Slowing down can be nice
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 133
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Slowing down can be nice
I'm not usually a "type A" competitive type, but when it comes to cycling, I'm very competitive, even against myself. I'm always trying to shave a minute or even a few seconds off my commute time. I usually average about 16 mph on my commute.
We have a shower room where I work and I am usually pretty sweaty by the time I get to work riding at that pace. There was a plumbing leak this week and the shower room is closed. So, I decided rather than drive the money guzzler, I would just shower before I leave, give myself some extra time, and slow way down so I don't get sweaty. I only averaged 11 mph this morning and found it very pleasant and almost relaxing to ride at that speed. I felt like I was coasting most of the time. More time to see the beautiful autumn leaves, watch the sun rise, and enjoy the morning.
We have a shower room where I work and I am usually pretty sweaty by the time I get to work riding at that pace. There was a plumbing leak this week and the shower room is closed. So, I decided rather than drive the money guzzler, I would just shower before I leave, give myself some extra time, and slow way down so I don't get sweaty. I only averaged 11 mph this morning and found it very pleasant and almost relaxing to ride at that speed. I felt like I was coasting most of the time. More time to see the beautiful autumn leaves, watch the sun rise, and enjoy the morning.
#2
Senior Member
If the sun is up (which for me, won't be at this time of year), slowing down to notice the fall colours is a nice thing to do.
#3
ghost on a machine
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Idaho
Posts: 216
Bikes: Rivendell A. Homer Hilsen, Serotta Colorado Legend TG, Rivendell Roadeo, Surly Cross Check, Surly Big Dummy
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Q. What do you call two people on bicycles?
A. A race
Good post! Why does riding a bike bring out that competitive instinct? I hate it when a racer wannabe passes me as I'm riding my touring or commuting bike. Everything else in modern life seems so rushed it's nice to be able relax and slow down on the bike.
A. A race
Good post! Why does riding a bike bring out that competitive instinct? I hate it when a racer wannabe passes me as I'm riding my touring or commuting bike. Everything else in modern life seems so rushed it's nice to be able relax and slow down on the bike.
#4
born again cyclist
for me it has nothing to do with competitive instinct and everything to do with the fact that i live 15 miles from my job. time. time. time. time. time. time. time............ we never seem to have enough of it.
if i lollygagged my way along at 10mph, it would take me nearly 2 hours to get to work in the morning, once stop lights and traffic are factored in. by pushing myself pretty hard i can usually keep it under an hour, which is a much more practical amount of time to spend getting to work in the morning.
if i lollygagged my way along at 10mph, it would take me nearly 2 hours to get to work in the morning, once stop lights and traffic are factored in. by pushing myself pretty hard i can usually keep it under an hour, which is a much more practical amount of time to spend getting to work in the morning.
#5
Insane Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Arlington, TX
Posts: 125
Bikes: Huffy Grand Prairie 15sp MTB (don't hate!), 1980 Schwinn World Tourist, 1976 Schwinn Traveler, 1974 Romic Custom (project bike!)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I feel so inadequate! 11-12mph is my haulin'-ass speed... Of course, my commute is so short that I'm just getting warmed up by the time I'm here.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Lancaster, PA, USA
Posts: 1,851
Bikes: 2012 Trek Allant, 2016 Bianchi Volpe Disc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've started to notice that too. I used to average 15mph but would get to work breathing hard and covered in sweat. I now average about 12mph and am ready to work after a few minutes and a change of clothes.
The thing is, my time is still improving. I think before I was really pumping it on flats and then struggling up hills. Now I am much more consistent in my speeds, keeping it around 15mph on flats and 10mph up hills. Average speed down (my computer doesn't measure when I'm stopped), but I get to work 10 minutes sooner.
The thing is, my time is still improving. I think before I was really pumping it on flats and then struggling up hills. Now I am much more consistent in my speeds, keeping it around 15mph on flats and 10mph up hills. Average speed down (my computer doesn't measure when I'm stopped), but I get to work 10 minutes sooner.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 133
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Normally the sun wouldn't be out here, but since I didn't have to get to work early enough to shower I got to ride part of my route with sunshine. I got to work with just enough time to change my clothes, which allowed me to have about 10 minutes of daylight on my morning commute.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 133
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've started to notice that too. I used to average 15mph but would get to work breathing hard and covered in sweat. I now average about 12mph and am ready to work after a few minutes and a change of clothes.
The thing is, my time is still improving. I think before I was really pumping it on flats and then struggling up hills. Now I am much more consistent in my speeds, keeping it around 15mph on flats and 10mph up hills. Average speed down (my computer doesn't measure when I'm stopped), but I get to work 10 minutes sooner.
The thing is, my time is still improving. I think before I was really pumping it on flats and then struggling up hills. Now I am much more consistent in my speeds, keeping it around 15mph on flats and 10mph up hills. Average speed down (my computer doesn't measure when I'm stopped), but I get to work 10 minutes sooner.
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 133
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I should add that my commute back home in the afternoon is usually only about 14.5 mph even when I'm pushing hard. The route coming to work is a lot of downhill, while going home is more uphill. So, you can see how I manage 11 mph at a leisurely pace if I'm spending a lot of time going downhill; that and I'm on a fairly light roadbike with 700cx23 tires.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
I keep thinking I should try that. Maybe I'll do it this afternoon on the way back.
My cruising speed is 20mph, so 10mph would double my time. But I do make the effort to ride slowly twice on my commute, taking the time to ride through 2 parks (1/4 mile long each) to slow down, enjoy the sunrise, the changing of the leaves, the rabbits, the fog rising off of the river and the beauty of a bicycle commute. Life is a waste if it is all rush rush, and a little time to slow down and smell the roses makes the commute beautiful.
(Yesterday smelled wonderful with a damp path from an earlier rain shower enhancing the crisp fresh smells of a fall morning).
My cruising speed is 20mph, so 10mph would double my time. But I do make the effort to ride slowly twice on my commute, taking the time to ride through 2 parks (1/4 mile long each) to slow down, enjoy the sunrise, the changing of the leaves, the rabbits, the fog rising off of the river and the beauty of a bicycle commute. Life is a waste if it is all rush rush, and a little time to slow down and smell the roses makes the commute beautiful.
(Yesterday smelled wonderful with a damp path from an earlier rain shower enhancing the crisp fresh smells of a fall morning).
#12
Insane Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Arlington, TX
Posts: 125
Bikes: Huffy Grand Prairie 15sp MTB (don't hate!), 1980 Schwinn World Tourist, 1976 Schwinn Traveler, 1974 Romic Custom (project bike!)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I should add that my commute back home in the afternoon is usually only about 14.5 mph even when I'm pushing hard. The route coming to work is a lot of downhill, while going home is more uphill. So, you can see how I manage 11 mph at a leisurely pace if I'm spending a lot of time going downhill; that and I'm on a fairly light roadbike with 700cx23 tires.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,992
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2494 Post(s)
Liked 738 Times
in
522 Posts
I completely agree. I've always said that if you really want to prove the validity of a subtle postulate, take the subtely out of the equation. 26" vs 700C? Hard to tell which is the faster wheel... 700C vs 20"? I've done it, I know what the answer is but it isn't relevant to my main point. 170mm cranks vs 165? Sheesh, who knows. 175mm cranks vs 130mm... hmmmm, if you don't feel a difference you might be dead. 15mph average commute speed vs 12mph... meh... how about 5mph or even 2mph... walking speed. Now you might be talking. I for one am still way too sweaty at 10mph for it to make any real difference. I will do some experimentation with a 5 mph average speed and get back to this thread.
H
H
#14
kipuka explorer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Hilo Town, East Hawai'i
Posts: 3,297
Bikes: 1994 Trek 820, 2004 Fuji Absolute, 2005 Jamis Nova, 1977 Schwinn Scrambler 36/36
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I get sweaty just taking the bike out of the closet. :/
__________________
--
-=- '05 Jamis Nova -=- '04 Fuji Absolute -=- '94 Trek 820 -=- '77 Schwinn Scrambler 36/36 -=-
Friends don't let friends use brifters.
--
-=- '05 Jamis Nova -=- '04 Fuji Absolute -=- '94 Trek 820 -=- '77 Schwinn Scrambler 36/36 -=-
Friends don't let friends use brifters.
#15
Don from Austin Texas
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 1,211
Bikes: Schwinn S25 "department store crap" FS MTB, home-made CF 26" hybrid, CF road bike with straight bar, various wierd frankenbikes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
It would probably be good for me to slow down from time to time. Yet, I am emotionally incapable of it. Rode 10 miles to the gym, trainer kicked my ass pretty good and I went to ride 10 miles leisurely to the shop. Met a dude at a stoplight who complimented me on my custom bike with e-bay frame and we started chatting. He has a personal training business and looked to be about 35-40 years younger than me. Couldn't help it, after a while I had to push the pace and eventually ride away from him even as I was trying not to.
Tomorrow I go on a group ride. There are a lot of nice mid-30s triathalon ladies on these rides. They tend to be very fit, but not hard core cyclists, they cruise pretty good but don't like hills. Every time I go on this ride I say I am going to relax and hang out with them. Instead, when we have a rest stop, I inevitably get antsy and take off all by myself several minutes before the group, trying to see if I can haul ass enough to keep the group from catching me before the next rest stop or the end of the ride.
Occasionally we have somebody slower on one of the rides I organize, or a even "walker" when we encounter a steep or long hill. That's about the only time I go less than 105%. Not that my 105% is anywhere close to some riders' 60%. I am not boasting, I would like to change this. I have read its not the best training to go flat out all the time.
Is there a support group out there?
Don in Austin
Tomorrow I go on a group ride. There are a lot of nice mid-30s triathalon ladies on these rides. They tend to be very fit, but not hard core cyclists, they cruise pretty good but don't like hills. Every time I go on this ride I say I am going to relax and hang out with them. Instead, when we have a rest stop, I inevitably get antsy and take off all by myself several minutes before the group, trying to see if I can haul ass enough to keep the group from catching me before the next rest stop or the end of the ride.
Occasionally we have somebody slower on one of the rides I organize, or a even "walker" when we encounter a steep or long hill. That's about the only time I go less than 105%. Not that my 105% is anywhere close to some riders' 60%. I am not boasting, I would like to change this. I have read its not the best training to go flat out all the time.
Is there a support group out there?
Don in Austin
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 8,101
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 52 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
13 Posts
It would probably be good for me to slow down from time to time. Yet, I am emotionally incapable of it. Rode 10 miles to the gym, trainer kicked my ass pretty good and I went to ride 10 miles leisurely to the shop. Met a dude at a stoplight who complimented me on my custom bike with e-bay frame and we started chatting. He has a personal training business and looked to be about 35-40 years younger than me. Couldn't help it, after a while I had to push the pace and eventually ride away from him even as I was trying not to.
Tomorrow I go on a group ride. There are a lot of nice mid-30s triathalon ladies on these rides. They tend to be very fit, but not hard core cyclists, they cruise pretty good but don't like hills. Every time I go on this ride I say I am going to relax and hang out with them. Instead, when we have a rest stop, I inevitably get antsy and take off all by myself several minutes before the group, trying to see if I can haul ass enough to keep the group from catching me before the next rest stop or the end of the ride.
Occasionally we have somebody slower on one of the rides I organize, or a even "walker" when we encounter a steep or long hill. That's about the only time I go less than 105%. Not that my 105% is anywhere close to some riders' 60%. I am not boasting, I would like to change this. I have read its not the best training to go flat out all the time.
Is there a support group out there?
Don in Austin
Tomorrow I go on a group ride. There are a lot of nice mid-30s triathalon ladies on these rides. They tend to be very fit, but not hard core cyclists, they cruise pretty good but don't like hills. Every time I go on this ride I say I am going to relax and hang out with them. Instead, when we have a rest stop, I inevitably get antsy and take off all by myself several minutes before the group, trying to see if I can haul ass enough to keep the group from catching me before the next rest stop or the end of the ride.
Occasionally we have somebody slower on one of the rides I organize, or a even "walker" when we encounter a steep or long hill. That's about the only time I go less than 105%. Not that my 105% is anywhere close to some riders' 60%. I am not boasting, I would like to change this. I have read its not the best training to go flat out all the time.
Is there a support group out there?
Don in Austin
Last edited by tjspiel; 10-05-12 at 01:07 PM.
#17
Tractorlegs
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: El Paso, TX
Posts: 3,185
Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 119 Post(s)
Liked 60 Times
in
42 Posts
I ride fast going to work, but slow down and sight-see on the way home.
__________________
********************************
Trikeman
Trikeman
#18
Don from Austin Texas
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 1,211
Bikes: Schwinn S25 "department store crap" FS MTB, home-made CF 26" hybrid, CF road bike with straight bar, various wierd frankenbikes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Don in Austin
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 8,101
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 52 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
13 Posts
Anyway, what happens to me on studded tires is that eventually I give up trying to go fast and just accept that it's going to take me longer to get anywhere.
#20
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
Yep, now is about the time of year that I'm thinking of gearing down in preparation for going slower on studded tires.