Average speed guide?

sparklehedgehog

Hi

I'm relatively new to this fitness/cycling extravaganza and have totally fell for it. My question is:

How fast would you expect a 5' 11" fatboy (17 stone) to average on a ride? I tend to do about 12-15 mile rides and am getting around 20mph average. Is that ok for now? Should i be doing something different/better/further?

Thanks in advance

P.s a chart or guide for distance/average speed covering different standards and ages would be a handy tool to have on here

Initialised

Assuming those are within a 6-8 mile radius of Connigsby then am I right in thinking most of your riding is on the flat?

20 mph means 10 miles in half an hour

Results of a local 10 mile TT around a reservoir in the Pennines (i.e. not flat)
25:38:00
26:13:00
26:15:00
26:41:00
26:45:00
27:43:00
27:51:00
28:19:00
28:22:00
28:24:00
28:31:00
29:04:00
29:06:00
29:24:00
29:36:00
29:43:00
30:32:00
30:39:00
31:01:00
31:13:00
32:04:00
37:39:00

Jon_1976

20mph is very good regardless of the terrain, in my opinion.

Try mixing up your training. I try to alternate between longer rides at lower intensity and a local 10 mile loop (with 1 decent climb) where I really push myself.

napoleond

Enter a local race

cougie

20mph is fast. You must be an exceptional cyclist or your speedo is wonky. You must be passing everyone at that kind of speed ?

Sprool

I've cycled hard for the last 18 months now, its really hilly terrain round here, I've shed a lot of weight and am now 12 st, but on a 15 mile ride I'm now up to 15mph max, thats good going round here, it used to be 10 -11 mph a year ago. If you are new to cycling and weigh 17 st and claim you are doing 20mph then I'd get your speedo checked, even if you are cycling on the flats.

w00dster

I would agree that 20mph is reasonably fast.
I know your milage isn't particularly far but thats still a good speed, especially for someone of your size and weight. At this time of year in the cold, rain and wind, to average 20mph is good.
I ride in the A group of my club (4 groups in the club), we are all reasonably fit and strong riders. I am only averaging approx 20 mph on solo rides at the moment (40 to 50 mile rides). Todays ride was only 18.2mph average, the wind on the last 16 miles was a killer. The speed for the A group is 22mph average, however at this time of year thats not happening.

Its difficult to judge against other people on a forum though, weather and course make a massive difference to average speed. My rides tend to be over undulating terrain, not hilly, so about 1400 ft rise within 40 miles. Other stronger riders than me will ride tougher routes and have a slower average speed. But as I dont ride hills as often as I would like they would crush me on a real ride.

If you want to see where you at with your riding, pin a number on your back. Or join a club/chaingang ride.

Moonbiker

Go on strava then you can see how good you are compared to others.

w00dster

Not a fan of strava, I'm 4th on a segment, out of about 650 riders. Ian Stannard is in front (I live in Milton Keynes, Stannard has a few KOM around here).
Anyway, where I was 4th I had an average speed of 26mph, massive tailwind. I didnt go out with the intention of getting a PB, it just happened to be windy when I rode that segment. Strava also says max speed of 34.7, I dont think I hit that speed, its downhill for a short period but then flattens out. Even with a tail wind I'm pretty sceptical I could hit that.
Makes me wonder how many other KOM are wind affected or are in a group ride? I hardly ever use Strava, just use my Garmin for my ride average.

thistle_

20 is fast. Unless you've accidentally set your speedo to km/h

Vandiesel

Wished I could achieve that speed and admit mine is only 15.8 recently!

sparklehedgehog

Well I hope my speedo is correct as it's a garmin edge 510 with the wheel sensor also fully functioning.

I fully appreciate it's relatively flat here and that obviously makes a huge difference and yes I have compared on strava but some strava top times I find hard to believe (I'm in the top 10 of 70-100 people per segment round here but some just seem unachievable to get near)

Totally love this sport though. Should've done this years ago

sparklehedgehog

Also that is on the hoods not the drops on my roubaix. Never feel comfortable on the drops (thighs hitting the belly etc)

Bozman

Looking at folk I've ridden with around Derbyshire over roughly 60 miles I'd say, 16 newish to cycling, 18-19 good pace, 20-22 very good.
All meaningless because it depends on where you live and weather conditions, if you ride solo etc. Just enjoy the ride.

StillGoing

I'd say new riders anywhere between 10-13mph, regular riders 13-15mph, better riders 15-17mph, and the seasoned out every opportunity they get 17-22mph. And then you get the heros and those who claim they ride at 28mph.

NeXXus

Link to a ride on garmin connect please 8)

BillyMansell

Quoting average speeds on a forum, or even using Strava and the like, aren't of any significant value as any quoted figures may not be relative to others and their riding environment/conditions and such figures may not be accurate. What's more important for you is how you've improved since you started.

20 mph on your own over a short distance is a good quoted speed but what relevance is it to the riding you want to be doing? If all you want to do are club 10s, which is always a good introduction to racing, then you're doing fine but it would be more useful for us to know what your goals and aims are for the year.

w00dster

Seems to be that the general consensus is that your doing very well speed wise.
Need to up your distance if you can though. Also try to mix your rides up. Might be worth chucking the bike in the car, driving to Grantham, then cycling the backroads to Oakham and back. Head out via Wymondham return via Cottesmore. Thats a reasonably undulating route, still not like the pennines or Lake District that a lot of chaps on here ride, but still an ok route to do. I do that route starting from Cottesmore, with a couple of fit but new riders, we average at anything from 16 to 17.3 mph.
As an example, I read in last weeks cycling weekly, one of the UK pro's off season training weeks included a number of rides averaging 22mph. That was discussed as a solid ride to increase base fitness. (it was talking about early Feb though when the weather was bad)
I tried to keep that pace yesterday and killed myself, was fine for a mile or so. Just shows even with using the turbo over winter I'm not where I was at the end of last autumn. So I would be very pleased with your 20mph average.
Maybe have a look at some Sportives? Pretty sure that there is a Rutland sportive with different distances to choose from in April or early May.

sloppyschleckonds

A 10 mile flat ride at 20mph is what it is. If you just want to do flat 10 mile rides keep doing what you are doing.

Ed-tron

w00dster wrote:

Seems to be that the general consensus is that your doing very well speed wise.
Need to up your distance if you can though. Also try to mix your rides up. Might be worth chucking the bike in the car, driving to Grantham, then cycling the backroads to Oakham and back. Head out via Wymondham return via Cottesmore. Thats a reasonably undulating route, still not like the pennines or Lake District that a lot of chaps on here ride, but still an ok route to do. I do that route starting from Cottesmore, with a couple of fit but new riders, we average at anything from 16 to 17.3 mph.
As an example, I read in last weeks cycling weekly, one of the UK pro's off season training weeks included a number of rides averaging 22mph. That was discussed as a solid ride to increase base fitness. (it was talking about early Feb though when the weather was bad)
I tried to keep that pace yesterday and killed myself, was fine for a mile or so. Just shows even with using the turbo over winter I'm not where I was at the end of last autumn. So I would be very pleased with your 20mph average.
Maybe have a look at some Sportives? Pretty sure that there is a Rutland sportive with different distances to choose from in April or early May.

Thanks for this. Im in Surrey at the moment but am moving to Grantham next weekend, so this is a useful route suggestion! :P

kajjal

philthy3 wrote:

I'd say new riders anywhere between 10-13mph, regular riders 13-15mph, better riders 15-17mph, and the seasoned out every opportunity they get 17-22mph. And then you get the heros and those who claim they ride at 28mph.

Round by us this would be about right it is quite hilly and the wind gusts around a lot at times so you spend half your ride fighting the wind. Averaging 20mph even on the flat with no wind is good going compared to most peoples fitness.

antfly

20 mph for a beginner would be pretty remarkable. A link to your Strava rides might help to tell if you are remarkable or not..

w00dster

Just back after my ride, I think 20mph is possible for a beginner riding a flat, short route.
My average speed was 18.4mph, only 30 mile route (wanted to be back for rugby). Pretty lumpy, about 1300 foot over the course. My route includes 6 miles of Milton Keynes red route where I can only average about 14mph max. I would guess that without the slower 6 miles my average would have been closer to 19mph. Theres a hill on my course that absolutely kills me, not the steepest, but for some strange reason I struggle up it, drop to about 11mph which is very poor considering its just little more than a longish bump in the road.
I do think OP should look at riding a club ride or a sportive over a longer ride though.

Vandiesel

16.1 over the wk ends average for me 18.3 yesterday and 32.8 today 20mph is out of my reach unfortunately

Moonbiker

Iv'e never averaged over 20mph.

Fastest was 19.8mph average when I did a trialthon on this route:

http://www.strava.com/segments/5580568

antsmithmk

A few posters have beat about the bush above.... Why not just directly ask the OP for some proof?

Strava or Garmin link please.

I suspect the OP either has the Garmin set in km/hr or is on a fishing trip. 17stone and 20mph rides....

napoleond

Most of my riding is around the 14-17mph mark, but I can bang out a 22 minute '10' and I race/do chain gangs. I've never been able to average 20mph on my own ride, ever!

w00dster

Hi Ant,
I take it your a fellow MK local.
I only moved here in Jan so not too used to the roads / routes. I tend to head over towards Northampton via Stoke Goldington returning via Hanslope. Not sure if your familiar with those roads?
Reading here last week there was a thread discussing MK routes and mentioned a tough hill. I'm not keen heading out on the dual carriageways around here so use the red routes from central MK to wolverton just as its the only route I know!!

antsmithmk

Hiya, very familiar! If you want some routes look me up on Strava, same username. The hill is Church Street in Bow Brickhill. As you a Team MK member?

sparklehedgehog

I love how so many people on here are throwing wild accusations about not being able to set a Garmin to MPH or how it's not true without proof however to satisfy these rather presumptuous doubters here is the ride:

http://www.strava.com/activities/118823848

I have to say it doesn't inspire use of these forums for pleasure...


Yes i know it's Lincolnshire is relatively flat, yes it's not ground breaking speed but all i was asking for was advice on example paces for varying levels of rider etc. Yes i'm overweight but the entire reason for starting what has now become an obsession was to lose weight and improve fitness. I've covered 600 miles in total since last August, that is all so know i need to put a lot more mileage in especially when i see others on Strava doing rides in excess of 100!!!!

I was merely asking for guidance, not being cross-examined for evidence.

sparklehedgehog

P.s. i WAS solo