Increasing average speed

SteveR_100Milers · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by chrisw

So the whole point is, using avergae speed is pretty pointless as it has too many influences. I can manage 20 for 12 in a tt but I can barely manage it for an hour round where I live, simply because I have to go up hills and the worse one stopping at lights.
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Then you know the answer,,,[;)] (gets flame proof suit on)

Averaging 20 mph on a normal ride (read non race situation) is damn hard. If you could average 20 mph on say a sportive chances are you would be in the top 5 places.

Time! Time! It's always too long and there's never enough!

PhilofCas · June 2007

A fairly typical ride:

Push bike out of garage, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering big time".
Set off down the road, steady, to junction at bottom, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering".
Ride along to next junction, over speed bumps, still warming up, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering".

Slow up at junction, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering big time".

Set off from junction, towards roundabout, slow for roundabout, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering".

Travel towards another roundabout, slow a bit for traffic, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering".

Now, out on the open road for approx. 1 mile, 2 sets of traffic lights about 200 yards apart, slow down for both, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering".

A decent stretch now, with no hold ups for approx. 2 mile, average speed slowly creeps up, approach sall village, speed bumps, parked cars, slight hill, junction, slow down for tight bends "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering big time".

And so the ride goes on, now away from roundabouts, junctions, traffic lights etc etc, average speed creeps up slow for a good few miles, miles now building and 'average speed' now levelling out, more miles/more riding time = slower movement of average speed if your travelling at 'about' your average speed.
Now, you're climbing for a while, you're travelling well below your 'average' speed, your average speed now starts to drop a bit faster, you end the climb and things level out, you are again travelling at about your average speed, so your 'average' speed hold steady.

Right, more miles/time on the computer, you've now got a tail wind and your on a lovely long downhill stretch, your 'average' speed now picks up, creeping up steadily but surely.

You've now travelled 30 - 40 mile and your 'average' speed holds pretty steady, it's now quite difficult to change your 'average' speed.

You're heading back now, 'warming' down, back into traffic etc, stop at lights, go slow to junction/roundabout etc, here's that frase again, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering big time".

You now ride quite steady, push bike along drive, wheel bike round car, into garage, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering big time".

Lot's of factors affecting 'your' average speed, to compare my average speed to someone elses who lives in an entirely different area and is potentially riding with entirely different factors is slightly meaningless.

What i've wrote is slightly off topic I know, but i wanted to highlight the fact that an 'average' speed can be different for any number of reasons, even the same route, same time of day.

I personally do watch my average speed and take pleasure from trying to 'increase' it, though over the years it's become more of a slightly vague indicator if i'm fit or not. I've had lots of superb rides with an overall 'riding time' average (including all the factors listed above' of 15-16 mph, just as i've had loads of rides in the 16-18 mph range and i've had a few simply wonderful memorable 20mph 60 milers.

To summarise i'd say:

Ride to get fit, it's not a pleasant feeling riding unfit, there's no fun in that.

Once 'fit', simply try and do rides that are enjoyable, why else do you ride ?.

If your average speed increases, and it will if you do the miles, then so be it, but first and foremost, riding should be an enjoyable/entertaining/fun experience.

Phew, Chr*st, where did that come from [:D]

peterdowning · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PhilofCas

A fairly typical ride:

Push bike out of garage, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering big time".
Set off down the road, steady, to junction at bottom, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering".
Ride along to next junction, over speed bumps, still warming up, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering".

Slow up at junction, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering big time".

Set off from junction, towards roundabout, slow for roundabout, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering".

Travel towards another roundabout, slow a bit for traffic, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering".

Now, out on the open road for approx. 1 mile, 2 sets of traffic lights about 200 yards apart, slow down for both, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering".

A decent stretch now, with no hold ups for approx. 2 mile, average speed slowly creeps up, approach sall village, speed bumps, parked cars, slight hill, junction, slow down for tight bends "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering big time".

And so the ride goes on, now away from roundabouts, junctions, traffic lights etc etc, average speed creeps up slow for a good few miles, miles now building and 'average speed' now levelling out, more miles/more riding time = slower movement of average speed if your travelling at 'about' your average speed.
Now, you're climbing for a while, you're travelling well below your 'average' speed, your average speed now starts to drop a bit faster, you end the climb and things level out, you are again travelling at about your average speed, so your 'average' speed hold steady.

Right, more miles/time on the computer, you've now got a tail wind and your on a lovely long downhill stretch, your 'average' speed now picks up, creeping up steadily but surely.

You've now travelled 30 - 40 mile and your 'average' speed holds pretty steady, it's now quite difficult to change your 'average' speed.

You're heading back now, 'warming' down, back into traffic etc, stop at lights, go slow to junction/roundabout etc, here's that frase again, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering big time".

You now ride quite steady, push bike along drive, wheel bike round car, into garage, "bike computer clock ticking away, average speed suffering big time".

Lot's of factors affecting 'your' average speed, to compare my average speed to someone elses who lives in an entirely different area and is potentially riding with entirely different factors is slightly meaningless.

What i've wrote is slightly off topic I know, but i wanted to highlight the fact that an 'average' speed can be different for any number of reasons, even the same route, same time of day.

I personally do watch my average speed and take pleasure from trying to 'increase' it, though over the years it's become more of a slightly vague indicator if i'm fit or not. I've had lots of superb rides with an overall 'riding time' average (including all the factors listed above' of 15-16 mph, just as i've had loads of rides in the 16-18 mph range and i've had a few simply wonderful memorable 20mph 60 milers.

To summarise i'd say:

Ride to get fit, it's not a pleasant feeling riding unfit, there's no fun in that.

Once 'fit', simply try and do rides that are enjoyable, why else do you ride ?.

If your average speed increases, and it will if you do the miles, then so be it, but first and foremost, riding should be an enjoyable/entertaining/fun experience.

Phew, Chr*st, where did that come from [:D]

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Most sensible post I've ever read. Just like counselling/therapy. Thanks.

I can now sell all my Garmin and Polar bits and bobs on eBay and use the proceeds to employ a cycling coach and buy a faster bike! [:)]

My Bike

Flying_Monkey · June 2007

I don't have a computer any more, for precisely this reason! I just know how long the various routes I do are, and I can look at my mobile before and after, that's all. You can't enjoy riding if you are obsessing about your speed during the ride, and if I wasn't enjoying it, I wouldn't be doing it at all.

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety

richardjallen · June 2007

Its true that all the fafing around in traffic lowers the average but I can put my comp' on pause until I'm clear of the town and it goes onto pause when I stop at lights.

I like to try and increase my average because I feel I have acheived something. If I think about it more than that I think perhaps I am slightly obsesive. Since I started riding to work some 6-7 years ago I have become more and more into this cycling lark. Progressing from a MTB through a fine specimin of a hybrid and now onto quite a fine specimin of a road bike. Each time I have changed my bike I have got a bit faster and I am really enjoying it. What once I once thought was a long distance (30 miles) is little more than a quick ride in the evening. When weekend comes I am pushing 100 miles and I think how easy it is really, I've only had the road bike since about March. So when I can get up to 35+ mph on a flat using nothing more than my own legs I am very happy.

Maybe after a while I will be thinking more along the lines of those of you who have smashed you computers but I rode without a computer for many years and have just got one so at the moment I am in the opposite frame of mind and enjoying it.

Increasing average speed

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