So slow... Shame on me :-(

jmcc500

Just been out on the road bike for the first time since August (been out on the MTB 3 times in that period) and I can't believe how out of condition I am! Rode Brighton to Evans warehouse nr Gatwick. 38.6km, took me OVER 2 hours.

So, what should I blame? My condition (poor), the fairly brisk headwind, or gear ratios (running 39/52 and 13-23)?

Was reading the threads about joining clubs but I really need a serious injection of pace to do that!

Anyone else this slow? Will see how I improve over the next few months - should be an easy place to improve from!

suzyb

Someone slower than me :shock:

Never quite been that slow but not much faster. My slowest over 20miles was about 11mph. I like to blame the hills and headwinds for my slowness.

t.m.h.n.e.t

Your condition. 8 months is a fairly long time off the bike.

Ringo 68

That is a long time without going on your bike. As a new road bike user I didn't ride from November to March and lost all the fitness that I had worked so hard to get the previuos summer.

My first couple of rides were hard work but I started out gently with a few 10/15 mile runs and slowly but shorly the weight has come off and my fitness levels have improved.

Maybe you were a tad optimistic with a near 40km ride, I would have done a few shoter ones first. Also the wind was pretty strong today and at times it felt I was not really moving forward at all.

It will get better quite quickly I expect. If I can improve fitness levels then I know you will be able to.

ZoomZoom

It should be an easy baseline to improve from, I was doing similar speeds when I restarted just under a year ago.

Z

centimani

Condition (or lack of it) and brisk headwind...
Like you,up till last month ive been off the bike for the most part for 5 months. Ive found my average speed hasnt changed that much, but boy, any incline or headwind certainly hits me.
Ive also not been doing the miles i used to, but that makes sense at first (but also reminds you you used to be able to do twice, three times the mileage for the same effort, its a bit galling)
Keep at it, i feel my strength and stamina building with almost every ride, you will too.

wishitwasallflat

I've been as slow plenty ! After 4 years I am only just now managing 15mph - stick in and dont worry it will come as long as you keep riding

houndlegs

Slow is good,you're out of the house for longer

wishitwasallflat

houndlegs wrote:

Slow is good,you're out of the house for longer

+1 that man but don't tell my missus as I keep persuading her to let me upgrade to go faster but never get home sooner cause I just go further

jmcc500

Also hindered by Crawley council's decision to put a pressed steel manhole cover on a corner on a cycle path. Fortunately I didn't hit the deck too hard, but could have done without it!

I'll try some shorter rides over the next week and see how I get on. As said, it was any kind of uphill gradient that really killed me!

ShutUpLegs

Try doing some duel carraigeway repeats to boost your average speed

Rigged

ShutUpLegs wrote:

Try doing some duel carraigeway repeats to boost your average speed

Haha you're never going to let that poor lad who posted about DCs live it down are you?!

suzyb

Rigged wrote:

ShutUpLegs wrote:

Try doing some duel carraigeway repeats to boost your average speed

Haha you're never going to let that poor lad who posted about DCs live it down are you?!

That's the second comment I've read on here. What's the joke?

p9uma

suzyb wrote:

Rigged wrote:

ShutUpLegs wrote:

Try doing some duel carraigeway repeats to boost your average speed

Haha you're never going to let that poor lad who posted about DCs live it down are you?!

That's the second comment I've read on here. What's the joke?

Don't. Just Don't.

rick_chasey

ShutUpLegs wrote:

Try doing some duel carraigeway repeats to boost your average speed

I'd suggest not saying that wind up again....

No need to wind people up. At all.