How do I compare ?
bianchibob
Posts: 306
I am new to cycling and have recently bought a couple of road bikes, a Specialised Allez and a Bianchi 928. I do a couple of nights a week at local 'spinning' classes and then a weekend ride that varies from 18 to 32 miles.
I have entered a couple of Sportives (MAG) the first is mid July (Winchester 100) and the second is in early September (Surrey 100) both of these will be 100k (62 mile version)
I am confident that I will complete both with not too much trouble, especially as now the weather has improved I can start building my distance and stamina.
My question is how do I compare, I am 59 years of age (male - 76kg) and according to my bike computer over rolling terrain around the Winchester area I am completing the 18 mile route at average speed of 15.85 mph with no stops, and the 32 mile course with a stop at an average of about 14.5 mph.
Is this average or poor as I have nothing to compare myself with, and I don't want to be 'left behind' when I do the Sportive's
Any guidance or indication would be very helpful.
I have entered a couple of Sportives (MAG) the first is mid July (Winchester 100) and the second is in early September (Surrey 100) both of these will be 100k (62 mile version)
I am confident that I will complete both with not too much trouble, especially as now the weather has improved I can start building my distance and stamina.
My question is how do I compare, I am 59 years of age (male - 76kg) and according to my bike computer over rolling terrain around the Winchester area I am completing the 18 mile route at average speed of 15.85 mph with no stops, and the 32 mile course with a stop at an average of about 14.5 mph.
Is this average or poor as I have nothing to compare myself with, and I don't want to be 'left behind' when I do the Sportive's
Any guidance or indication would be very helpful.
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Comments
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14-15 mph over rolling terrain is really good. The thing about sportives and following groups is that sometimes you go faster (riding in a group does increase your speed), and sometimes you find yourself going slower than those averages - people of all abilities ride sportives.
The thing to concentrate isnt speed, IME, but time in the saddle and building up your stamina. Its best to find out where aches occur and when pre sportive than during.
Have a look at the threads about average speeds on here - most solo riders kind of peak at about 15 - when i'm out alone its a special day I get to 16+, very rare indeed, but people and terrain and weather can be different - just concentrate on enjoying the rides, and do the 10% rule - just increase your distance by 10% each ride - you can onlly get fitter.
Incidently I was going to do the MAG rode last year but found out you had to raise 200 squid minimum. eek.The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns
momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.0 -
I can remember that feeling of just not knowing how I'd compare, having entered one of the Tour Rides in 2010, but only having ridden solo. I was worried that I'd be blown away on the hills, mightn't finish, etc. etc. - I guess I was somewhere round your mark at that time .... I needn't have worried - there were lots of people slower than me, but they were enjoying themselves just as much, I'm sure.
As long as you just keep going at a comfortable pace, you might surprise yourself how quickly you get to the finish - I was very grateful to two or three BR posters who allayed my fears and told me I'd be fine. I was, and haven't looked back (other than to check for cars, obviously).0 -
Twins! I'm the same age as you (but not for much longer
), a slightly heavier chap, and I've been doing spin classes in the latter half of the winter to keep the legs in shape. Last season I was fairly consistent on 100km rides in coming home in under four hours (saddle time, add five to ten mins for food stops etc.). This year I'm hoping to improve on that and managed 17.7 mph average last week (no stops) on a 27 mile undulating route. There are loads of faster riders, of course even at our age or older, but I take comfort in the fact that I'm not getting worse, and may be getting better.
Good luck with your rides.Purveyor of "up"
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Well I'm 54 and on the gently undulating terrain round here I still can't manage to average more than 15mph for my solo rides. I'm just hoping that I don't start getting worse.0
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I have found that I compare well (After only 3 months proper cycling) with the friend who has been cycling 10 years when looking at speed, but he can keep those speeds (16.5mph- 17.5mph) going for much longer than I can on the flats of Norfolk.0
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Well thanks for all the replies, the comments are really appreciated, as I now feel as though I am acheiving something.
Off to my first spinning class of the week with renewed vigour. Thanks again for all the positive replies.0 -
I'm not fast and I solo 18.7mph avg on a hilly 20 mile. I did a 50 mile with a group of lads Sunday and we avgeraged 16.7 mph. I did a 51 mile today solo and took in a mega 16% 2 mile hill that almost got me but I got to the top just could have done with another gear though! Still did a 16.9mph average which I was plaesed with solo. I was getting tired towards the end it's alot easier riding with a group doing 17-18mph avg than riding it solo.
My best avg for a flat 23 miles solo is 20.3mph and I wouldn't consider myself to be fast there are alot of faster guys in my club. Oh I'm 56 years old and a trim 12st 7lbs 6" 1' when I was a not so trim 16st 10lbs I was doing 15-16mph avg
I've had to work at it do the miles and put in the effort to get where I am now.0 -
(Incidentally, could someone programme this thread to self-destruct if the willy-wavers come along?)
To the OP - you'll be fine, I'm sure. There will be faster ones, there will be slower ones, there will be older ones, there will be younger ones, there will be fatter ones, there will be thinner ones. As long as everyone has a good time, and you reach your own goal (which might just be finishing, or even just enjoying being on the bike with other riders round you), that's all that matters.0 -
Brian. That's good advice. I think sometimes we get so hung up on average speed and time taken that we forget why we ride in the first place. Enjoy the ride.0
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very well said!briantrumpet wrote:(Incidentally, could someone programme this thread to self-destruct if the willy-wavers come along?)
To the OP - you'll be fine, I'm sure. There will be faster ones, there will be slower ones, there will be older ones, there will be younger ones, there will be fatter ones, there will be thinner ones. As long as everyone has a good time, and you reach your own goal (which might just be finishing, or even just enjoying being on the bike with other riders round you), that's all that matters.All lies and jest..still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest....0 -
While you're not fit enough for racing you'll be absolutely fine at the sportives, just ride a while and you'll most likely find yourself in a group of people who are comfortable at a similar pace.
If the distance is a lot further than you're used to then make sure you take food (2-3 energy bars is about right for a 60 mile sportive), drink enough and enjoy the ride.
EDIT - Oh, and don't worry about being the slowest. You won't be and even if you were, who cares?0 -
Bianchibob, it sounds like you're doing just fine. Ignore the braggers, do your own thing and enjoy it - sounds like you are anyway. All the best.0
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Well you're better than me, .. as I have had my fill of turbo over the winter, the mere thought of sweaty stinky indoor spinning classes...
2 bikes as well ..if you dont ride them, they'll probably throw a wobbly when you do.0 -
Bianchibob, get yourself down to your local club, you'd be surprised how quickly your speed will come on.
Alternatively try to ride with a few mates and aim to get your speed and distance up.
Spinning classes are no substitute for road miles, an hour on the road is worth more than an hour on the spinning bike IMHO.
You'll look back in a years time and think nothing of a 100Km ride, make sure you look after your nutrition and hydration and it will come along nicely 8) 0 -
Well just to get it out the way - I have a 15" dong so will keep the speeds down to earth! lol
When I started I set out a 25 mile loop, quite flat with 900 foot of climing. In my first frw weeks of cycling (with a good level of fitness already) I could only just hold between 13mph and 14 mph on a still day. 3 months later only riding 1 or 2 times a week and no2 holding 16 mph solo is quite possible, and 18mph if in a group. I have a feelig it is like everything with deminishing returns from hear on in.
But anyway, your doing just fine for where you are, and stick at it and you will improve rapidly. Remenber to go from 14mph to 17mph takes an increace of power output by 46% or so (since drag is perportional to speed ^2, and rolling resistance pretty constant fro 10 to 20mph). So its a rapid improvement.0 -
As has been said join a local club. I've been riding with a club group every Saturday since Nov 2011 and only missed 3 weeks due to ice. Best thing I ever did you will find if you hitting almost 16 mph avg on your own in a group you will hit 17 or 18 mph with the same sort of effort as you get towed along with the draft effect. I was at 17.2 mph avg om my regular 20 mile hilly route last Oct that's improved to 18.7 mph with a 1 & 1/2 stone weight loss and improved fittness.
You will get all sorts of tips and help from fellow club members. I did a 50 mile ride with the lads Sunday it's a lot easier than riding it solo. We are doing a 55 miler this weekend and it's a 25 mile round trip for me to the start point so it's going to be an 80 mile ride new teritory for me. I did 20.3 mph avg for 23 miles last Oct when I got the Spesh it felt so fast I had to see if I could beat my best 18.8 mph avg 20 mile flat route I set on my Boardman Hybrid. I need to tackle that flat 20 miler again. I want to do a 100 miler this year aswell. The club do one once a month so my goal is to join them on it.
Now you will see all the posts again about bragging you did ask how you compare, must just be envy.
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