Developing Speed

[Ian Watts]

Hi
I have been cycling for about 4 weeks on and off now, road cycling. I have built up to doing about 20 miles a couple of times a week. However, it is taking about 1hr 50 mins and I would like to increase my speed. The routes I am taking have some strongish uphill and downhill. I average about 11mph.

I am not sure what is the best way to develop speed. At the moment I am trying to stay in as higher gear as possible (never sure if that is the correct term - the gear with most resistance), even uphill, which really slows me down. If I drop a gear or two it feels like I am still going slow but cycling easier.

I am using a mountain bike - not sure why I bought it but all my friend had them and I followed suit. I hardly ever go off road, and if I do it is good hard packed trails. It is a Specialized Rockhopper 2011. I am not in a position to buy a new bike - I am unemployed.

So, tending to use the highest gears nearly all the time, am I better dropping more to get up hills, or stick with what I am doing and let my fitness increase even if my speed slows down. Please keep replies non technical - I don't understand terms like Cadence etc. or is there anything else I can do to increase speed (apart from pedal faster).

One more piece of information - I am 18.5 stone, s I am lugging a fair bit of weight around with me.

Cheers

Ian

 

[Mo1959]

@Ian Watts Hi Ian and welcome to the forum. I found it took several months before I really saw much improvement in speed.....it will come, don't worry. You are going to end up with injuries pushing high gears on a heavy bike when you are just starting out. Lower gears and spinning the pedals is much easier on your legs. Keep the high gears for the nice long flat sections and downhills for the time being.

As you say it is a mountain bike and you are almost never off road, have you considered putting some lighter weight slicker tyres on? It would give you a bit less rolling resistance on the roads.

 

[Herzog]

I wouldn't concentrate too much on technique at the moment, just get out as much as possible! Speed increases will come with an increase in fitness and a decrease in body weight (both of which will happen if you ride more).

 

[HorTs]

I'd agree with both Mo and Herzog.

Some tyres more suited to road use would get you a couple of MPH I'd guess.

As Herzog says, just keep at it - weight will reduce and muscle will develop.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Nice bike, no need to change it. I agree with all the above. You have been cycling for 4 weeks and you are up to 20 miles well done. Bet you didn't start at 20 miles on day 1 did you ?

Your personal challenge should be how many times can i get out on my bike, be it a quick trip to get a pint of milk or a 20+ ride. If you do this by the time we put the clocks forward you will be a lot fitter, going faster and going further. This will be the challenge for several on here this winter, me included and experienced cyclist or not.

If you really want to feel you are doing some training i find that i pick certain stretches of my routes, say 1 mile long, and so long as it's safe blat along as fast as i can, then slow for a couple of miles and repeat on the next mile.

If you have a smartphone download map my ride, i suggest this as it's the one i have but there are others, it's free and you can map a route on the computer, pick courses/sections on the route that you want to blat along and when you come back from your ride you can see how much quicker you did that part or not.

You didn't mention what tyres you have but road tyres will make the ride easier on the road.

Whatever you do good luck but make sure you enjoy the ride and relish the freedom.

 

[Dusty Bin]

Speed comes from fitness - and fitness comes from riding for a lot longer than 4 weeks. Your fitness will improve the more you ride. Ride regularly, ride often - and the fitness will come, but it won't come overnight.

Technically, you may go slightly faster with road tyres, but in your situation at the moment I wouldn't bother changing anything. Your cadence does sound like it could be improved though. Stay out of the big gears and spin the pedals faster for the same road speed.

 

[Rob3rt]

Bet you didn't start at 20 miles on day 1 did you ?

Wouldn't be at all far fetched if he did.

Speed comes from fitness - and fitness comes from riding for a lot longer than 4 weeks. Your fitness will improve the more you ride. Ride regularly, ride often - and the fitness will come, but it won't come overnight.

Technically, you may go slightly faster with road tyres, but in your situation at the moment I wouldn't bother changing anything. Your cadence does sound like it could be improved though. Stay out of the big gears and spin the pedals faster for the same road speed.

Agree.

 

[Crackle]

There's no need to kill yourself using harder gears, change down and spin more for the same speed, as has been said. Once your fitness improves you can start to think about how riding differently might benefit you but give it two or three months first and just aim to ride regularly. And well done so far.

 

[PpPete]

11 mph over 20 miles on an MTB is pretty good, especially for someone just starting out. I think I started at that sort of speed/distance on a road bike (albeit a rather ancient one)
Speed does come in time - even for fat old farts like me.

 

[Ian Watts]

OK - thanks for all the support - a lot of that makes sense and I will try some of that. Two questions:
1. On my bike, can I just get thinner tyres, or would it need different wheels
2.

Your cadence does sound like it could be improved though

- what is cadence?

Thanks again all

 

[uclown2002]

OK - thanks for all the support - a lot of that makes sense and I will try some of that. Two questions:
1. On my bike, can I just get thinner tyres, or would it need different wheels
2. - what is cadence?

Thanks again all

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=cycling cadence

But seriously though, don't over think this.

Just get out an ride as much as you can. Fitness will follow.

 

[Dusty Bin]

Cadence is how fast your pedals are turning

 

[Sittingduck]

RPM of your legs.

Rome wasn't built in a day - just keep riding and building duration of rides. Keep going through the Winter and push yourself where you feel able to. Come the Spring, you'll be faster, sure enough...

 

[HorTs]

1. On my bike, can I just get thinner tyres, or would it need different wheels
2. What is cadence?

1. You should have no problem just swapping the tyres for some less knobbly ones.
2. As others have said cadence is the number of revolutions of a pedal in a minute, so a cadence of 60 would be your pedal being turned once every second.

 

[Ian Watts]

Thanks folks - maybe I am trying too much - I might look at some new tyres and see what they do for me - I can always swap back if I do some off road. Thanks for all the support.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=cycling cadence

I've never seen that site before - cool