RIC0

I've been road riding for about 3 months now and only get to put in about 75 miles a week. Yesterday I did a 50 miler, only my second 50 miler ever and averaged 17 mph and this is with moderate hills thrown in about 30% of the ride. Is that a decent pace for being new to the whole roadie scene???

botto 

yes, no, maybe. doesn't matter.

roadiejorge 

Average speed isn't that great an indicator because there are other factors than your power output affect your speed.

DrPete 

If you're trying to win a race, no.

If you're not, then who cares? Are you enjoying yourself and feeling stronger as you gain fitness and experience? These are far more important questions. Your pace is your pace. Ride more and it'll go up. Ride less and it'll probably go down.

Have fun.

Pharmr

it's fine....just ride and you'll get faster.

Hickeydog

you'll see a lot of laming on BF about average speed. It doesn't matter. Yes, the more you ride, the faster you will become. the only reason I have a computer is for current speed, max speed, distance, and cadence. I couldn't care less about my average speed. You did just fine. It doesn't get any easier. You just get faster

mattm

yes

Brillig

Depends.

Were you in a group or alone? If a group, was it well organized?

A lot of stop signs and red lights? How much climbing?

Etc.

umd

No, you suck











I just wanted to be a dissenting opinion... I'm really in the who cares camp.

mista_chewey

hahah ^^ i like that response a quick and resounding "no you suck"

cedricbosch

I know people who have lower average speeds when training (16-17) but still drop people in races constantly. This is because people who go out every day and hammer for 4 hours have no idea what they're doing and are actually harming their overall progress.

Hask12

Coast down a 2 mile hill and your average speed could be 60. What does that prove? Then go back up the hill and your average speed could be 12. Which way do you think you worked harder?

StephenH

I once took my front-loading cargo trike on a charity ride, and it took my 2 hours to go 16 miles. And I passed people doing it.

powerglide

you're doing just fine buddy!

Scorer75

Not to nitpick, but if the hill is steep enough for you to do 60 on the way down, I would say 12 on the way up is actually pretty good.

To the OP, average speed is useful when doing the same ride under the same conditions to compare your strength and fitness levels to previous rides. It really doesn't mean anything when any of the objective conditions change.

A good example would be the NYC Century which was yesterday. A good century for a strong rider would be about 5 hours. I doubt even a pro rider could complete this century in 5 hours. There are tons of starts and stops. You ride with traffic and all 100 miles in the city, so red lights are an the associated starts and stops would destroy your average speed. So, if you did this ride in 6 hours and reported that you completed the century in 6 hours, it would mean nothing. We have guys on here that have done centuries in 4 hours. Bottom line, average speed means nothing.

frankstoneline

It's about feeling good, physically, mentally, socially. 17 is pretty good, I averaged 14 the other night cause we were taking it really easy (first time riding with the guy I was with and a night ride) the first half, but I had a blast. Distance and speed comes with time and experience, like someone said, it doesnt get easy, your boundaries just get pushed.

RIC0

Yeah he's about as funny as a kick in the nuts......

umd

I assume you saw the rest of the post and hopefully it was clear that I was kidding...

Randallissimo

OP, you are pretty much right where I am. I started about 3 months ago, and I did 17.1 mph on a 50 miler last week. I'm 48, and have ridden just over 700 miles this season.

dsilver668

Yup I am at 17 to. Need way more saddle time and keep going. It will get faster.

CharlieWoo

No. You suck.

daredevil

slyjackson

I would say check your computer and make sure you have the right tire size entered.I find it hard to believe someone only riding 3 months and only rides 75 miles a week (not even a 1000 miles total) can even make it 50 miles on one ride let alone coming back with a 17 mph average (even though thats not really all that fast) with 30 % of the ride being rollers. You just would not be that conditioned yet to do so.

I simply just don't believe you. A 13.5-14 mph average if that would most likely be your average for 50 miles if you could actually ride that far based on the length of time you have been riding and your milage base. You have not even rode long enough to know if the bike fits you or not. Are you talking about riding at 17 mph at diffrent points of the ride or having a 17 mph average listed on your computer for the completed ride?

substructure

Never get carried away by your average speed. It can vary so much.

fierce1

Uh, yeah, because there aren't other ways to get into shape. Not everyone starts riding weighing in at 300lbs and smoking two packs a day (yeah, I know, you didn't say that - but there is a similar implication in your post). Granted, the conditioning is different but if you start out in good shape, you're likely to progress quickly.