10 miles in 42 minutes any good?

[roubaixtuesday]

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To give you some context I'm averagely fit for a cyclist and at the age of 61 I decided to try North Lancs RC's evening 10 mile TT. I reckoned I should be able to do it in 30 minutes so I concentrated on keeping the AV function on my Cateye at or above 20 mph. It's a triangular course and you climb about 250 feet in 2.5 laps and on that evening there was a gentle westerly breeze. The first time I did 30 minutes and 2 seconds so of course I had to go and try the next week, when I managed 29 minutes and 19 seconds. It was quite honestly the hardest physical effort I've ever made and although I enjoyed it I don't really have any interest in doing any more TTs.

Haha! I did something similar then tried a 25 a couple of weeks later. Now that *really* hurt. Like you, I'm not going back any time soon.

OP, your time is very respectable. Enjoy the cycling, whether or not you get faster.

 

[gavroche]

Yes, I really enjoyed it. May I also add that I lost my knee cap in a motor cycle accident when I was 18 years old, so the knee feels a bit sore but not painful

Also, I don't have the pedals where you fasten your shoes to them. Those pedals scare me LOL.

 

[nickyboy]

Traffic, lights, junctions, roundabouts etc make a big difference to average speed around here at least!

True, and brakey descents. My quickest 2 hour hilly rides are always straight over the Snake Pass for one hour, turn round and come back. There are no traffic lights, junctions or roundabouts. And the descents are wide and sweeping so no braking. I'm probably abut 1mph quicker on this route than a "normal" hilly route around here with junctions and brakey descents

 

[cyberknight]

So many variables etc it's hard to say,well done and keep at it.my commute is 10 miles and with full kit panniers etc I'm looking at 34-35 mins but I have been doing it a loooooong time

 

[RoadRider400]

Well done but a real cyclist records their average speed to five decimal places.

 

[Garry A]

Well done but a real cyclist records their adverage speed to five decimal places.

And goes up and down their street to round the distance up to the next mile.

 

[screenman]

And goes up and down their street to round the distance up to the next mile.

Just done that 30 minutes ago.

 

[ColinJ]

And goes up and down their street to round the distance up to the next mile.

I do, but in kms!

 

[Darius_Jedburgh]

And goes up and down their street to round the distance up to the next mile.

Next mile? That's for wimps. Always ride in 5 mile units.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Well done but a real cyclist records their adverage speed to five decimal places.

... And then rounds it up to the next whole number.

No, make that the next multiple of five.

 

[ianrauk]

Just done that 30 minutes ago.

Who doesn't?

 

[Sharky]

To give you some context I'm averagely fit for a cyclist and at the age of 61 I decided to try North Lancs RC's evening 10 mile TT. I reckoned I should be able to do it in 30 minutes so I concentrated on keeping the AV function on my Cateye at or above 20 mph. It's a triangular course and you climb about 250 feet in 2.5 laps and on that evening there was a gentle westerly breeze. The first time I did 30 minutes and 2 seconds so of course I had to go and try the next week, when I managed 29 minutes and 19 seconds. It was quite honestly the hardest physical effort I've ever made and although I enjoyed it I don't really have any interest in doing any more TTs.

20mph or "Evens" is probably the first milestone to be reached amongst time triallists. As daunting as it may seem, it is the starting point for most TT riders. But speeds in time trials shouldn't be compared to leisure rides or training rides. TT's are usually on very flattish courses, no difficult junctions, so once you achieve a cruising speed, there is nothing to hinder you.

The OP's 14mph for a training loop is very respectable and should he venture into TT's, he would have no problem getting near to the 20mph mark.

In my case, riding TT's over the years have kept me motivated and each (most) year returned to try and achieve my previous years best.

 

[Globalti]

It was astonishing to see the speed of the serious TTers as they blasted past on their special bikes with all the aero kit. If I recall I think the best were doing 21 or 22 minutes.

 

[Darius_Jedburgh]

Back in the days when I was competing 21 or 22 mins for a club 10 was usual for the good lads. This was long before the days of carbon fibre deep section everything. 653 steel frames were the norm. Pointy helmets were just about accepted.

I'm surprised that times seem similar given the advances in gear, clothing and training methods. Maybe we weren't that bad after all.

 

[fossyant]

Just keep at it, the more you ride, and it doesn't have to be far, the quicker you get. I'm just back from a quick 11 miler in 50 minutes, all off road an a big full suspension MTB covered in mud, but with a big grin.

Just don't grind big gears with your knee issue.

When I switched over to MTB'ing I forgot haw slow progress can be, where on a road bike I could do 16 miles in less than 50 minutes, it's more like 3 hours on an MTB