Road Cycling Beginner. Average speed of 16.8mph.
Discussion
I went out on my first proper longish ride today. Covered 28miles which included a ride up Toot Hill near Epping so a fair bit of climbing. Just wondered if an average speed of 16.8 is respectable? I had an ACL reconstruction 5 months ago so my right let is still not as strong as it should be so I have room for improvement. Cycling on my one so I cant really gauge if my speed is decent or not.
Heres a map of the route.
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=ig9+5rn&d...
Heres a map of the route.
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=ig9+5rn&d...
I did really enjoy the ride! The combination of nice scenery and quite roads was great. Cant say I was tired after the run and could probably do a lot more but I just want to get into it gradually.
With previous sports that I have been into in the past, I have always had a habit of pushing myself to almost breaking point, hence the total destruction of my ACL!!! The good this about this cycling lark is that you can have a really good workout without risking injury as much as with other sports.
With previous sports that I have been into in the past, I have always had a habit of pushing myself to almost breaking point, hence the total destruction of my ACL!!! The good this about this cycling lark is that you can have a really good workout without risking injury as much as with other sports.
Herman Toothrot said:
That's about the same average I do on a typical 50km ride, 27kph. I feel quite good about that sort of pace until I see my more serious friends Strava feeds and 150km rides at 29kph, then I feel weak.
As with most things in life, there will always be others who are faster, stronger, richer etc etc!!!
wattsm666 said:
I live very close to you judging by the map, I would say that is very respectable for first long ride. Epping new road is a long drag and you must have done a steep hill back into Epping.
It never gets easier....
I didn't appreciate how long Epping New Road is when driving by car. I do now!! It never gets easier....
assadahmed said:
...Just wondered if an average speed of 16.8 is respectable?...
I'd say so. I'm a mid forties ex squaddy, former boxer and hockey player, so reasonably fit. I'm also a long time cyclist, but I've never been all-out fast on a bike. I'd be pretty damned chuffed with a 16.8mph average, to be fair. I don't think I ever broke through the 18.0mph barrier, and last year I'd targeted 17.0mph as a goal to achieve at least once on a 30 miler. I got close, but this year has mostly been about the MTB and recovery after I was knocked off my road bike in February.Like others have said, though, just enjoy the act of riding, for it's own sake. If the speed is going to come, it will, as a byproduct of enjoying yourself. If you don't get much faster, don't sweat it, just carry on riding until you no longer enjoy it
yellowjack said:
assadahmed said:
...Just wondered if an average speed of 16.8 is respectable?...
I'd say so. I'm a mid forties ex squaddy, former boxer and hockey player, so reasonably fit. I'm also a long time cyclist, but I've never been all-out fast on a bike. I'd be pretty damned chuffed with a 16.8mph average, to be fair. I don't think I ever broke through the 18.0mph barrier, and last year I'd targeted 17.0mph as a goal to achieve at least once on a 30 miler. I got close, but this year has mostly been about the MTB and recovery after I was knocked off my road bike in February.Like others have said, though, just enjoy the act of riding, for it's own sake. If the speed is going to come, it will, as a byproduct of enjoying yourself. If you don't get much faster, don't sweat it, just carry on riding until you no longer enjoy it
Speed/power etc means f all, enjoyment and staying heathy are the main points.
Edited by superkartracer on Monday 8th September 15:37
superkartracer said:
It's a cracking speed well done. Even tho some people on here think most club riders average 25 mph lol
Speed/power etc mens f all, enjoyment and staying heathy are the main points.
I know a couple of people who can put in a 25mph average over a decent distance. I also know how broken they are afterwards. That's a hell of a pace!Speed/power etc mens f all, enjoyment and staying heathy are the main points.
My first ride with the club was a 100k sportive, 12mph average.
Same ride this year 18.2mph average
You're doing good, a hell of a lot faster than I was when I started riding...
Thanks for the comments re my speed.
Good to know I am cycling at a decent pace for a beginner! My plan is to fit it as many longish rides of around 28 to 30 miles as I can until I can very comfortably maintain a good average speed. It wont be easy as my wife is due to give birth any day now so I wont get that much free time but I will try my best.
May go and sort out some clip pedals in a week or so and see if that makes a difference to the smoothness and efficiency of my riding.
Good to know I am cycling at a decent pace for a beginner! My plan is to fit it as many longish rides of around 28 to 30 miles as I can until I can very comfortably maintain a good average speed. It wont be easy as my wife is due to give birth any day now so I wont get that much free time but I will try my best.
May go and sort out some clip pedals in a week or so and see if that makes a difference to the smoothness and efficiency of my riding.
Edited by assadahmed on Monday 8th September 20:00
Thats a good speed for a cycling noob. Im fairly noobish myself, probably less than two years into road cycling, and basically the more miles you do, the fitter you'll get, and the faster you'll get. Im only just starting to get to ~18.1 mph over a 40 mile route, or 19.4 over a 30 mile route. Only once have i averaged over 20mph, and that was over my 11 mile commute to work!
I follow Maddad (from here) on Strava as he lives round the corner, so i pinch his routes. It does make me weep when i see his average speeds (almost always >20mph). But its something to aim for and when i increase my speed over a given segment and eek closer to his (inevitable) KOM its very motivating!
One other thing if would consider spending some money is getting a Garmin* with a cadence sensor. My Edge 800 came with one bundled and i thought it was just more data for the hell of it. But when i followed advice to choose a lower gear, spin up more and increase my average cadence from ~65rpm to ~85rpm, my speeds increased dramatically. Now on a ride i very rarely look at my speed or average speed or distance - i just focus on the cadence and average cadence. Because if thats high, then its almost certain my final speed will be too.
Hope that helps.
I follow Maddad (from here) on Strava as he lives round the corner, so i pinch his routes. It does make me weep when i see his average speeds (almost always >20mph). But its something to aim for and when i increase my speed over a given segment and eek closer to his (inevitable) KOM its very motivating!
One other thing if would consider spending some money is getting a Garmin* with a cadence sensor. My Edge 800 came with one bundled and i thought it was just more data for the hell of it. But when i followed advice to choose a lower gear, spin up more and increase my average cadence from ~65rpm to ~85rpm, my speeds increased dramatically. Now on a ride i very rarely look at my speed or average speed or distance - i just focus on the cadence and average cadence. Because if thats high, then its almost certain my final speed will be too.
Hope that helps.
- Other brands are available
assadahmed said:
Thanks for the comments re my speed.
Good to know I am cycling at a decent pace for a beginner! My plan is to fit it as many longish rides of around 28 to 30 miles as I can until I can very comfortably maintain a good average speed. It wont be easy as my wife is due to give birth any day now so I wont get that much free time but I will try my best.
May go and sort out some clip pedals in a week or so and see if that makes a difference to the smoothness and efficiency of my riding.
Cleats make a HUGE difference.... There's a reason literally everyone uses them. Both a difference in feel (connectedness etc) and a tangible difference in speed, worth at least 1mph average in my experience making the switch in april ish this year.Good to know I am cycling at a decent pace for a beginner! My plan is to fit it as many longish rides of around 28 to 30 miles as I can until I can very comfortably maintain a good average speed. It wont be easy as my wife is due to give birth any day now so I wont get that much free time but I will try my best.
May go and sort out some clip pedals in a week or so and see if that makes a difference to the smoothness and efficiency of my riding.
Edited by assadahmed on Monday 8th September 20:00
No comment on the speed, whatever floats your boat and you will get faster.
Just look after that ACL, 5 months post operative I assume your physio and surgeon have signed you off. You may need to be careful with the type of cleats chosen and the amount of float. Although I didn't end up having the procedure I would be looking to make sure I don't put to much sudden load on the knee, but you will know yourself when you are over doing it.
Just look after that ACL, 5 months post operative I assume your physio and surgeon have signed you off. You may need to be careful with the type of cleats chosen and the amount of float. Although I didn't end up having the procedure I would be looking to make sure I don't put to much sudden load on the knee, but you will know yourself when you are over doing it.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff