Average Club Run Speeds

Velonutter

Just read this thread and as some have said there is an awful lot of Willy waving about average speeds and club runs.

If your club is good then they will run 3/4 different types of rides, ours usually follow this parameter: -

09:15 Fast Group, 65-80 miles, No stops, usually hilly, if you get dropped or break down then find your own way back. Average 18-22mph depending on terrain

09:30 Intermediates, Usually a cafe stop, 50-60 Miles, will wait if you break down or at the top of hills and turns, Average 16-18mph

09:30ish Classic ride, 45-50 Miles, Always Cafe Stop, will wait if you break down or at the top of hills and turns, Average 15-16 mph.

Last year I rode with the classic groups and enjoyed the rides and social aspects, towards September most committed people who wanted to ride faster split into riding at intermediate speeds, pushed us more, but speeds increased.

This year most of last year's classic riders now hang on with the intermediates, not easy, but satisfying.

Average speeds do increase, at the end of last year I did the Manchester 100 miler at at an average of 18.5mph, after the winter this year I struggled to get my speed up, but now am riding 30 mile rides at 20mph and 60's at about 18-19mph, just got to get my distance ride speeds up a little more yet.

So what I'm saying is if you are prepared to push yourself and take the pain, then your speeds will increase, don't expect it overnight, but if your club is thoughtful then they will run a slower group and when you feel comfortable riding with them then try the faster group and be prepared to get dropped until you get fitter.

dru

Velonutter wrote:

Just read this thread and as some have said there is an awful lot of Willy waving about average speeds and club runs.

If your club is good then they will run 3/4 different types of rides, ours usually follow this parameter: -

09:15 Fast Group, 65-80 miles, No stops, usually hilly, if you get dropped or break down then find your own way back. Average 18-22mph depending on terrain

09:30 Intermediates, Usually a cafe stop, 50-60 Miles, will wait if you break down or at the top of hills and turns, Average 16-18mph

09:30ish Classic ride, 45-50 Miles, Always Cafe Stop, will wait if you break down or at the top of hills and turns, Average 15-16 mph.

Last year I rode with the classic groups and enjoyed the rides and social aspects, towards September most committed people who wanted to ride faster split into riding at intermediate speeds, pushed us more, but speeds increased.

This year most of last year's classic riders now hang on with the intermediates, not easy, but satisfying.

Average speeds do increase, at the end of last year I did the Manchester 100 miler at at an average of 18.5mph, after the winter this year I struggled to get my speed up, but now am riding 30 mile rides at 20mph and 60's at about 18-19mph, just got to get my distance ride speeds up a little more yet.

So what I'm saying is if you are prepared to push yourself and take the pain, then your speeds will increase, don't expect it overnight, but if your club is thoughtful then they will run a slower group and when you feel comfortable riding with them then try the faster group and be prepared to get dropped until you get fitter.

+1

Cardiff Ajax has an almost identical setup, catering for all abilities

As a result we regulalry have 60 plus people out on the Sunday Rides.

We also do an evening midweek ride in the same groups, over a shorter distance, just a 30 mile loop. That way you can try out the next group up to see how you get on etc etc, and if it's too much you are not a million miles from home and also the slower group is only just a few miles behind you

kingrollo

if you can aveage 15mph on a solo - there will be a club run for you. Plus if you get dropped it really isn't a big deal - so long as you can find your way home

markos1963

Our club(VC Norwich) has just reappraised it's club runs. We found that some were being put off because the 'slower' group was now averaging 18mph+(moving average) and the weaker riders weren't coming along. We have now decided to split the club rides into three to allow people to progress and join in at a lower level. We are also going to organise a series of taster rides for new riders who want to try group riding.

My point is to the OP is, don't settle on the first club you find, try a few and see what they offer. Any decent club should welcome a new member and make allowances for them.

oldwelshman

I think somepeople are confusing club ride with training ride.
Most club ridesraraley go above 17mph on any route as they are generally steady and wait for people. In winter these rides are significantly slower.
Group training rides are different, especially with racing guys. These can be around 17mph in winter and much faster in summer, but I would not class them as aclub ride.
They may be ion a weekend and if no race local these rides acn be between 19mph and higher.
Some rides I have been ion have been around 17mph initially for first 40 miles and end up with overall average of 20mph meaning last 30 miles or so very fast.
For these training rides I like steady miles initially with faster miles later ( before cafe) then do low gear warm down for 10 miles home, then I hit all required zones in one ride
Club rides are not about speed and dropping people more about a steady social group ride and dare I say it recovery ride

Pokerface

Last club run I did 2 weeks ago - 57 miles at 18.1MPH average.


However - this was a FAST, FLAT ride with no stops (except a comfort break and mechanical!).

Normally our club run is closer to 14MPH avg for hilly and 16MPH for flat (not factoring in the stops).

psiturbo

I understand the fear of club rides...

First thing go with a small group because the bigger it is the more nervous you are going to be maintaining a wheel.

Find a group ride that guarantees no drop, at least thats how it is here on the local rides. Or simply be honest to yourself and show up and start asking if that group follows the no drop policy or not. Worst case scenario go out and try it out and see how far can you get and then drop out.

We do 40 miles, 25+ (sometimes up to 33mph or more), and got to tell you there are cyclists that show religiously and hang on til they get dropped. Little by little they can maintain almost the whole ride or simply just draft the complete ride.

Ask them as well, thats how I started, "Hey it is ok to draft as I am starting at this level of speed?" etc etc. Some clubs may say everyone has to be in the front and help out, others will be super cool and say its fine to draft the whole deal.

Do remember 25% is exercise, 75% is nutrition.

Pokerface

psiturbo wrote:

We do 40 miles, 25+ (sometimes up to 33mph or more), and got to tell you there are cyclists that show religiously and hang on til they get dropped

That isn't a club run. That's a training run/chain gang. Not what we're talking about here.

nmcgann

Pokerface wrote:

That isn't a club run. That's a training run/chain gang. Not what we're talking about here.

+1. The fastest non-racer club ride in my club is typically a moving average around 18mph over 70-80 miles (in a relatively flat/rolling area). There are 2 slower groups (16mph-ish and 14mph-ish) and the race guys do their own thing (usually because they don't have a cafe stop or want to have a battle).

No-one gets dropped and left on their own from normal runs - smaller groups sometimes split off to go a bit faster or slower, or because the main group is too big for safety.

I'd recommend the OP gets his road bike, gets his mileage up a bit and joins one of the bigger clubs that has a choice of run speeds.

meanredspider

I'd imagine (judging by the sudden explosion of cyclists near me) that getting to a club run sooner rather than later would be better. I'm guessing that there's far more unfit and new cyclists at the clubs right now than, say, in July. I'd rather poke my own eyes out than do the club thing but that's just me. I like riding with other people but clubs tend to attract a certain type and often silly rules about clothing etc. Worth checking your potential new club for that sort of thing too to make sure you're going to enjoy their company.

And drafting gives a huge benefit. I used to commute with my brother and downhill the guy in front would be pedalling whilst the guy behind would be coasting or even braking. Even riding home with one other person, I average 1mph faster.

yenrod

meanredspider wrote:

I'd imagine (judging by the sudden explosion of cyclists near me) that getting to a club run sooner rather than later would be better. I'm guessing that there's far more unfit and new cyclists at the clubs right now than, say, in July. I'd rather poke my own eyes out than do the club thing but that's just me. I like riding with other people but clubs tend to attract a certain type and often silly rules about clothing etc. Worth checking your potential new club for that sort of thing too to make sure you're going to enjoy their company.

And drafting gives a huge benefit. I used to commute with my brother and downhill the guy in front would be pedalling whilst the guy behind would be coasting or even braking. Even riding home with one other person, I average 1mph faster.

Just 2nding what meanred' says above.

I'm in Liverpool.

The clubs are VERY clicquey...

Talking of Rules - The times Ive had people moan at me for not having: 'guards' - Crudcatchers are good for that as they are pretty simple to fit!

I mostly ride alone - but take part in chaingangs & even their the club riders are seriously 'our club'...& and god dammit if you sit-on (as the pace is about 30mph) you may as well be Osamabinladen ! lol

Averages for big miles are immaterial.

If your in a group - you can easily hit an ave. of 15mph...

I done 5hrs+ a week back & done an average of 19.6kms - about 11/12mph...- on my own.

So, everyone who reckons they are 'below standard' - you aren't...'

As for enjoying their company...thats another conversation entirely.

Ive personally found some atmospheres in some clubs slight stupid and pathetic. The people are distant and aloof.

If your looking for a club look for the clubs that encourage ANYONE to come & ride with them ' a free & easy atmosphere...fun, a few jokes & the likes Not serious head down stuff...

You can go fast on a chaingang!

markos1963

yenrod wrote:

I mostly ride alone - but take part in chaingangs & even their the club riders are seriously 'our club'...& and god dammit if you sit-on (as the pace is about 30mph) you may as well be Osamabinladen ! lol

I don't understand, you run clubs down but are happy to take part in their chaingangs(actually not take part as you say you hang on) or am I missing something in your statement?

yenrod

markos1963 wrote:

yenrod wrote:

I mostly ride alone - but take part in chaingangs & even their the club riders are seriously 'our club'...& and god dammit if you sit-on (as the pace is about 30mph) you may as well be Osamabinladen ! lol

I don't understand, you run clubs down but are happy to take part in their chaingangs(actually not take part as you say you hang on) or am I missing something in your statement?

I'm not running down clubs, or getting a free ride on CG's..

My choice NOT to get up, on a wk.end at EARLY O'CLOCK is choice I make.

As for cg's - It quite normal for anyone from various clubs to attend.

2x cgs in my locality 1 all clubs attend the other would rather others don't attend but if that was the case they wouldn't get many...

Garz

So what your saying is if you can stomach the attitude or have thick skin it should be a breeze?

Simon Notley

I have ridden with a few different clubs and I think that the speeds quoted here seem pretty reasonable (as long as they don't include stops, which is normal as most bike computers pause when you stop moving). I currently ride on Saturdays with a pretty fit group who like to ride fast. Depending on how hilly the ride is and how over-excited everyone gets (which seems to be a function of how much cycling has been on Eurosport), we will typically average 26-30kph (16-19mph), note that we often include a 30min coffee stop and will probably amass 15mins of other general stoppage, so the true average is less. Ride distances range from 80km to 130km, sometimes things get really silly and we reach 150km (50/75/90 miles).

However, I would say that this is well above average for a Sunday club run (unless you go out with a racing team, or your club's 'fast' ride). My experience of more traditional clubs is that a normal Sunday run will be around 15mph, but since they tend to stop if anyone is dropped, you could comfortably average a little less and still make it around with the group (although it would be polite to check that this is normal for them first!).

I'd say, if you can ride 40 miles on your own without lots of stops and without really crawling (i.e. staying above 10mph) then you're probably ready to join a club run. The peleton effect (both physical and psychological) will make it easier than riding alone.

MikeWW

I've ridden with a few clubs as well-only last week was up in Scotland so did one of the local club runs. Have yet to find one that is anything but friendly. Not sure where all these cliquey clubs are? Anyway the pace does vary a fair bit.Sunday rides can be IME anywhere between 15 and 20 mph depending on the club and the group but you could probably knock off 2-3 mph to compare with a solo ride.
Within my club we tend to point people towards the slower Saturday ride or to one of the closed circuit sessions as a starting point and this seems to work out well. Everyone needs to start somewhere and I'd like to think we are welcoming of people new to the sport.

robdaykin

for me, on the one club run I did, the issue wasn't the overall average, which was actually slow for me. The issue was that I was surrounded by short, light people who climb hills like greased ferrets, and then sit up till the next hill. Being quite large framed (6'2", 50 Inch chest) I'm not a climber, and I got dropped on every hill, pretty early on, despite pushing to stay on till I blew. Then downhill I was braking so I didn't leave everyone behind, even just freewheeling. I've never ridden as slowly on average as on that ride over that route, nor have I red lined my heart rate so much to go so slow. Average speed isn't the whole story.

Mark Alexander

My opinion is simple, but I bet I'll over complicate it if I can.
contact some clubs, talk to them ask what they do. (is Norwich hilly?) a sunday club run is that. not a training ride. my first club run was a 50 and I just clung on. most clubs worth their salt will not mind if you struggle they'll help you. After all is said, you're new to it and deserve to be encouraged.

I have no problem with a club that says we average 18+ and if you get dropped ypu're on ypur own. they're up-front about it and that's fine. ride with someone else.

We have that in Cardiff. 3 rides of varying ability and good advice as to which is best.

themightyw

As I'm sure you've worked out already 'average miles per hour' is a hugely relative thing.

I live in Scotland (usually considered hilly) and I can head out and do a reasonably flat route near me and average 18-20mph over 25 miles or so. I can also head out and turn the opposite way and average 14.5 mph over 25 miles if I go the lumpy way. Sometimes my club does lumpy, sometimes it does fast. There's really no way to benchmark this stuff.

At the end of the day if you can go out and ride 50 miles then there's DEFINITELY a club near you where you'd be more than welcome and perfectly nippy.

Brushiemma10w

Thanks for the replies gents. It would appear that my original question was slightly in the "how long is a piece of string" category. It seems to depend on the club, how many different groups they have, the environment you ride in etc etc and the general consensus is to go on a local club run. Theres one in my area that does a 20-miler for beginners, so that looks my best bet.
Since getting my Spesh, I've been on a few 36 milers and feel comfortable. With other family commnittments drawing to a close, I intend to push this distance out to 50+ miles soon.
BTW, have just got back from a lunchtime solo run of 18 miles, seeking out what few inclines there are near to me in Ipswich and have managed an average speed of 16.3mph so am improving slowly.
Its all very addictive

vorsprung

One thing worth bearing in mind is that the speeds of club runs tends to be on the increase at this time of year
I was always fine on club runs even when I was less fit, until they hit a big hill

yenrod

Garz wrote:

So what your saying is if you can stomach the attitude or have thick skin it should be a breeze?

Exactly Garz ! lol

Brushiemma10w

Popped my 50-miler cherry today, doing 51 miles in 3 hours 13min. My average speed at the 40 mile mark was 16.7mph, but I suffered a bit in the last 10 miles and eventually finished with an average speed of 15.8mph. I thought about calling it a day around 42 miles, cos I was flagging rapidly, but remember someone on hear saying something about having got so close to a certain distance, toughing it out for the remaining miles.
Great feeling seeing the Cateye flop over from 49.99 to 50 miles

-steves-

Well done on your first 50 miler, as you say, its a great feeling knowing that you got there, but also agree that the last few miles or so can be hard work.

Anyways, I went out on my first club run, which was the beginners Saturday tour yesterday as part of that 50 mile trip. The pace was slow, very slow, and the speeds you are doing are massively higher. I think the pace averaged around 12mph as they leave no one behind on the beginner trips. We were stopping at junctions and tops of hills which of course brought the pace down considerably. Didn't mind the coffee shop stop, that was rather sweet, lol All in all, highly recommeded, riding is supposed to be fun, and thats definately what riding that ride was about, fun, the country side, fresh air (yes even when is pee'd it down for 20 mins or so) and chatting along the way.

When we finished the ride, I was at about 37 miles (took me 3 miles to get to GZ) so went off and finsihed the addition 13 miles off at a fresher pace of around 17 - 18mph which is where I am usually at, but like you, the last few miles do hurt and you want to stop before 50. Hoping to join the Touring group, GT group or maybe even the intermediate group soon, but need to build the miles up as they do around 60 to 70 miles in the summer, and 50 is already a little too much in reailty for me, certainly parts need to MTFU

So, just go join a club run or two, and see how you get on, you will love it

Brushiemma10w

Just back from my 11.5 mile lunchtime circuit that I mentioned at the beginning of this thread and in fairly similar conditions (sunny but breezy) have managed and average speed of 16.8mph and completed in 41.56, 6 minutes faster than when I started this thread a month ago on my mtb and 3 minutes faster than the first time I did it on my Spesh Comp.
Following on form my 50-miler at the weekend, I feel sufficiently confident to give a local club a whirl after my son's final football match this Saturday. Many thanks for the various comments/advice throughout this thread.

Why is it, however well you do, you always feel you could shave a tad more off your time and up your average speed? :twisted: