average speed for a new rider looking to hook up?

[jifdave]

I've read a few threads about hooking up with other groups and a few seem to be in my area.

My question is if im looking to start riding with strangers, what sort of speed should i be averageing?

did 51 miles a few weeks back on a front suspension mtb and averaged 11.3mph it was quite hilly....

 

[User16625]

I've read a few threads about hooking up with other groups and a few seem to be in my area.

My question is if im looking to start riding with strangers, what sort of speed should i be averageing?

did 51 miles a few weeks back on a front suspension mtb and averaged 11.3mph it was quite hilly....

51 miles on a MTB! Are you Rocky Balboa?

 

[stephen.rooke]

completley depends on the route etc as to what your average will be. im a newbie and now easily ride at around 17-21mph on flat but on the hills im slow so brings my average speed down.

the fact that you did 51miles would suggest youll be fast enough to keep up with most people

might be worth starting with a beginners group and if its too easy move up to riding with more experienced riders

 

[stephen.rooke]

51 miles on a MTB! Are you Rocky Balboa?

woman i work with did 180 miles on a mtb across ireland, wish i could lol

 

[sabian92]

I average 10mph on a road bike with skinny tyres although not over that distance... if you had a road bike you'd average at least 15mph easily on a flat run.

 

[jifdave]

t'was http://www.cloistersbikeride.org/ ride plus riding too and from.

i only own a mtb and was asked if i fancied it..... the hills were not fun.

next ride is http://www.friendsofthewisdomhospice.org.uk/getinvolved/events/event/102/Wheels+for+Wisdom

then hopefully http://bike-events.com/Ride.aspx?id=330 but hope to have a road bike by then.

 

[stephen.rooke]

I average 10mph on a road bike with skinny tyres although not over that distance... if you had a road bike you'd average at least 15mph easily on a flat run.

agreed. 15mph is easy to maintain on a roadbike with half decent fitness. i averaged 14.7mph on a 20mile ride today which included hills.

on a stretch of cycle path thats around 3.5 - 4miles long i average 21mph.

getting a better average speed also makes cycling more enjoyable

 

[screenman]

There are 2 speeds written about on this forum, most tend to go with internet speed which is what the speedo is showing for a brief second when the wind is behind them going down hill.

Now the other one is real average speed, which is a long way below this internet speed. Most clubs runs are done at either 14,16 or 18mph and a few chain gangs average 20mph. There are many clubs that do a 30 to 40 mile ride at 14 MPH, my preferred group now that I am carrying a few worn out joints is the 16mph.

My average speed (real honest) on my own is 15 to 16 mph.

My internet forum speed tonight would have been 33mph. That is Lincolnshire internet speed as we do not have hills where I live.

 

[stephen.rooke]

i find strava and sports tracker to be great tools in analysing my speed. compares me to others and shows me where i need to improve

 

[jifdave]

in that case my internet speed is 41.3 mph.
im rather heavy so downhill is great for me.
on the flat i probably ride around 18-20mph but im crap up hills being big is good for down crap for up.

 

[HLaB]

It depends a big bit on the group; a couple of groups I've been out with you'll easily match or better them but you'd be far behind a cycle club (but they are all on light road bikes); all can really say if you like the look of a group give them a call.

 

[Nosaj]

First off riding in a group is totally different to riding on your own and the speed you are able to maintain in a group will be a lot higher than you can maintain on your own. If you want to try out a group go along they will be more than pleased to receive a new member enquiry, view their websites and any other info make a shortlist and go along and try them out. They should welcome you with open arms and do all they can to make you feel part of it. Those that do not are not worth it. I would also phone in advance and alert them that you intend to come along and you can use that time to ally any fears you may have.

Average speed and what average should you be able to ride at to join a club is so hard to define but I will try and give you an idea with my own humble experience. I ride a light road bike

I am a member of CTC member group. They do all day rides but split with a slower more direct route group and a faster longer group that only does half a day.

CTC will aim to average around 12-12.50 mph. This will be a static 12.50mph average and really is quite ploddy there is lots of freewheeling down hills. Up hill the pace is frustratingly slow however they do go out all day and mileage is usually approx 55-75. The mileage for a 1/2 day is circa 35-45 with an average of 13.5-14mph

I am also a member of and prefer to ride with my race club now as they will average slightly higher and concentrate more on group riding discipline than my particular CTC member group where it is all about the food. My race club ability split is roughly as follows:

1st Group 16-17 mph circa 25 miles
2nd Group 16-18mph over 40-50 miles
3rd Group 22-24 mph 40-50 miles

When on a club run or a chain gang it is quite easy to roll along the flat at 25+ mph but when the inclines go up people tend to get spat out the back - me included. To maintain an average speed of 22+ mph over any real distance (40+ miles) would put you in the category of a pretty damn good club rider and probably able to mix it up in Cat 3 race maybe even higher.

The problem occurs towards the end of club rides. The tempo of the ride tends to build and while you may well do the first portion of the ride at 14-15 mph average building up to the goal of a 16-18 mph average towards the end the last few miles you are probably knocking on a 19/20 mph average then right towards the end people start willy waving and sprinting off the front (especially when nearing the club house and the end of ride when every member knows the route back, race like activity tends to kick in and a particular hill on our club ride is normally the starting point). Whilst the average speed at the end of the ride may well only show 17 mph those last few miles can rip your legs to shreds.

I have also been been out and had 19.5 mph average showing and felt fresh as a daisy conversly I went out recently and had my legs feel heavy and sore and had a 15.3 average but the wind was blowing hard from the wrong direction.

When I talk about averages I mean the average speed showing on my speedo when the ride is over and I have clicked through to see what the average was. Not what we are doing at a particular point in the ride that could show me anywhere between 9 mph and 40mph and is not a good indicator.

On a flattish route with some ups and downs but no major climbs just your usual hills, assuming that it is a nice summer day with no real wind and riding on my own I would guestimate my averages as follows (this is for me and bear in mind I am on a road bike not a MTB)

12-14 - pootling able to maintain for as long I like
14-17 - average pace I ride at when on my own going to / from club rides
16-19 - brisk pace on my own probably won't get much further than 40 miles if I stay in the upper portion.
20+ TT territory for me

If i see the following on the speedo when I am glancing down
25+ short bursts on the flat maybe only able to hold on for a mile or two
30+ I am going downhill

 

[jifdave]

Excellent reply. Thank you

 

[User16625]

Overtook another cyclist recently on a downhill. Also a tailwind. Glanced at the speedo, 40mph. God knows what my average was. Probably something like 18ish as I had to cycle INTO that wind and UP that same hill in the other direction.

 

[jifdave]

I've got my average up to around 16mph now I have a road bike.

I hit about 47mph down hill the other day 'twas fun and scary all at the same time