What is your average / top speed?

briantrumpet

Rolf F wrote:

In theory, if I really was anal about it, I could record wind speed and direction as well though I could probably also work it out just by looking at the numbers.

I do, though not to use in a properly analytical way, just to see if I can compare rides on the same routes.

If it's any help, here's the latest set-up of my spreadsheet (from its first entry in February). Once you've got the basic data in there, you can stick whatever formulae you want in wherever you fancy - it's so basic that even I can do it. And naturally, the more rides you put in, the more stable the averages get .... on the plus side, I'd need to do several slow rides for it to drop significantly ... but on the minus side, it's equally hard to get it to go up.

jon1993

my average over 256 miles over the 3 days was 18,6mph and max was 52.9mph on a boardman team with tribars clipons and a 23.9kg baggage not sure why this matters though you should be working to improve your own personal times over a set distance in simular conditions over the same route say 10/20 miles as theres all different variables within these claims

CiB

Thebigbee wrote:

I have to admit that I do like the Garmin stats that people have posted because apparently it stops recording when you stop - which makes your average speed more realistic.

I also realise that a lot of bike computers aren't actually that accurate or haven't been set up correctly.

I've been fitting computers to bikes since the 1980s and I've never used one that didn't have auto-stop / start to record only travelling time. Equally setting them up is a doddle; can only speak personally but mine records the same distance for my commute & other decent rides that any of the mapping sites show, so accuracy-wise I'm happy with it. I'm a big fan of pointlessly expensive gadgets but don't discard the POBC - plain old bicycle computer.

Rolf F wrote:

Blame CiB (who posted on the previous page) - he came up with this monster; http://www.startfarm.co.uk/aspStats/Default.aspx

Oi - don't blame me. ITB came up with that nonsense. I just made it easier to become addicted. :twisted:

durhamwasp

Usual Average on a 50+ miler is 13mph

Top speed = 56mph

ben16v

started recording via sportstracks and garmin FR305/Edge 800 july 16th 2010 and live in Snowdonia so have a few hills to play with.

distance 1,196
time 101.41.39
average speed 15.6mph
climb (ft) 49,579
avr HR 139bpm/74%
max speed 48.5mph

Thebigbee

CiB wrote:

Thebigbee wrote:

I have to admit that I do like the Garmin stats that people have posted because apparently it stops recording when you stop - which makes your average speed more realistic.

I also realise that a lot of bike computers aren't actually that accurate or haven't been set up correctly.

I've been fitting computers to bikes since the 1980s and I've never used one that didn't have auto-stop / start to record only travelling time. Equally setting them up is a doddle; I'm a big fan of pointlessly expensive gadgets but don't discard the POBC - plain old bicycle computer.

:

I didn't know about the auto stop thing. I have a Cateye micro wireless and assumed (hoped) my average speeds and times were shite because it carried on recording - time at least, when stationery.

I only really use the speedo, mx speed, average and total odo. And my times are probably skewed because I was using it on both my hybrid and road bike.

However I went for a ride the other day and was looking down at the computer and it wasn't picking up. I tried pressing the function buttons, nothing, then looked down to check the magnet - was still fine - baffled I looked at the fork to check the sensor hadn't been moved.

It hadn't - it had completely disappeared! Some cnut had obviously nicked it because there was no way that it could just come off - it is screwed on. All the mounts on the fork were still there. £10-15 on Ebay for them. If they nicked it for their own use I hope, as I do all bike thieves, get run over by an HGV.

Luckily I had bought a £14 wireless comp with HRM and 3 YR warranty from Aldi - which IMO works just as well, with more features than the Cateye.

I agree that they are a doddle to fit - once you have got the first one out the way! Probably took me a good hour trying to dechiper the instructions and set up the 1st time - with additional video help from Youtube.

I can fit one in 5 minutes now without looking at the instructions - apart from the wheel size!

I'm gonna get one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

with cyclemeter to turn my phone into a Sat Nav - shame about the shitty GPS and battery life - but saves me £200+ for a Garmin.

Alternatively buy it from a UK seller for £7 more - lol - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

Jeez - now that I have got that off my chest - hope you still have the will to live!

Apologies for the lack of brevity. I blame the base!

Peddle Up!

I can reach 30mph on the flat and hold it for a minute or so.

I'm rubbish downhill and chicken out at 38mph, or before if the surface is a bit dodgy.

I can cover 20 miles in an hour, including a couple of small hills.

Over 60 miles I usually average between 15-16 mph.

I'm 59. Is that any good (I'm not looking for empty praise. OK, perhaps I am. ) Can I improve, or is it downhill all the way from here? :?

Bobbinogs

Thebigbee wrote:

However I went for a ride the other day and was looking down at the computer and it wasn't picking up. I tried pressing the function buttons, nothing, then looked down to check the magnet - was still fine - baffled I looked at the fork to check the sensor hadn't been moved.

It hadn't - it had completely disappeared! Some cnut had obviously nicked it because there was no way that it could just come off - it is screwed on.

I am not so sure thebigbee, I reckon the magnet/sensor could easily have come unscrewed, what with a bumpy surface and all that. I have lost a few things (like bits off my crud raceblades) which were fine at one point but worked loose over time.

My most common surprise is looking down and seeing the computer not working and trying to figure it out...only to realise that I am halfway through a ride and have the front wheel on the wrong way, again :oops:

Peddle Up!

Bobbinogs wrote:

My most common surprise is looking down and seeing the computer not working and trying to figure it out...only to realise that I am halfway through a ride and have the front wheel on the wrong way, again :oops:

Ho! Ho! Done that. Almost as good as the time I was late for a ride, put the front wheel on but forgot to re-engage the front caliper. Downhill start too. :shock:

centimani

FWIW, here's mine.
53, slim, light smoker :oops: ...ah bugger ya, its my life why apologise .
Normally 15 to 16 mph average over a 50 mile loop on a roadbike.
It doesnt matter how windy it is, slow out, fast home. Rolling hills don't affect me, slow up, fast down (i'm talking 1000 ft climbing in 50 miles, not long long gradients) it all averages out for me...always 15/16 mph.

A few years ago (maybe 4 or 5) i really really upped the effort and got to 18.something mph average quite regularly , but the effort was mental. It was spoiling the riding experience so back to 15/16 average.

Today, over 17mph average over 40 miles, that was fast for me.

Max speed, 38mph i think, there's no big long hills here.

bristolmotorspeedway

Bit of a beginner on a hybrid in a flat area, been at this for 4/5 weeks :-) best so far is 25 miles at 16.4mph but the averages say:

Count:
12 Activities
Distance:
212.43 mi
Time:
13:30:58 h:m:s
Elevation Gain:
1,369 m
Avg Speed:
15.7 mph

SLX01

I still don't get why people are hung up on this 'average ' rubbish how can the average for twenty 10 km rides be compared with a 200km ride? The only average that can possibly be relevant is the average speed for a set distance such as 25km. If rider A goes out every day and sprints 1km to the shops at 40km his average will be 40km where as rider B may go out a few times a month and average 35km for his 100km rides which one is faster?

rolf_f

SLX01 wrote:

I still don't get why people are hung up on this 'average ' rubbish how can the average for twenty 10 km rides be compared with a 200km ride? The only average that can possibly be relevant is the average speed for a set distance such as 25km. If rider A goes out every day and sprints 1km to the shops at 40km his average will be 40km where as rider B may go out a few times a month and average 35km for his 100km rides which one is faster?

Read up on statistics. Average speeds are certainly not 'rubbish'. It's all about how many data points you get.

Pickled Pig

I've just got back from France where I rode about 400 miles in 2 weeks and my average speed, doing 40-50 milers, was 19mph. In the UK for similar rides it is about 17mph. The main difference is traffic lights - I could easily ride 50 miles without a single set in France whereas if I do 40 miles to Chester and back, a route mostly through countryside with only one small town, I go through 28 lights. The road surfaces were also a lot better which must help. So comparing averages in different areas at different times seems a bit pointless.