ButchA

That's what it came up with. When I was looking at the various types of cycling in Bike Maps, Cycling Workout, Biking Routes | MapMyRide I just chose the basic "Bike Ride" and nothing too detailed like Road Racing or Time Trial or heck, BMX Dirt Biking... I've heard from others that those MapMyRide, MapMyRun, etc.. websites are not very accurate with calorie burning rates.

OldsCOOL

You and me, both. I get comments from locals now and then when they see me lighting up a 16 or 20mi personal TT route. I get a kick out of it. No award ceremonies, no medals, no media interviews.....but I do hear the "man, you were awesome" on occasion.

02Giant 

Turned 54 in June, last weekend rode a 50 mi. loop (25 out and back) no stops from start to finish for me or the clock, at the 25 mi. point I circled the parking lot for a couple of minutes to drop my heart rate down before making the return trip. 50.1 mi. 2:30:32 8th overall on this route for all Strava users, 2nd overall in my age group.

OldsCOOL

I'd like to try that one.

OldTryGuy

Lots of testosterone flowing/chest pounding going on here. Gotta love it.

John_V 

To the OP - there's a sign over the counter of a bike shop I once visited that read, "The more you ride, the better you get and the better you get the more you ride." If you're into distance riding, concentrate on the distance and the speed will come to you over time.

Personally, I normally don't pay attention to average speed because, as others have said, it's deceiving due to too many variables. I love the ride and whatever speed I happen to be going at the time is a good speed for me. That being said, I do like to do fast rides every now and then for the workout it gives me but I also enjoy slower rides with friends where you just ride and chat about whatever topic comes up.

Living in Florida, there are no real hills (as defined by most people on this forum) but we do have constant winds that like to shift directions and are definitely a factor on speed, average or moving. On some of my fast rides, I can average 16.5 mph or better but I like to use my moving speed as a indicator over my average speed since it gives me a much better indication of my progress. This was my ride on Tuesday with a friend of mine. It was a really good workout ride and we tend to do these rides twice a week, if possible. This was my ride last Friday on the same route, with another friend, that was scheduled as a 53 mile ride but got cut short by some nasty thunderstorms that were quickly moving in. It was one of those nice chit-chat rides that I really enjoy. I like @leob1's response, "Fast enough to enoy YOUR ride. Some times I ride fast(in a relative sense), sometimes not so fast. If your enjoying your ride, isn't that fast enough?"

I think too many guys over 50 that get into cycling have this concept that if you go out and purchase a road bike (if that's what you have) you have to look like and race like a 20 year old. Don't get hung up on that line of thinking as it may discourage you to continue riding if, for whatever reason, you aren't able to reach light speed in under 5 seconds. I ride six days a week, weather and doctor's appointments permitting, and average 200-250 miles a week. Last year I rode a few hundred miles short of 10,000 miles. I'll turn 69 in October.

rumrunn6

I wonder if I meant to write 20 instead of 30.

baron von trail 

Yeah. I'd agree. A 2 hour ride at 15mph average probably burns between `1000 and 1200 kcal.

Kindaslow

I am perfectly happy with being kind of slow (rider that is )

i know now I am way faster than the guys on the couch and way slower than the folks that live to be fast. And, I am having a good time!

wphamilton

All I know is that bumping up your general speed, however you measure it, by 1 mph is a whole lot of work and for me it's worth the effort. Not the extra mph for its own sake, but the improved fitness that goes along with it. I enjoy it more the more fit I am, regardless of what the speed is, but I don't seem to get one without the other.

For a literal answer to how fast a 55 year old should be able to ride, compared to other 55 year olds, I suggest signing up for Strava and purchasing the premium membership which allows you to filter the results by age range. The middle of the ranks on a segment would represent the speeds of the average guy in your age group, who cared enough to record his ride. I personally don't do this, because some guys are monsters and some are weak regardless of the age range, and I think that the average 55 yr old could ride about as fast as the average 25 yr old.

OldsCOOL

We need to do this here every now and then.

Gerryattrick

At our age we shouldn't do too much of it. Might strain something.

Tundra_Man 

How fast can a dog run? +1 mph over that.

no sweat

Birds of a feather.

I screwed up this Strava segment last night. Do you see what happened here?



I rode the course in reverse to get to the start, took a 2:15 rest across the road from the start, then rode the segment at a TT pace. Strava, bless it's little electronic heart, logged my start *before* my rest stop. Once rolling, I beat the KOM by almost a minute. He's a road racer and I'm certain he'd crush me in a race, but the point is that old guys can roll along pretty well too. 21.6 mph including that bastard of a 7% grade. I'll go back in a couple of days and correct that little mistake .

OldsCOOL

AI hate it when that happens!

Great run and you will KOM that thing next time. Love it!

DGlenday

Key question : How hilly is your 30-mile loop?

The averages of the stronger 55-ish people I ride with:

Moderate terrain (say around 500 feet of climbing per 10 miles) - 17 to 18 mph. If you're feeling strong, or want to push yourself hard occasionally, 19 mph.

Flat terrain, 19 to 20 mph. If you're feeling strong, and want to push yourself hard, 21 to 22 mph.

These are moving averages, with minimal stops.

Gerryattrick

Is there any actual evidence to support this sort of statement or is it just wishful thinking as we get older.

Granted there are many good 55+ riders who are faster than many 25 year olds, but that proves nothing. Are we comparing like with like, i.e. leisure riders, club riders, elite racers, those who train similar amounts etc.

To the op I would say to avoid setting targets based on what others can do. They are not you and do not have the same level of experience. Set yourself goals for improvement as you progress and don't worry about the speeds other posters can achieve.

You are a bona fide cyclist!

wphamilton

Sure, just look at Strava segments. Halfway in rank on the general boards, around here anyway, is pretty easy.

Comparing: I did compare just average anyone (25 yrs) with a 55 year old "could be". Meaning that a 55 year old, with training and effort, can be faster than the average 25 year old. Which group would include those who train, don't train, or ride intermittently.

gabedad

I'm 52 been riding for about 3 years and average about 17-18 mph. Just finished 2 day 150 mile ride. I have friends that are 50 and 60 + that are in the middle of a 7 day 550 mile ride and many of them average 18+

It ranges from person to person and where you ride (flats hills etc.)

fietsbob

Anyhow, for my 50th year I Packed up my touring kit and bike and flew to Dublin , Ireland, then finally came back 10 months later,
from Aberdeen Scotland..

I got a Visa extension after 5.5 months, to stay legal.

I was not fast, but I did enjoy the time , on and off the bike,

Gerryattrick

Thanks. I get what you're saying now.

VNA

As fast as you can or as fast as you feel comfortable--there is no speed limit other than your own and make sure your equipment can do it.

Jseis 

I'm 60 & average 7-8 mph on the beach. Brutal.

TCR Rider

Lots of Testosterone? This is the over 50 forum isn't it?

TGT1

for the year so far

Average speed 14.71 mph

total gain, 64,303 ft

1675 miles. (work has interfered with play a lot this year. I was hoping to be about 50% - 100% above that in total miles this year)

Best flat effort,

98.97 miles (1,200 ft gain)
Avg speed, 16.49 mph

64 YO, this is only my second year of serious riding and I'm beginning to think that it isn't any different than any other skill as far as time scale goes

3-4 years to achieve basic competency and 5-6 to master so there should still be room for quite a bit of improvement.