How Fast ? Advice
thestringer
Posts: 9
Trying to get some miles in on my MTB , currently my ride is crappy Carrera Kraken 07 with RS dart 2 (locked out) and some Schwalbe City Jet's 26 x 1.5 other spec's are carbon seat post with a specialized seat ( no idea but bought from LBS for £20) easton EA30 Handle Bar, SRAM SX4 rear mech and triggers
What i'm shooting for is faster average speed and more distance - my first 3 rides this week
6 mile riverbank tow path 3 miles city 13 miles country lane
22 Mile - avg speed 12.4 time 1 h 58 min
22 Mile - avg speed 12.8 time 1 h 52 min
22 Mile - avg speed 13.4 time 1 h 41 min (reverse course)
Checking all this in with a Garmin Edge 205 -
Can't feel robbed of my times and avg speed - as i would think it would be faster with the slicks on.
I will be buying another bike but i would love to know where i'm going wrong here, before i continue.
Any tips or advice from you guy's would be great
Tom
What i'm shooting for is faster average speed and more distance - my first 3 rides this week
6 mile riverbank tow path 3 miles city 13 miles country lane
22 Mile - avg speed 12.4 time 1 h 58 min
22 Mile - avg speed 12.8 time 1 h 52 min
22 Mile - avg speed 13.4 time 1 h 41 min (reverse course)
Checking all this in with a Garmin Edge 205 -
Can't feel robbed of my times and avg speed - as i would think it would be faster with the slicks on.
I will be buying another bike but i would love to know where i'm going wrong here, before i continue.
Any tips or advice from you guy's would be great
Tom
0
Comments
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How long have you been doing this commute for? how good do you rate your current fitness?
Over that kind of distance you really want a road bike I'd have thought. My commute is 9 miles each way which I do in about 30 mins on my mountain bike with slicks. If the distance was any further I'd be looking at a road bike.0 -
just started this route - i picked it as a good varied route of road and tow path with some inclines
i'm looking to build up my fitness level so i can rattle out 50 miles+ as i am looking to do some touring in 2011
i was looking at a Hybrid and also a road bike but i am undecided on any model yet.
currently 22 miles on my current bike - is ok but the saddle is a Son of a B lol
i do rate my fitness level as ok - i run 10k under 50 min i swim and go to the gym twice a week and sometimes walk to work and back.0 -
that does seem pretty slow, i used to do 17 miles each way in just over an hour each way with slicks on a mtb, although it was very hilly but had virtually no traffic lights.0
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What slicks are best ?
one thing that's just popped in my head is when i'm running knobbles ( ie Panaracer Fire Folding 26 x 2.1 ) the wheel is larger then when i have slicks on
maybe i should try and run the course with knobbles lol knowing my luck i will get a better time and avg speed.0 -
9.5 miles for me - 36 minutes to work, 46 minutes back - always seems to be INTO the wind on the way home :-(
Plenty traffic lights as I am coming into London.
that is on an MTB with knobblies.
Reckoin I could improve by at least 1 or 2 mph on slicks . . . I can hear all my work when the knobblies run on the road!0 -
I usually average about 16-18mph on road and about 10-15mph off-road (depending on terrain).
Both of those on the Lobster with the one pair of tyres - i can't be doing with this swapping b0ll0cks!0 -
thestringer wrote:just started this route...
I'd give it a few weeks and see if you get any quicker, if not then look at your bike setup.
Fitness is a funny thing, different sports use different muscles so give it some time in the saddle and see how it goes.0 -
6.5miles a day in 18 mins average on slick mtb so circa 19-20 miles per hour. Its a pretty flat route.Closet jockey wheel pimp whore.0
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What slicks are best ?
I use Continental Gator Skins which I got from Merlin. Very fast!Whyte 905 (2009)
Trek 1.5 (2009)
Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp (2007)0 -
As an update -
been doing gym work - with weights and swimming followed by a nice steam/sauna and then the next day did the 22 mile again for an average speed of 14.5 , so like was said before practice makes perfect and fitness is geting better.
also made some changes to my setup on my bike - raised seat higher and added bull horns to my handlebars , bought some cycling gloves and some MTB Shorts with padding ( this is the best invention in the world ! )
i can't believe i did the 22 miles before without padded shorts0