One more thought...if you really want to get faster, you probably do want to find some bike-friendly open roads. Don't know if you're talking about rails-to-trails sorts of bike paths, but the bike paths out here in NorCal are often narrow/wooded/winding, and so crowded with walkers, runners, skaters, families, etc., that going fast would be suicide. You'll have more confidence to push it if you can see far enough ahead to know you're not gonna go down any second.

Keep spinning

65, about 176 lbs, I often do 48 miles with a net avg of 16 in the flats which include a bunch of intersections (around 10 to 15 minutes total time for snack breaks). Rolling hills in the country, 15.5 mph net avg. over 47 miles with about the same amount of break time.

Al

42, 6'2", 189lbs. 370 miles/month on the average. Riding a 03 Zurich for 13 months, mountain biked 4-5 years previous.
A lot of variables; From start (roll out) to finish (cool down), stop lights, pee breaks, etc.
Base average is about 17 mph for my 35-45 mile rides. Some of my 50 milers have been 15.9-17.8mph.
Some of my 25 mile climbing routes are 14.8-15.3mph.
These are all solo rides.
On the flats I'll be cruising along at 25+, but I can't keep that average with the hills and stops and I don't have the heart/lung and legs...yet
I did a 60 mile race and averaged 20.9mph with some group hook-ups.
A year ago my averages were about 16.5mph, but I was only riding 20-25 miles.

Trying to get up the endurance and strength to keep a solid 18mph, solo, for 50+ miles. It's hard trying to keep the heart rate averaging below 80% max with a few runs into the mid to high 80s for hills.

Maybe a new bike in February. Serrota Legend Ti.

Wow I feel outta place here. I'm 22, 5'7" 170lbs. I average 18-19mph on a usual ride. On the flats I'll go between 20-23mph. There are lots of hills here and I usually try to add as many big climbs to a ride as I can. Usually ride anywhere from 25-45 miles daily.

44 years old; 165 lbs (and dropping). I am just getting back into biking, with about 400 miles in the past 2 months, mostly ~20 miles at a time. I average 16-17 MPH on rolling hills -- nothing mountainous, but a few good opportunities to get out of the saddle. This is on a circa 1985 Nishiki Seral. I'm looking foward to getting over 17 with a new bike if Santa is good to me...

That would be 224 lbs if you left the underwear at home.

45. 5 11 and 220. I am really trying to get my average speed up. I have done 18.6 MPH over a relatively flat 18 mile course. More routinely I average in the low 17s to high 16s on other rides. I did 16.1 on my first century with only two very short stops for water.

It's maddening to me trying to get that average speed up. I think I have to lighten up to see some decent results. This winter I will try to reduce my weight by about 10 percent to see how that helps.

I hope someday to be able to do a 15-20 mile ride at 20 mph. (dream on fat-boy)

56, 5'9" 165 lbs, I guess, at this point of the posting I am the oldest, about the average speed I would say it all defends, sometimes, I would hit 39k sometime I would hit 25 K on a 50 K ride

Just turned 60. male - 5'9", 188 lbs. Last week I did 50 miles at 17.2MPH - flat route. Today I did 38.7 miles at 16.2 MPH on a stop & go route with some mild (3% grade) hills.

Another 44 yo old heavyweight checking in ... I'm 6'-1" and ~230 lbs and average about 17 mph on 40 milers from garage to garage. When I'm riding in the flats I can maintain a 20 mph pace without killing myself. Sometimes I think about starting my computer when I'm down on the bike trail just so that I can increase my average speed, but I try not to worry about the ave speed and look more for the total miles I put in.

The other day a gal about 5'2" passed me when I was going 20 mph and I thought I would catch her after a couple of miles. I kept her in my sights but never caught up.... Her little legs seemed to move her along quite well. Anyway, It's always motivating to chase someone.

In cycling and triathlons it seems that age is irrelevant. I watched a triathlon last weekend where the overall winner was in the 40+ age group and his average speed for the 40k bike leg was 25+. I have friends 45+ that routinely average 27+ for 40K and one guy 60+ who consistently still breaks an hour for 40K.

I am 17, and my average always seems to be around the 25kmh (15.5mph) mark, no matter if I do a short 30km ride or a 100km+ ride. I have never been very good at speed, but I can keep the same pace all day though.

As for weight I am about 70kg (154 lbs) and height 180cm (don't know how many feet that is)

52 years old. On the a 20 mile ride along the shores of Lake Champlain which in mostly flat with small rises I average 20.3 mph on an Trek 4500 mountain bike with my Trek 2200 road bike I average 24.2. With the road bike I don't feel a tired as I do with the mountain bike. Going to work which is 5.6 miles with 2/3 up hill I average with the mountain bike 12-14 mph the road I get 17-18.

I am 6'1" and 250 ish, I was reading the othernight that hincapie(sp) is 6'3" and 185 ( my goal). I just fell in love with track cycling, i am giving guys 60+ lbs lighter than me a run for thier $
in match sprints

That's pro speed, buddy...do you race masters?

Then I would have to load up on butt butter, udder stuff and all of that and I would be 226 lbs.

I'm 38, 215lbs and around 5'11.
Miles to date:1837.4
Average speed to date: 13.30MPH (includes ICEbike miles, MTB, comuting etc)

The only way I could average around 18 would be on mostly flat country road. Glad I don't gudge my performance by average speed.

thank you for that report. Exactly the type info I wanted/needed since I ride mainly alone and need to be pushed. appreciate the reply.

thanks DZOO..needed that info since I almost always ride alone and as you can imagine just wonder if I am a lazy doof or what. I don't think that is too bad

Murrays..thanks for that funny but real reply. Yes too much work to go hard all the time and it detracts from seeing the blooming sunflowers along the side of the road. This is my first post and I am delighted with the variety of the replys.

johno. thanks but what are OF's..don't mean to be dumb but new to this posting thing. good info. Like many other riders I am sure I try not to be a slave to the computer or the heart monitor. Think the next post may be to see how many others use the monitor and what the avg HRs for some one my age are

Exact Same here, Im 31 5'9 and 1/2 " 205 pounds, Today was my second ride and I did 15 miles yesterday and today but my average was no wear close to yours, Im dying in the flats. The stretch is hilly and flat as well but Im Dying after the hills and just try to recover on the flats. That kills my average which is 12.6

Several years of a 12 pack a day of Mountain Dew, a pack of Cigarettes a Day and plenty of Extra Malue Meals at Mcd's have slowed me WAY down. On July 30th 04 I weighed 218 pounds, this morning I weighed in at 207, a little up but Im putting on muscle I guess from the elliptical and now the bike.

Good Luck and great Job!

I am 67 - 176#. I have ridden My Litespeed Classic 2488 miles this year and have averaged 17.65 MPH. I log every ride - distance, time, speed, peak heart rate, average heart rate, temperature, wind direction and speed.

My weight is within 2 pounds of my High School football playing weight!

thanks for that reply. About what I expected but since everyone is throwing in their height and weight I am 5-8 and 175, former lifter football player, still at my HS weight, though I want to be 165 so I can climb better. Too much post ride beer/

of course you are out of place you young pup..just kidding. Glad for the input and to see how I stack up against the youngsters on something other than the hoops court.