closing in on 50miles

fatboy gonna get slim

just returned from my second trip from caldicot (near chepstow )to monmouth via tintern on the way and via trelleck and llanishen on the way back.time taken was 3hours and 10 mins with a average of 13mph the distance travelled was 42 miles .after seeing people averaging 15 plus mph for there first 50miles i seem kinda slow ????? are they doing a flat route compared ????? mind i have only been riding for six weeks and i am around 15 stone in weight .i have found the forums very helpful to a newbie. any advice would be appreciated cheers

CarleyB

Sounds like your doing fantastic. Everyone is different just remember that.

Agent57

Don't worry about everyone else's speed. There are so many variables - type of bike, terrain, weather, age/fitness etc. etc. I've done some 50 mile rides in which my average was 9mph, and others were it's more like 16.

I'm sure you wouldn't care to much if other people seemed to walk or run faster than you; so apply the same attitude. It's not a race (unless it is).

danowat

I can only echo what everyone else has said above, some people are just naturally quicker, it doesn't nessecarily mean you are putting in less effort than someone who can do it quicker.

There are tons of variables that can add up to making a ride slow(er) or fast(er).

fatboy gonna get slim

i dont feel like i am slow well that slow anyway because the route is quite a few climbs .cheers for the encouragement and advice .has anyone local cycled the route before?any advice from them ?????

Philby

Did the Forest of Dean Classic sportive there a couple of weeks ago and it is a lovely area to ride around - however there are lots of very long hills. Don't worry about speed / time as you will get quicker as you ride more, and if you do 40+ miles regularly you are likely to see a drop in your weight which will also help.

canaryv

As said before, everyone is different so great effort so far.

I started from a similar position to you last year (a bit heavier) and on a hybrid. What really worked for me was to follow an 8 week plan of short regular rides, 4/5 times a week of up to 2 hours. It felt a bit soft only to go out for an hour or two but the results spoke for themselves. Write down what you do and track your progress. You'll be amazed.

I followed a plan in a book called Cycle for Life by Nicole Cooke.

I've now upgraded to a Trek 1.9, covered 85 miles at 16.5mph a couple of weeks back and am taking on my first 100 in two weeks.

Keep going.

softlad

as mentioned - other people's average speeds are completely meaningless to you. The only average that matters is your own - and even then I wouldn't get too hung up on it. Ride the bike and enjoy it..

Incidentally - if you fancy another ride out that way tomorrow, the Welsh national championship road race is taking place on a circuit around Monmouth & Raglan - might be worth a look....might give you something to aim for..

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/si ... ps2010.asp

The_Beast

Yeah I guess its all relative to the terrain of the route, ave. speed could be anything.

Didn't want to start another thread or hijack this one, sorry, but I have similar questions to the OP on route times and average speed.

I've been riding 12 weeks or so, I now do a mixed terrain route of 16.3 miles. I was really really unfit and chubby at the start and have built up from 30 min rides.

Route of 16.3 Miles. Performance is 1hr 03 mins on the 3rd attempt, ave. speed of 15MPH, is this reasonable enough of a time to join a club soon.

To fat boy gonna get slim, keep at it, I was nearly 15.5 stone at the end of Feb. and now I'm around 13st 10 after 12 weeks of graft.

ALaPlage

My own experience of a bike club is that they tend to have different "classes" for rides. One of my local clubs have a Wednesday evening and Sunday Morning ride which averages around 15mph for whatever run they do (mixed terrain being in N. Yorks). They also have a Thursday night group that practises group riding at speed - drafting, leading etc and this is a much quicker pace. They also have a Saturday run which is also for the faster riders with an average run coming around 18-20mph.

Check out your local clubs - go along to see whether they can offer you what you need. Good fun riding with others so worth a go. Plus a good club will look after you to ensure you do not get left behind/lost.

The_Beast

ALaPlage wrote:

My own experience of a bike club is that they tend to have different "classes" for rides. One of my local clubs have a Wednesday evening and Sunday Morning ride which averages around 15mph for whatever run they do (mixed terrain being in N. Yorks). They also have a Thursday night group that practises group riding at speed - drafting, leading etc and this is a much quicker pace. They also have a Saturday run which is also for the faster riders with an average run coming around 18-20mph.

Check out your local clubs - go along to see whether they can offer you what you need. Good fun riding with others so worth a go. Plus a good club will look after you to ensure you do not get left behind/lost.

Yeah I think I might join soon, but first will probably get in a few 20/30 Mile run first. Pace wise I think I might be alright but I suppose the ave. speed is easier in groups.

StanwaySteve62

Just keep at it mate, heres my update, similar story really

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12703140

CarleyB

I looked at our local cycling clubs starter rides and they average 12-13mph over about 25 miles. They say a couple are in their 70's so a really good starter ride with experience in the group.

Mettan

fatboy gonna get slim wrote:

just returned from my second trip from caldicot (near chepstow )to monmouth via tintern on the way and via trelleck and llanishen on the way back.time taken was 3hours and 10 mins with a average of 13mph the distance travelled was 42 miles .after seeing people averaging 15 plus mph for there first 50miles i seem kinda slow ????? are they doing a flat route compared ????? mind i have only been riding for six weeks and i am around 15 stone in weight .i have found the forums very helpful to a newbie. any advice would be appreciated cheers

13 is fine for 42 hilly miles for a new rider - it can take people 6-12 months of regular riding to do a 15 mph avg over 50 miles - regular riding, weight loss, will see you improve your performance.

Rich Hcp

As long as you show improvement, then you have nothing to worry about.

Going out for three or more hours is fine in a group, but more difficult on your own. Your head has to be in the right place to do it.

I rekon the average will rise by a MPH or more just because you are in a group (No science, just experaince) I generally train on my own and gain when going for a run out with others

Variado

Agree of course with the other comments about not worrying too much about average speeds, my officemate who's just starting out this year took seven hours for his first fifty - the important thing is that the weight's dropping off him and he's looking much more healthy, speed comes with time. If it's a motivator for you then track it and watch the average go up, otherwise don't worry too much (tracking ride-by-ride can work against you too when you're tired, have a bad day or whatever and the numbers aren't great).

The other thing that I find really helps with longer rides is learning to eat/drink correctly, that makes it much easier to ride well to the end - grinding back the last ten miles on an empty stomach isn't much fun.

chuckrock57

hi
getting fit is the main thing and setting realistic targets can help.
The starting point doesn't matter as long as you get better.
I started out at about 21 stone and living in a valley had to climb hills in any direction to get out - my initial targets were things like only walking a little bit of the steepest hill - then only resting once. Eventually could ride longish routes without any ill effects and with careful eating down to 14 and a half stone.
Average around 12mph on hybrid.
Much quicker when with friends as there is always a slight competitive edge.
Just enjoy it and get fit.

rolf_f

chuckrock57 wrote:

I started out at about 21 stone and living in a valley had to climb hills in any direction to get out

Geomorphologically speaking, living in a valley means you have to climb hills in 3 out of 4 directions to get out. To have to climb hills in any direction means you are living in the bottom of a lake

chuckrock57

Rolf F wrote:

chuckrock57 wrote:

I started out at about 21 stone and living in a valley had to climb hills in any direction to get out

Geomorphologically speaking, living in a valley means you have to climb hills in 3 out of 4 directions to get out. To have to climb hills in any direction means you are living in the bottom of a lake

or possibly live as i do in a house by a river. Roads don't follow the river path so uphill a bit.
not especially relevant though.
Anththromorphologically speaking though can you see daylight?

fatboy gonna get slim

cheers all for the positive comments .i will try and not get to hung up on average speed,distances and times and try and go out and enjoy the ride more and stop looking at my computer .good luck to all in the same situation as me .