Originally Posted by
beng1
If you just started, then it will take time to build up your stamina and strength. Speed is an ever-changing thing depending on the road, the rider's condition, how much sleep you got, how you ate. As you rack up the training miles you change a lot, might have to change the bike setup to suit the newer you, and then change it again in the spring. It is nice to have other riders around to try and catch, that is a good training tool. Some you will catch, some you won't, that is just probability.
I've been road riding for about 17 years, own three bikes, and have participated in metric centuries. I conquered Old La Honda in an embarrassingly slow time just before the pandemic, so you could save I've ridden a little bit. I generally understand the dynamics of eating, sleeping, changes in weight (both rider and bike), weather, etc. It's just that this year is the first time I've consistently ridden around Central Park, and am able to observe this directly, multiple times in a row, so I'm pretty sure it has something to do with either how I've conditioned myself, or how I'm actually riding given the course (relative to most other people that ride at a similar overall pace).