Just an inch!?!?

ready2burn

Iv's only been riding for about 3 weeks and have done about 5 or so 30 mileish rides. Until yesterday i have been averaging just over 15mph. Because I'm new to this malarky i have been tinkering with my bike.... i increased the saddle height by about an inch and in my first ride afterwards... similar conditions, same 31 mile route that took me 1:59 last time suddenly only took me 1:38!!!

Thats up to 19mph!!! WHAT?

Does an inch really make that much difference or did i accidentally stop my watch for a brief period?

I guess ill find out next ride but I'm an impatient person!

Slow Downcp

Sounds feasible - an inch is a massive adjustment on a bike. If your saddle has been an inch too low it would make a big difference to how you ride

markos1963

It could do, two factors at force here. First is your leg position could have been wrong stopping you from producing power and the other is your body angle. An inch is quite a lot and raising it would also have the effect of lowering the front of your body so giving you a more aero position, increasing speed.

rolf_f

ready2burn wrote:

Thats up to 19mph!!! WHAT?

That's the weather for you

nochekmate

Not convinced that the saddle height adjustment would be totally responsible for the 4mph increase myself. Other factors likely to be at play here too eg. wind conditions, effort expended etc.

Zoomer37

Did you have the turbo button switched on before you made the adjustment to the seat height?

DesB3rd

15 to 19mph seems pretty extreme, online calculators would suggest that you're looking at an 85% power increase :shock: , in reality probably more as for some of your ride (slowing for junctions etc) your speed will be regulated artificially. 1" may not be a small alteration but I suspect something else is at play here.

sloppyschleckonds

DesB3rd wrote:

15 to 19mph seems pretty extreme, online calculators would suggest that you're looking at an 85% power increase :shock: , in reality probably more as for some of your ride (slowing for junctions etc) your speed will be regulated artificially. 1" may not be a small alteration but I suspect something else is at play here.

An accurate measure of distance usually explains extreme differences

racingcondor

Am I the only one who thinks that it's unlikely someone who has been riding for 3 weeks can average 19mph for 30 miles? If it's true, dayum (oh and, I give up ).

OP - An inch of on seat height is a huge change but it sounds like you should stick with it at your new height for now and enjoy the newfound speed (even if I doubt it's a 4mph gain it sounds like you had a great ride and that's a sure sign that the change was an improvement).

rolf_f

racingcondor wrote:

Am I the only one who thinks that it's unlikely someone who has been riding for 3 weeks can average 19mph for 30 miles?

If you'd read the whole thread you'd know that you weren't

It is the weather - tail winds and all that.

sloppyschleckonds

Rolf F wrote:

racingcondor wrote:

Am I the only one who thinks that it's unlikely someone who has been riding for 3 weeks can average 19mph for 30 miles?

If you'd read the whole thread you'd know that you weren't

It is the weather - tail winds and all that.

He was using a mountain bike with slick tyres.

ready2burn

Im pretty sceptical myself.... it was a still day and i felt good but i think its pretty unlikely. Gonna do the same route again tomorrow.... ill report back!

Calpol

I find threads like this quite disheartening. If you can average 19mph after three weeks cycling then shouldn't you be trotting along to the nearest cycling team to do a time trial test. I have been back in the saddle again for about three months albeit mostly at weekends and I don't reckon I have broken 15mph around the Bedfordshire roads. Maybe the OP has athletic prowess from another sport or I just suck more than I thought.

Calpol

I find threads like this quite disheartening. If you can average 19mph after three weeks cycling then shouldn't you be trotting along to the nearest cycling team to do a time trial test. I have been back in the saddle again for about three months albeit mostly at weekends and I don't reckon I have broken 15mph around the Bedfordshire roads. Maybe the OP has athletic prowess from another sport or I just suck more than I thought.

noodleman

I've been mountain biking, running and road riding for years, often doing 100 mile+ rides.
I think ive done well when I average 20mph or over on a ride. Guess the OP did say he was sceptical of the time he achieved and I reckon 15mph for someone only riding 3 weeks is pretty good.
What was your data from ready2burn?

lemoncurd

Try raising the saddle another inch and see if you can average 23mph.

noodleman

Tried that. Can't reach the pedals now.

wayneabs

An average of 19mph over 30 miles is very impressive. Do you have the Speedo and wheel circumference set correctly - if they are, then good work!