Riding speed

[tjw_78]

Silly question, maybe, but I'm curious. I've had a road bike for about 2 weeks (had MTB for about a year, not riden since I was a kid before that, now early 30s). I've got out for several 1 hour rides on the road bike (can't do much more, new baby in the house) and am averaging about 15 miles an hour (Berkshire - pretty flat - no hills around here).

Does that sound ok? I fancy trying to find a local club and to go riding with others, but will I get left behind?

 

[CopperCyclist]

It's faster than some, slower than others! From zero actual experience, and talking only from what I've heard mostly on here, 15mph average would put you at the slow end of a 'fast' club ride, or the quick end of a 'slow' one.

 

[HLaB]

If you got round safely and enjoyed yourself then it is a good average. Yesterday I was 19.7mph for 50 miles and 12.8mph for 76miles; I would say they were both good rides
As to a club, my last club said you should average 15mph on your own and then in a group with drafting/ extra motivation you'll be OK. I would guess however, that you may struggle after an hour if that's what you are used too but if the club drop you that's probably not the club for you. Having said that on practically every new ride I have done I've struggled the first time but enjoyed it down the line.

 

[amaferanga]

Your speed is fine for a slow club run. Just being in a bunch will give you a couple of mph for free as well. But being able to ride 40 miles or more is more important - not many 15 mile club runs.

 

[tjw_78]

Thanks, thats useful. I fairly sure I can keep that pace up for longer (I run & mtb, so I'm pretty fit), so I might start looking for a local group.

 

[MattHB]

15 is great I'm always happy with 15.

 

[avsd]

Just starting on a road bike 15mph on your own is a good speed. As mentioned, drafting in a bigger group will increase your avg speed. Head wind will kill your average and tail wind will increase it. The key is to enjoy yourself, If you want to increase speed/fitness join a club start in the C/B2 groups and move up. However, most club runs take 3-4 hours.

 

[amaferanga]

Thanks, thats useful. I fairly sure I can keep that pace up for longer (I run & mtb, so I'm pretty fit), so I might start looking for a local group.

If you've never actually done it then chances are you won't be able to maintain that speed for 2 or 3 times the distance. If you could then you'd be able to ride your 15 miles faster! That's kind of how cycling works - the further you go the slower you get.

 

[tjw_78]

If you've never actually done it then chances are you won't be able to maintain that speed for 2 or 3 times the distance. If you could then you'd be able to ride your 15 miles faster! That's kind of how cycling works - the further you go the slower you get.

Err, thanks! Simplistic, and vaguely insulting. I maybe new to this roadie stuff, but I have completed 4 day adventure races on the rough stuff. I never said I was knackered at the end of the ride.

 

[smutchin]

I have completed 4 day adventure races on the rough stuff.

That's a fairly key piece of information that you left out of your original post. amaferanga clearly didn't mean to be insulting and gave a perfectly good and helpful answer based on the information you provided.

Anyway, whether or not you could keep up with a club road group depends very much on the club and the group. One of my local racing clubs will be into full-on training mode by this time of year, doing their standard 90 mile ride at an average of 20mph. If you went out with them, they'd drop you like a stone on the first climb and wouldn't wait for you. But they're not all like that - there will be plenty of clubs around that ride at your level, but unless you can give up four to five hours on a Sunday morning, they won't be much good to you.

If you only have an hour to spare, maybe try looking for a club that organises time trials - although then you really would need to get faster, around 20mph for a ten mile TT being the lower limit of respectability. And if you're not knackered at the end of a ten mile TT, you really aren't trying hard enough.

d.

 

[MattHB]

Err, thanks! Simplistic, and vaguely insulting. I maybe new to this roadie stuff, but I have completed 4 day adventure races on the rough stuff. I never said I was knackered at the end of the ride.

I don't see how that's insulting at all. It's pretty sound logic, and he's only trying to help.

 

[tjw_78]

If you've never actually done it then chances are you won't be able to maintain that speed for 2 or 3 times the distance. If you could then you'd be able to ride your 15 miles faster! That's kind of how cycling works - the further you go the slower you get.

Its patronising. And assumes the reason I can't go quicker is due to fitness. I could go on but I won't.

The previous posts had given me the info I was looking for. I leave it there.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

and am averaging about 15 miles an hour

Your speed is fine for a slow club run. Just being in a bunch will give you a couple of mph for free as well. But being able to ride 40 miles or more is more important - not many 15 mile club runs.

I fairly sure I can keep that pace up for longer (I run & mtb, so I'm pretty fit), so I might start looking for a local group.

If you've never actually done it then chances are you won't be able to maintain that speed for 2 or 3 times the distance. If you could then you'd be able to ride your 15 miles faster! That's kind of how cycling works - the further you go the slower you get.

I have completed 4 day adventure races on the rough stuff. I never said I was knackered at the end of the ride.

Its patronising. And assumes the reason I can't go quicker is due to fitness. I could go on but I won't.
The previous posts had given me the info I was looking for. I leave it there.

If you re-read amaferanga's posts,he suggests that local groups will be doing circa 40miles at a faster pace than your 15mph. I don't see the issue in stating that you may find it very difficult given local groups/club rides probably wouldn't gear up for less than 40. The assumption was you haven't done the distance based on the information you gave,and subsequently left out a vital part of, Not your level of fitness.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

It's faster than some, slower than others! From zero actual experience, and talking only from what I've heard mostly on here, 15mph average would put you at the slow end of a 'fast' club ride, or the quick end of a 'slow' one.

Thats the problem I have these days, as I've got older my average has dropped of a bit and I can average somewhere around the 15mph mark where a few years ago I was averaging 16-17 mph, this puts my natural pace slightly above the slow ride and slightly below the medium ride and I end up riding alone most Sundays.

 

[amaferanga]

Its patronising. And assumes the reason I can't go quicker is due to fitness. I could go on but I won't.

The previous posts had given me the info I was looking for. I leave it there.

So you asked a question and didn't get the reply you wanted and you've taken offence? The point I made is valid - until you've actually done it you'll never know. And you didn't say anything about EVER having ridden for more than an hour at a time....

Good luck finding a slow club run of 15 miles....