:47 PM
#60
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From: Davis, CA
05-06-09 | 09:03 PM
#63
Broken neck Ken
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,221
Likes: 3,516
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Trek Mt Track XCNimbus MUni
On a velodrome, no drafting, for an hour
Current UCI record is 30.882 miles
Fast recreational rider is 22
Average joe recreational rider is 17
I made the last two numbers up, but they're probably close. The raw deal is, some people are natural athletes, and some aren't.
Current UCI record is 30.882 miles
Fast recreational rider is 22
Average joe recreational rider is 17
I made the last two numbers up, but they're probably close. The raw deal is, some people are natural athletes, and some aren't.
05-06-09 | 10:18 PM
#65
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,387
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From: Santa Barbara, CA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
05-06-09 | 10:20 PM
#66
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,387
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From: Santa Barbara, CA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
05-06-09 | 10:52 PM
#68
Banned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,387
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From: Santa Barbara, CA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT
05-06-09 | 11:18 PM
#69
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 74
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From: Tacoma, Wa
Bikes: cervelo soloist team '07; Specialized Allez Elite '05
I tend to go by the Cascade Bicycle Club's ride classification here in Seattle. It assumes average speed you can maintain in the flats. This classification accomodates all classes of riders, so it's a pretty broad range. I believe it to be pretty accurate gauge of what is fast. For my money on a flat ride, if you are going over 20 mph, thats better than average--and depending on the company it can be considered pretty fast.
Easy: Under 10 mph
Leisurely: 10-12 mph
Steady: 12-14 mph
Moderate: 14-16 mph
Brisk: 16-18 mph
Strenuous: 18-21 mph
Super Strenuous: 22+ mph
I trained really hard and rode the Seattle to Portland (STP) in one day two years ago, I got into some really quick pacelines and even with all the stoplights I averaged 20.5 MPH over the first 100 miles (probably 24-25 in those pacelines). I felt destroyed after that--I ended up outrunning all the guys in pacelines (I had four water bottles and was skipping the foodstops that they kept stopping at) and was largely alone (except for a wheelsucker for 10 miles who never said a word to me and refused to pull) and ended up averaging 19 -19.5 for 206 miles. At the end I didn't care how fast I was going I was in total survival mode--it was hot and windy. I remember dropping a water bottle; I did not even think of stopping to pick it up, i was too tired to consider stopping getting off my bike and then starting again--I was on fumes. I started the ride at 144 lbs and at the end, after weighed 138 lbs.
Easy: Under 10 mph
Leisurely: 10-12 mph
Steady: 12-14 mph
Moderate: 14-16 mph
Brisk: 16-18 mph
Strenuous: 18-21 mph
Super Strenuous: 22+ mph
I trained really hard and rode the Seattle to Portland (STP) in one day two years ago, I got into some really quick pacelines and even with all the stoplights I averaged 20.5 MPH over the first 100 miles (probably 24-25 in those pacelines). I felt destroyed after that--I ended up outrunning all the guys in pacelines (I had four water bottles and was skipping the foodstops that they kept stopping at) and was largely alone (except for a wheelsucker for 10 miles who never said a word to me and refused to pull) and ended up averaging 19 -19.5 for 206 miles. At the end I didn't care how fast I was going I was in total survival mode--it was hot and windy. I remember dropping a water bottle; I did not even think of stopping to pick it up, i was too tired to consider stopping getting off my bike and then starting again--I was on fumes. I started the ride at 144 lbs and at the end, after weighed 138 lbs.
