libbey91

Im making my first road bike purchase next month, and now that im back in school with a gym im gonna start working out and building my leg strength back up very shortly. My plan is to cut my car out of the picture on nice enough days and ride my bike to class. My issue is timing. Its about 15 miles one way and im wondering what i should try to do to make this a semi shorter ride to class.

Essentially im just tryin to figure out what a good goal i should set for myself in the month or so to train for my trek. if it makes any sence

Bob Dopolina 

Strong legs won't make you faster - good cardio will.

panamapete

it all depends, if you wanna chill, over an hour. so even if you ride at 15 mph with no stops its still gonna take about an hour. that said, ride faster get to class sooner. sometimes i ride to my gym and its only 5 miles away but with traffic and lights takes me 20-30. and its not all about strength its about endurance, when i was a bit younger and in college i could freebar squat 405 lbs and mid 500's in a smith machine and nice padding around my neck and shoulders. (i have always played sports, and played waterpolo and swam in college) point being it really doesnt matter how strong you are, if you're tired in 20 minutes. but theres so many factors that go into this, hills, no hills, actually riding on the road versus sidewalks. so get the bike, love it, understand its going to take a while to get comfy on that seat and other things. theres tons of knowledge here so keep coming back and asking.

Rob13

Fixed

Elvo

24 mph is the minimum average you should be looking at

Bob Dopolina 

...uphill, in a snowstorm...

abstractform20

someone should tell this to the australian track cycling team.

Machka 

Step 1 - get the bicycle and go for a ride. See what kind of speed YOU can maintain for 15 miles.

Bob Dopolina 

Not too many 15 mile track events...

LowCel 

Hopefully it will take you longer to ride to class than to ride home. I imagine most of your class mates would appreciate you taking it easy on your way there so you don't stink up the place too bad.

If it is a flat route I would allow at least an hour to get to class, 45 - 50 minutes to get home from class.

veloboy971

+1. I absolutely hate riding to class when it is humid or super hot outside as I hate to get their soaking wet (and not smelling nice either).

AdelaaR

An ideal speed is very personal.
Your ideal speed is the speed at which you like to go.

gsteinb

Track guys, particularly sprinters, lift for strength to improve at aspects of their particular discipline that don't cross over to other cycling disciplines.

Garfield Cat

If you're just starting out, the 15 miles each way may not be the best way to get back in cycling form. Consider compromising and drive a distance and bike the rest until you can stretch it out. On the weekends go for longer rides and this will get your form back quicker.

UCIMBZ

Your current speed +1.

LesterOfPuppets

I usually plan on 10 mph for city riding and typically get there early. If you've got some nice flat suburban riding you easily get 15 miles in under an hour. When I lived in PHX I had a 17.5 mile commute that I typically killed in 45-50 minutes as long there wasn't a headwind.

I'm with garfield. Maybe take the bus there then bike back 'til you get in shape enough for 2x15s in a day.

cmolway

42

pallen

As far as setting goals, I would ride it first and see how long it takes to establish a baseline, then start trying to shave time off.

ahsposo 

I suggest you go fast enough to want to puke and then dial it back one notch.

dwhitlow

I see what you did there.

Homebrew01

About an hour to get there.
After your bike gets stolen, walking home will take much longer unless you get a ride from someone.
Schools & bikes do not always work well together.

pgjackson

Most guys can average 20+mph with a hard effort...but at that pace you are going to arrive at class a sweaty, disgusting mess. 15mph is a pretty casual pace on a road bike, but keep in mind that is an hour of cardio and again, you will still be a mess when you arrive. To answer the question, depending on traffic and stop signs/lights, it should take you about an hour to do 15 miles, maybe less if you push hard.

pgjackson

This, too.

Another idea would be to get a bike rack for your car and drive your bike to a nice parking area a couple miles off campus (like a huge Walmart or Target lot) and ride in from there. That way you avoid the typical parking nightmare on a college campus (I assume you are in college), save a little gas, and get in a little exercise without spending 2+ hours in transit.

Velo Vol 

*cents

LOGICK ONE

88mph....with a wattage output of 1.21 gigawatts. Optimal.