How Fast ? Advice

thestringer
thestringer Posts: 9
edited August 2009 in MTB general
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

Comments

  • CycloRos
    CycloRos Posts: 579
    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.
    Current Rides -
    Charge Cooker, Ragley mmmBop, Haro Mary SS 29er
    Pics!
  • 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.
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    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.
  • 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.
  • 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!
  • adb1006
    adb1006 Posts: 938
    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!
  • CycloRos
    CycloRos Posts: 579
    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.
    Current Rides -
    Charge Cooker, Ragley mmmBop, Haro Mary SS 29er
    Pics!
  • CycloRos
    CycloRos Posts: 579
    That all depends on the length of the route and how often you do it of course. If you have to commute everyday over distance you'd want to be changing those tyres :wink:
    Current Rides -
    Charge Cooker, Ragley mmmBop, Haro Mary SS 29er
    Pics!
  • paul.skibum
    paul.skibum Posts: 4,068
    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.
  • 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)
  • 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 shorts