Ride pace

[TheJDog]

I can see a common denominator......

I broke both arms hopping up a kerb at about 3 mph.

 

[Cycle99]

I broke both arms hopping up a kerb at about 3 mph.

Careless )

 

[Dirk]

I broke both arms hopping up a kerb at about 3 mph.

That's when you find out who your real friends are.

 

[TheJDog]

That's when you find out who your real friends are.

Luckily, I was able to do the business, but I went and stayed with my bother and said "you do know I've broken both arms...." and he said "well, come anyway". He's allright my brother.

 

[Dirk]

Luckily, I was able to do the business, but I went and stayed with my bother and said "you do know I've broken both arms...." and he said "well, come anyway". He's allright my brother.

I broke both wrists once.
My missus was very understanding.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Just want to get some idea of an average sort of ride speed for a small group of regular riders.

Depends on several things - the terrain (hilly, undulating, etc), the weather (howling headwind, rain, nice day), the length if the ride (quick spin, 300k Audax) and lastly, and most importantly, which regular riders.

Some regular riders would consider your 15mph fast, other regular riders would consider it slow.

Just find a pace that suits you. If speed is important to you, then try to go faster. If it isn't, just enjoy.

 

[SuperHans123]

Slow

 

[Shortandcrisp]

I no longer track speed or distance on my rides. Truly liberating. Means I can actually now enjoy my cycling something, I've come to realise, I wasn't really doing for the past 2/3 years.

 

[martint235]

Isn't the whole point of a benchmark specific to the individual?

A benchmark is the standard you set, which you don't want to fall below. It's not the same as a goal or target.

Go do your usual route every week and work out an average over 3-5 rides. That's your benchmark. Then try and improve on that. At regular intervals (not too soon), measure and re-calculate to see if you've improved on that benchmark, consider making the new data your new benchmark. Comparisons with others is meaningless, at least in terms of "benchmarking".

I'd go further and say it's specific to the individual and the ride. For examples:

• If I'm out with @ianrauk and @rb58 it's nice to get home with an average of the upper side of 15mph but not important
• On my commute, my average is anything between 13.5 (Dec, in the rain with laptop) and 19 (July, no additional weight). I will always be aiming to get it higher but the road, weather and traffic take priority
• On my training ride (65 miles around Hever area) I'll be looking for well under 4 hours but always striving to be quicker
• On a long distance (200ish miles) I like to be getting close to 16.5

 

[rb58]

I no longer track speed or distance on my rides. Truly liberating. Means I can actually now enjoy my cycling something, I've come to realise, I wasn't really doing for the past 2/3 years.

I ditched the sat nav for the same reason, although I do track distance and sometimes average speed.

 

[SuperHans123]

I'd go further and say it's specific to the individual and the ride. For example:

• On my training ride (65 miles around Hever area) I'll be looking for well under 4 hours but always striving to be quicker

What is cycling training?

 

[martint235]

What is cycling training?

It's what I do to mitigate the quantities of beer that I drink coupled with my diet which is based broadly on "Is it moving quickly? Does it smell badly? Two No's? Eat it"

 

[User16625]

I presume that speed is due to being held up by traffic.

Dont get held up by traffic, your on a bike. However I can do 26 miles in an hour, but only if I take a shortcut.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

26 mph average or you're a bit rubbish.

That slow eh? What's the 53x11 for if not doing 50 mph.....

 

[jay clock]

Go on a few rides and log the speeds. I run a ride for friends and can plan timing very easily for the slightly hilly local area.
Average is 23-24kmh, hilly routes drops this back to about 21-22kmh - on odd occasions it might get to 25-26kmh average with a following wind.

I plot the rides on RWGPS at 23kmh so 3 hrs is 69k and it always works out very close when we look at the actual running time. Just do something similar in terms of testing a few rides and you will get what is your average. Many members of my tri club are never going to join me but i make it clear what the speed is and always have company