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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Improve average speed

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Old 02-26-10 | 08:50 AM
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Improve average speed

Are there key techniques/programs to improve av. speed (flat road mainly)? My current av. is ~19MPH and I am looking for programs that will improve it significantly.
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Old 02-26-10 | 08:52 AM
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Old 02-26-10 | 08:53 AM
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I try to make circles with my legs, and at the same time try to pull while riding. I have gotten better and better. Last night i rode, i was hitting 24 mph for a good amount of time.

I also learned to concentrate, and relax when climbing a hill or a mountain, and with that, Improved my climbing skills.

Good luck man.
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Old 02-26-10 | 08:54 AM
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Ride with fast groups. Intervals
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Old 02-26-10 | 08:56 AM
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+1 intervals
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Old 02-26-10 | 09:01 AM
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https://lmgtfy.com/?q=site%3Awww.bike...+average+speed
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Old 02-26-10 | 09:03 AM
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Old 02-26-10 | 09:05 AM
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A lot of guys iMprove their average speed by reporting it here @ BF. For instance, they just completed an 18 mile ride and averaged 19.4 mph. Via the reporting process, thru the computers at BF, the final figures are 29 miles @ 20.4 mph! It's that easy.
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Old 02-26-10 | 09:06 AM
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It takes a lot more power to increase speed a small amount due to wind resistance.
See this bicycle speed calculator-- taking the default settings, 190 watts is 19.3 mph, and 250 watts is 21.4 mph.

But riding in the drops instead of the hoods: 190 watts is 20.9 mph, and 250 watts is 23.2 mph.

So: increase your power and also get more aero. That's all!

Last edited by rm -rf; 02-26-10 at 09:11 AM.
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Old 02-26-10 | 09:09 AM
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Find more downhill roads.
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Old 02-26-10 | 09:10 AM
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I'll go ahead and beat the dead horse.

1) Forget about average speed. It's the wrong matrix, and concentrating on it, will keep you from getting faster. It's ok to test yourself in a tme trial on the same course from time to time (such as once a month) to measure progress, but don't focus on the average speeds of your everyday rides.

2) Do intervals. Long intervals aimed at raising your functional threshold power would be a good place to start. Start doing several repeats of 10 minute efforts with 5 minutes rest in between. Work up to 2x 20 minutes, then 3x 20 minutes. Do these 2 days a week, and in a month you'll be measuably faster.

3) ride with faster people. The competitve drive will push you more than you cna push yourself. And you'll ride faster in the group, and that will help prepare your body to ride faster by yourself.

4) follow the training status thread in the Racing forum. At first most of it will be over your head, but you'll quickly learn and pick up valuable information.
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Old 02-26-10 | 10:02 AM
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Old 02-26-10 | 10:12 AM
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A good place to start would be to ride faster.
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Old 02-26-10 | 10:36 AM
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Programs? Ask Ricco, Hamilton, Landis, Basso, Heras, Mayo, Dekker, et al.
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Old 02-26-10 | 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by mossi
Are there key techniques/programs to improve av. speed (flat road mainly)? My current av. is ~19MPH and I am looking for programs that will improve it significantly.
Pedal faster, in the drops, in a higher gear, /w Zipp 808 tubular.
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Old 02-26-10 | 11:02 AM
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average speed makes average riders. duh.
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Old 02-26-10 | 11:08 AM
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Old 02-26-10 | 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Grumpy McTrumpy
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Amen Brother Grumpy.
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Old 02-26-10 | 11:15 AM
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Old 02-26-10 | 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by mossi
Are there key techniques/programs to improve av. speed (flat road mainly)?
I think you answered your own question.
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Old 02-26-10 | 12:52 PM
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Ride really fast, then stop to rest periodically, as opposed to just riding a more moderate pace without stops. It'll take the same time to get anywhere, but since your bike computer stops timing when you stop to rest, your "average speed" as shown thereon will be increased. Ditto for running lights and stop signs.
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Old 02-26-10 | 12:59 PM
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Originally Posted by StephenH
Ride really fast, then stop to rest periodically, as opposed to just riding a more moderate pace without stops. It'll take the same time to get anywhere, but since your bike computer stops timing when you stop to rest, your "average speed" as shown thereon will be increased. Ditto for running lights and stop signs.
A commonly used idea that can backfire.
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Old 02-26-10 | 03:36 PM
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+1 to Merlinextraligh. Average speed is meaninglyless for training. For example, let's say you were doing intervals at 24 mph with 15mph recovery. Average speed would seem low but overall fitness and speed is likely going up. Another example is endurance training. The average speed for this long and steady training would also seem low but overall fitness would be going up leading to faster times. If your goal is to do a fast century then you would want your training to produce a higher average speed over the course of the century.
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Old 02-26-10 | 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Barrettscv
A commonly used idea that can backfire.
Winners don't compromise.
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Old 02-26-10 | 04:48 PM
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I try to keep my BMI down to 22. When my weight goes up my times go down.
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