Jarrett2

I see thread after thread about average speeds and how to increase performance here or there. Intervals, power meters, Zwift, spin classes, etc. I get it if you are actually training for a sanctioned race, but short of that, why all the desire to ride faster?

Why ride faster? What's wrong with just riding and enjoying the ride at whatever pace you happen to be going?

wphamilton

Faster is more fun, and I don't really feel that sensation of speed until 18-20 at the barest minimum.

And there is a catch-22 with it. It's true that I can only shave a few minutes off a ride by making an exhausting effort as opposed to just easy riding, so why go to the effort unless it's a training ride? But there is a huge difference between my easy effort now, and my easy effort 7 years ago. At least half again faster now than then on easy rides, and more than that on hard rides. That does make a difference.

So the catch 22 is, before I can really enjoy those easy rides I have to make long term real effort to train for hard rides. But if you train all the time, you don't get to enjoy those lackadaisical rides as often. You can't have it both ways.

corrado33

Competition? Humans have a very competitive nature? Even with themselves.

Besides, fast is fun (and bragging rights are also fun.)

Crawdaddy

Faster isnt my thing. Im a stop and smell the flowers kind of rider. But I admire the riders that do go fast. A lot of hard work and dedication. Whats wrong with that?

supton

I'm usually limited in how long I can ride. Faster means farther. Sure, there are times I jump on my old and slow bike, and just pedal around. But often, distance is what I am after.

Plus if I ride with a group, faster is the rule.

Piratebike

To each his own....I ride slow. Even on my carbon road bike I am 14-15 avg. max.

Machka 

I want to ride faster so that I have the chance of getting some sleep on 600K, 1000K and 1200K events.

I got into randonneuring right out of racing and so back then, I could do a 600K within the 40 hour time limit and still have time for a couple hours of sleep in the middle. I could do 1000Ks and 1200Ks and have time for at least 5 hours of sleep.

Life happened (DVT, a bunch of moves, university, travel, etc.) and my cycling quantity went down ... and so did my speed.

I'm building back up again, and I'm doing the long rides faster, but I don't think I'm up to a speed where I could get at least 2 hours of sleep on a 600K yet.

However, May is speedwork month!

BlazingPedals

Endorphins!

Seattle Forrest

Why do you think a person can't or doesn't enjoy the scenery if they happen to be going at a fast pace?

athrowawaynic

This:

Plus this:

Equals:

Faster gets me further, so there's more scenery to enjoy.

bruce19

There's nothing wrong with riding at whatever pace appeals to you. I have mellow rides and I have what I call TT rides. Why? Because I use those hard rides to get in shape (HIT) and to measure my progress as the season/years go by.

superdex

for me, faster is a byproduct of fitness. if I'm getting faster, I'm getting fitter, and that feels good.

devianb

I live in Central Illinois and roads are full of long straight boring farm roads. At a pace of 13-15mph that can be quite grueling and take some fun out of cycling. Many of the places I want to ride my bicycle at are a good 30-50 miles away. I get up late in the day and prefer to return while there still is some daylight left. Being able to ride faster would allow me to make more efficient use of my time and skip boring sections of a ride.

Seattle Forrest

I'm not surprised, though, that the guy who's known for riding a steel bike and eating keto is starting a thread "Hey, everybody, wait! Slow down!"

blue192

I am retired, old, and cranky so I gave up on speed and just enjoy riding a slower bike now.

caloso

Guess where you'll never see a thread about average speeds.

Jarrett2

That's probably the only decent reason I've seen so far

eja_ bottecchia

Don't believe all the average speeds reported here. There is a lot of hyperbole going on.

Milton Keynes

If I had more time to ride, I wouldn't care how slow I go or how long it takes me to get somewhere and back. But since my time is limited, faster is better because it allows me to get more miles in.

corrado33

I ride fast because I constantly want to push myself. If I'm not getting better, I get bored. If I'm not getting better, I'm not riding hard enough.

A bike ride is boring if it's not hard or not for a larger goal. It's about testing your own limits. Not every ride of course, but most rides I always take the tailwinds as fast as I possibly can, even if that means digging deep and getting out of breath.

Jarrett2

Why do you need more miles? What if you rode the exact same amount of time, but didn't go as far?

Jarrett2

Interesting opinion.

Do you test them in sanctioned races?

AlmostTrick

Most of my miles are commuting on roads with few stops. I generally like to maintain a quick pace, especially when taking the lane in front of motor traffic. That said, actually getting faster is not of much interest to me. I'm likely a tiny bit slower now than I was 10 years ago and I'm fine with that.

Jarrett2

It's cute that I have my own forum stalker that keeps tabs on me.

I hope it doesn't upset you that I have no idea or interest in what you are "known for."

Dan333SP

More miles in the same time = more calories burned (assuming the only variable is effort).

Most of us are doing this to get in shape and/or stay in shape. Going harder/faster is a better workout (again, generalizing).

To be fair, I push myself because I do race, but others who do not presumably have similar goals.