Alright I’m going to ask it. How do I get faster???
 

I thought I was doing pretty good! Today riding the riverbed pacing 3 minute miles at 20+mph only to have three guys hand me my ass Mark Cavendish style. (older guys in their mid 40's mind you) I slotted in behind them and all out sprinted with them for about two minutes to keep up then once I fell back from the draft a bit they pulled away like a freight train and there was no way I could catch them.

They were not doing anything crazy just slow crank turning in biggest chainring/smallest cog, ass in the saddle, and flying like a bullet train! I have a Cannondale CAAD with full Campy that I ride everyday and is the fastest of the half dozen steel and aluminum rides I own.

What do I need to do to be able to keep with these guys next time they ride by me? Should I upgrade to a lighter bike like a BMC RaceMachine? Something carbon? Narrower tires? Lighter wheels? What’s the secret? What is going to give me that speed I need to keep up wiht them? I have 25+ years riding experience, ride everyday, and put down at least 100-150 miles per week. What the heck is making these guys so fast? What might I be doing wrong? Is my riding slow comparatively? What is your average pace/speed?

Thanks in advance for anyone's input.

:-)

Your plight is, unfortunately, hopeless.

Genetics.

Could just be genetics. Some might say get a coach, do intervals, ride with faster riders, make speed a priority. Bikes and wheels will only do very little. I do none of this - I just enjoy the breeze caused by faster riders as they pass me.

Lying works well. . . .

Set your computer for metric. Then you'll think you're going faster than you really are when you look down and see 25...

Ride more...do intervals

Assuming you average 20mph that is only 8 hours a week given your mileage posted. If you have 25yrs riding experience you aren't to much younger than they are either

Empty your mind but for this single thought: to ride faster you must ride faster.

(Zen koan or training principle? You decide.)

Pedal harder.

I feel like I started making leaps and bounds once I started training with (and also listening to) my coach.

Find out who they were then go find their coach.

If my last post was too cryptic, I will just leave this here for you: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ut-recipe-book

Find people faster than you and go ride with them.

It's not the bike weight. It's not the frame material. It's not the tires. It's not the wheels.

Basically, you need to train intelligently and diligently.

It's not something you can buy. It requires patience and hard work, and lots of it, year round, for incremental gains that gradually add up to a little more speed.

If you're self-motivated, you can try something like Joe Friel's books. Otherwise, find a local trainer and get to work.

This and doing some longer rides (80-100Km) at low HR have improved my pace, stamina and capacity to recover - post-ride - then get back on again the next day. Also, mixing up your terrain / routes (flats / hills) a bit helps.

cheers

Join one of the more competitive clubs in your area and do their club rides. You will be pushed to ride harder........or be dropped unceremoniously in your attempts.

Yup

Learn to draft and hang with a fast group. Get dropped, repeat. At those speeds it`s should be easy to hang in the back.

exactly the BF average speed is 22 mph..........and that's climbing.....you're behind

Don't raise your average speed too much at one time or people will be suspicious. Add .1 mph per month. I have been here a while, and have a fair # of posts, so my average speed is 29 mph.

Get a Kurt Kinetic Road Machine and TrainerRoad. Learn to love pain. Enjoy the speed.

OP might be slow, but disappears fast!

true true.....you forgot to let everyone know that is your average speed on solo training rides
word on the forums is that brew finished his last century in 3 hours with and average speed of 35 :innocent:

If they ride by you tomorrow? Invest in a 250 cc engine.