As most are aware cycling to me is quite new so I've not really got much experience of what is a good speed (mph).
I live in an undulating area and yesterday on my 'getting to know my bike properly' cycle I averaged 18mph. Now I'm sure this is slow to most of you, but it felt ok to me, not too fast or slow!
What I want to know is what is a good standard mph speed on a flat route?
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my 10mile TT time was something like 27mins.. my race pace is usually around 22mph av. on a flat course.
the quick guys seem to manage 25mph average even on some hideously hilly courses (i.e. swindon).
18 sounds pretty good for a start though.
i average about 22.5 on a very, very flat route over 80-100 miles
I try to average 20 mph on a 1-3 hour ride (don't always manage it!). I'm currently working on my pace, trying to keep up to 25 mph for as long as I can ... until I can do it no more.... then I blow up and crawl home at about 10 mph!
When you are racing though - you'll go a lot faster - my 10 time is a long 22 - so that's about 26mph, but you need the course for that.
Tri courses tend to be a lot bumpier than the average cycling Time Trial course.
He usually drops me quite quickly.
I'm quite pleased with that then as I had 2 steep hills and very bumpy road in places! Mind I only did 11 miles.
Going up hill I was not too good, but I'm still getting used to the gears!
Blimey Lizzy I'm sure I could do 25mph unless downhill!
Start by just daring yourself not to touch the brakes at the top of the hill... By the time your really scared its probably round a corner and well, no-one brakes round a corner do they!! So you end up scaring yerself so much at the consequences of braking that its actually less scary not to brake....
Understand my 'logic'...
Never raced there but I ride eastridge every thursday night!! And yes, I know it...
tee hee... T'is my local patch!!!
;-)
You need to drop yer saddle a bit and get yer @rse right skimmin' the rear wheel... but its not really the done thing in a race to stop and adjust saddle height is it!!!
But I do love Eastridge.. are some amazing rooty singletrack drops... you'll have to come over sometime...
and I'm not dead yet.
Funnily enough I don't get scared when I'm racing (not that I've done very much), just when I'm training!
And I saw Mick Ives wipe out and split his lip on it just before I had a go, so I thought - 's*d that for a game of soldiers !'
Wish I hadn't sold me MTB. Still - good reason to get another eh ??? ;-)
and yes Coug... always a good idea to get another!!!!!
It's best not to place too much emphasis on what your computer tells you - I set mine using the standard figures that came with it and I always record times 1-2mph slower than the people I'm riding with. On top of that things like the weather, the road surface, traffic, towns, tri bars, your bike etc make so much difference.
Your best bet is to try going out with the local chain gang - good fun - or if you don't feel up to that yet find a local club and do their evening 10s - although you'll have to wait to spring for that.
We did our club hill climb and freewheel comp on Sunday - managed to crash on the freewheel trying to get maximum momentum round a corner - landed on my head and after checking my neck wasn't broken remounted - luckily nobody saw me can you imagine the mickey taking for crashing on a freewheel.
If you tried to do 20mph average on our club runs, they'd probably kill you and burn your bike.
How's the bike ?
I live just down the road from Portland, now that is one big steep hill and goes down for 1 whole mile! I don't think I'd be fool enough to attempt coming down there without using brakes. Or maybe I've just got lots to learn yet.
I keep pointing out that lotsa hillclimbs are only 2mins long, but they can't hear me as they are already halfway up the hill.
B*m.
Freewheel hill is a much gentler one in Delamere.
I was worried about elitism in cycling too - but I've not found it too bad. To be honest my club is probably not all that friendly - I wouldn't say they are unfriendly but they don't go out of their way - but I've found the local chain gang to be much more welcoming - it's not a club as such - you just turn up at one of a number of points along the route and tag on.
Last time I did the chain gang - it was fearsomely competitive ! Which reminds me - must have another go ! ;-)