How to increase speed?

[lazy]

Merry Christmas

It takes me about 40 minutes to do 11 miles (ilford to centrel London) i want to bring it down to 30 minutes or less.

someone was telling me if i change the wheels like rear or front to a bigger size, this might help?

My heart rate goes up to 180 so i think i am putting maximum effort.
currently i am riding a Merida Road bike with carbon forks a Shimano R500 wheelset. the bike weights about 9 kg.

Thanks

 

[Biker Joe]

Changing stuff on your bike is not going to make much difference.
11 miles hardly gives you time to warm up. It takes about 15 to 20 mins to warm up properly.
You could get a better speed if you warmed up properly before you undertake the ride.
If you watch the pros before they start a ride they have already spent some considerable time warming up before they start.

 

[Alien8]

It takes me about 40 minutes to do 11 miles (ilford to centrel London) i want to bring it down to 30 minutes or less.

So you want to go from an average of 16.5mph to 22mph? In to central London?

If they got rid of all the other traffic, and all the lights were permanently green, you might be in with a chance.

Over that short a distance, for what must be a start-stop ride all the way, I'd say no chance.

But good luck anyway.

P.S. Today might be a good day to give it your best shot.

 

[lazy]

Changing stuff on your bike is not going to make much difference.
11 miles hardly gives you time to warm up. It takes about 15 to 20 mins to warm up properly.
You could get a better speed if you warmed up properly before you undertake the ride.
If you watch the pros before they start a ride they have already spent some considerable time warming up before they start.

Thanks for the Tip

 

[lazy]

So you want to go from an average of 16.5mph to 22mph? In to central London?

If they got rid of all the other traffic, and all the lights were permanently green, you might be in with a chance.

Over that short a distance, for what must be a start-stop ride all the way, I'd say no chance.

But good luck anyway.

P.S. Today might be a good day to give it your best shot.

i am sure i can do that, i had a track bike for few days and i did the same distance in about 35 mins or less.

If i look back i was struggling to do 5mph and now i can do 16.5 mph ... its only matter of time.

 

[morrisman]

You are going to be very hard pressed to increase your performance by 25% from an already reasonably high standard. Also as stated above trying to do it in London will be governed by traffic and traffic lights, you only need 10 sets of lights against you for 30 secs each and you are down 5 mins (assuming you stop for them :-) )

 

[50000tears]

You are going to be very hard pressed to increase your performance by 25% from an already reasonably high standard. Also as stated above trying to do it in London will be governed by traffic and traffic lights, you only need 10 sets of lights against you for 30 secs each and you are down 5 mins (assuming you stop for them :-) )

And the rest. Never underestimate how much time is lost with constant slowing down to stop and getting back up to speed again.

 

[vickster]

Merry Christmas

It takes me about 40 minutes to do 11 miles (ilford to centrel London) i want to bring it down to 30 minutes or less.

someone was telling me if i change the wheels like rear or front to a bigger size, this might help?

My heart rate goes up to 180 so i think i am putting maximum effort.
currently i am riding a Merida Road bike with carbon forks a Shimano R500 wheelset. the bike weights about 9 kg.

Thanks

Do it in the middle of the night. Upping speeds in traffic is very hard

 

[Andrew_P]

Racing against the clock in to Central London would not be my main goal in the commute. Just saying.

Get a Cam, I would love to see 20+mph average commute in to London!

 

[midliferider]

Dear lazy
The answer to your question depends on why do you want to increase your average speed. There are two possibilities.
1. You want to reduce the time you spend commuting to work. This may be because you want to wake up late, come home early etc. You are already doing an average of 16 miles. Any further increase in your speed is likely to be at the expense of safety. Therefore I strongly suggest that you reconsider your options for going to work.
2. If you are interested in increasing your fitness, you are training for some event etc, I suggest that you focus on that outside commuting to work. That is a separate subject. As others have suggested, you can do some training before or after your main commute.
Best wishes

 

[Sittingduck]

22mph avg into town and often into a prevailing headwind...

Good luck

 

[lazy]

You are going to be very hard pressed to increase your performance by 25% from an already reasonably high standard. Also as stated above trying to do it in London will be governed by traffic and traffic lights, you only need 10 sets of lights against you for 30 secs each and you are down 5 mins (assuming you stop for them :-) )

thanks I do stop for traffic lights however i feel that i am not pushing myself enough i see many cyclist doing much faster than me..

 

[lazy]

Dear lazy
The answer to your question depends on why do you want to increase your average speed. There are two possibilities.
1. You want to reduce the time you spend commuting to work. This may be because you want to wake up late, come home early etc. You are already doing an average of 16 miles. Any further increase in your speed is likely to be at the expense of safety. Therefore I strongly suggest that you reconsider your options for going to work.

i do 12 hours shifts and i hate to spend 40 minutes each way traveling and than going to work spend another 20 minutes changing/shower. this makes about 14 hours a day i dont have much time left.

 

[Dusty Bin]

thanks I do stop for traffic lights however i feel that i am not pushing myself enough i see many cyclist doing much faster than me..

Fitter cyclists will be faster..

 

[midliferider]

i do 12 hours shifts and i hate to spend 40 minutes each way traveling and than going to work spend another 20 minutes changing/shower. this makes about 14 hours a day i dont have much time left.

I understand your position. It is easy for recreational cyclists and occasional commuters like us to give you advice but it is you who has to cycle and and then work.
But if you do such long shifts, it makes even more important to be careful on the road as you will be tired at the end of the shift.
Perhaps you need to approach cycling to work not as commuting but as a recreational activity.
I can write more but my Turkey is in the oven.