Speed

[s7ephanie]

I read on here that many of you average about 19 mph, i can only manage between 12 - 20kph (on flat) what am i doing wrong and should i worry, i do push myself could i be in wrong gear or is it just old age !!

 

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

What you're doing wrong - is comparing your ability to that of much more experienced riders.


Give it some time, push yourself from time to time and improvements will happen.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

If you're enjoying riding then you shouldn't worry. Most of those fast riders are on lightweight road bikes. You'd be surprised how nippy they can be if you ever get a chance to get on one that fits.

 

[Rob3rt]

I read on here that many of you average about 19 mph, i can only manage between 12 - 20kph (on flat) what am i doing wrong and should i worry, i do push myself could i be in wrong gear or is it just old age !!

Believing what people write on the internet without a healthy dose of skeptisism is a good 1st mistake!

 

[GrasB]

I read on here that many of you average about 19 mph, i can only manage between 12 - 20kph (on flat) what am i doing wrong and should i worry, i do push myself could i be in wrong gear or is it just old age !!

What are you doing wrong? Not training.
Should you worry about it?.. only if you find not riding at 19mph is a particular problem.

 

[GrasB]

If you're enjoying riding then you shouldn't worry. Most of those fast riders are on lightweight road bikes. You'd be surprised how nippy they can be if you ever get a chance to get on one that fits.

... road bikes nippy? ... seriously that IS funny!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I read on here that many of you average about 19 mph, i can only manage between 12 - 20kph (on flat) what am i doing wrong and should i worry, i do push myself could i be in wrong gear or is it just old age !!

Anyone who averages 19mph across flat terrain is quick. Across varied terrain they are very quick and across terrain that is very hilly they are plain *loody quick.

As the Marmoset from Deptford says - you are comparing yourself to what are in effect very fast riders.

Many people no matter how light their bike and how hard they train will never achieve those average speeds.

I did my first 15mph average yesterday and was well chuffed (slipping easily into modern day vernacular). I am quite fit (I do a lot of mountain hiking/scrambling) but I seriously doubt whether there is another 4mph in me esp' in the terrain up here. Do I care - not a jot! There's lots of ways to measure the worth of an individual and cycling speed does not rank too highly on my list.

I'd just crack on a not fret about it at all. I infer that you are an 'older' rider (I am too, clue is under my avatar) and long ago I got used to the fact that in all aspects of life no matter how big a dog you are there will always be a bigger dog out there somewhere!

 

[Rob3rt]

Overall, it is probably quite a select percentage of posters on this forum who regularly average speeds of 19mph on a ride of any substantial distance. That is not to knock anyone, simply the majority of people on this forum seem not to care about their speeds and thus don't post about them.

There are undoubtedly some very fast riders on the forum though, some of whom can actually ride as fast as they say they can

 

[Mo1959]

I read on here that many of you average about 19 mph, i can only manage between 12 - 20kph (on flat) what am i doing wrong and should i worry, i do push myself could i be in wrong gear or is it just old age !!

They must have forgotten to fit the turbo to your bike as well as mine

Seriously, most who can consistently average 19mph are young, fit guys who train hard and consistently.

Afraid, if you are anything like me it is something to be admired and, yes slightly envious of, but it is just not going to happen to a 54 year old menopausal woman

You will still make improvements though......give it time. When I started end of August last year my first few rides were around 14 miles at barely 12mph and I thought 20 miles sounded a huge distance. Now, I regularly do anything between 20 and 50 most mornings and I'm starting to get averages between 14.5mph to just over 15mph on a good day. Whether I can make any further progress remains to be seen but I am reasonably happy so far.

Stick in there.

 

[Fab Foodie]

It's riding that's important, how fast is neither here nor there ....

 

[s7ephanie]

Thanks , i feel better now was worried about being that fat old tart on a bike !!! although my neihbour saw me in town the other day (8km away) and was very impressed !! mind you they do call me the mad english dog lady

 

[Gary E]

A friend of mine did the RTTC National Championship 25 mile TT on Sunday. His average speed for the 25 mile course was a little under 28 mph. That's a good 10 mph faster than I can do it

 

[derrick]

I read on here that many of you average about 19 mph, i can only manage between 12 - 20kph (on flat) what am i doing wrong and should i worry, i do push myself could i be in wrong gear or is it just old age !!

You should just give up, if you can't manage 19mph average at your age, then your in trouble.

 

[themosquitoking]

Turning your legs faster in a higher gear should sort out the slowness issues.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I read on here that many of you average about 19 mph, i can only manage between 12 - 20kph (on flat) what am i doing wrong and should i worry, i do push myself could i be in wrong gear or is it just old age !!

What's the hurry at our time of life?
Just enjoy the adventures