Speeds

[aerobrain]

Hi

Now I know the actual answer to this question is "It depends......." BUT I was wondering if anyone has any general advice on speeds to aim for in my training. I'm training for a 100 mile sportive in August and it's my first foray into serious cycling. I've been doing a bit of distance running and spinning so I'm not unfit but I'm no finely tuned athlete.

Most of my training will be on the flat (damn fens!!) and it's a road bike. I just want to gauge what's considered elite/amateur/beginner speed for shorter, faster rides and the long distance rides. Just a broad range will do.

If the is too vague, maybe just a steer on relative difference between slow/long rides and quick/short ones.

Cheers :-)

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

It doesn't answer your question, but whereabouts in the Fens are you?

 

[Rob500]

I take it there'll be water/food stops along the route so at this stage I'd just concentrate on being able to stay in the saddle for 30 - 40 miles and think about speed later.
If it's any help the Lap the Lough Sportive over here asks people to guess their speed on their application and groups the start(s) like:slow= up to 14mph. medium =15-18mph and fast above 18mph.

 

[aerobrain]

I'm in Peterborough so no too far from some small hills, but evening rides are more likely to be flat. How's your training going phoenix?

That's a good guide cheers Rob. In my mind I'm thinking 15mph ish for the actual ride so some training runs at around 17/18 I think.

 

[Eribiste]

I would be happy to average somewhere between 13 to 15 mph for a 100 miler at my stage of development. The longest rides I've done in one hit are 100 km jobs, which I do at about 15 to 16. There's been a lot of good advice on here about not starting off too sprightly and keeping some powder in your locker to finish the ride with.

 

[zombiemiked]

Look at it this way 15mph would get you Silver Standard in The Cheshire Cat.

 

[aerobrain]

OK, maybe I need to rethink my targets :-)

 

[HLaB]

Where in of Peterborough are you aerobrain? the Northamptonshire bumps (Morbourne hill etc) are easily accessed along Oundle Road, Walton hill to the south is good too (the Yaxley Riders do these in the evening), for steeper hills you need to get up to Rutland but even those arent long!
If your sportive is hilly Id suggest getting practice on hills. Id forget speed at first and concentrate on distance and terrain, speed will naturally follow

 

[Sittingduck]

That's a good guide cheers Rob. In my mind I'm thinking 15mph ish for the actual ride so some training runs at around 17/18 I think.

Sounds about right, imho.

 

[Rob3rt]

Forget speed, read up on intensity. As far as training goes anyway.

These standards given out in sportives are a crock of shoot.

 

[zombiemiked]

I was simply giving the OP an idea of expected standard Rob.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I am happy I have managed to get to 14mph over any of the terrain around my area (upto 30-35 mile rides), nothing to hilly but a few short steepish climbs, it's took me 8 1/2 months and over 4300 miles to get there. I was averaging 14-16 back in Aug on the flatter rides to the N.W. of me toward Selby, but it wasn't getting any hills done which i hated so i started doing them and finally this month i seem to have achieved that target, next is some distance work with hopefully the warmer weather around the corner.
Avg grade of 0.96% this year last year 0.78% those flat rides were at 0.45-0.49%, I do rides up to 1.1-1.16% but i cant do much more on a ride because of the terrain

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

I'm in Peterborough so no too far from some small hills, but evening rides are more likely to be flat. How's your training going phoenix?

That's a good guide cheers Rob. In my mind I'm thinking 15mph ish for the actual ride so some training runs at around 17/18 I think.

Cool, I'm in Sleaford. Still just building on my base fitness, but did the Wiggle No Excuses Sportive yesterday. Terrible conditions, rain and blustery winds. I'm not as fast as you though by any stretch of the imagination.

Take care and keep up the good work
Lesley

 

[Nomadski]

I am happy I have managed to get to 14mph over any of the terrain around my area (upto 30-35 mile rides), nothing to hilly but a few short steepish climbs, it's took me 8 1/2 months and over 4300 miles to get there. I was averaging 14-16 back in Aug on the flatter rides to the N.W. of me toward Selby, but it wasn't getting any hills done which i hated so i started doing them and finally this month i seem to have achieved that target, next is some distance work with hopefully the warmer weather around the corner.
Avg grade of 0.96% this year last year 0.78% those flat rides were at 0.45-0.49%, I do rides up to 1.1-1.16% but i cant do much more on a ride because of the terrain

Just out of interest, what site are you uploading to that states your average grade? Im using RideWithGPS, Strava, Garmin Connect and Endomondo but none of them have that stat as far as I can see.

Hi

Now I know the actual answer to this question is "It depends......." BUT I was wondering if anyone has any general advice on speeds to aim for in my training. I'm training for a 100 mile sportive in August and it's my first foray into serious cycling. I've been doing a bit of distance running and spinning so I'm not unfit but I'm no finely tuned athlete.

Most of my training will be on the flat (damn fens!!) and it's a road bike. I just want to gauge what's considered elite/amateur/beginner speed for shorter, faster rides and the long distance rides. Just a broad range will do.

If the is too vague, maybe just a steer on relative difference between slow/long rides and quick/short ones.

Cheers :-)

Are you doing the Ride London - Surrey 100 miler? That's what I'm trying to prepare myself for. If so, take in some hills, some proper hills. You will be hitting Leith Hill and Box Hill (both grade 4 hills) after about 50 miles of cycling, you will already have climbed a fair bit around Newlands Corner (a grade 5 somewhere around there). If you prepare for just the distance your legs wont thank you!

Im aiming to finish in 8 hours, am doing a large portion of the route each week, but have yet to take in a 75 miler which will include the really hilly section, have driven around it though so know what to expect / fear.

Good luck with it!

 

[Sittingduck]

The drag at Newlands corner is worse than Box, imho. If you are moderately fit and or not carrying excess baggage then neither should pose a problem. Leith is a little tricky, depending on conditions... if it's wet then the surface is trecherous.