I know speed isn't everything but..

[double0jedi]

I have been cycling now for about two years. I started on a 29er mountain bike but six months ago I brought a Specialized Diverge Cyclocross bike, and I love it. I mainly commute and do a few recreational rides by myself at the weekend.

My issue is that despite losing loads of weight ( which I am really happy with ) and my stamina and fitness improving dramatically, my speed just hasn't got any faster. I can do distances no problem and sections of my route where I used to falter I no longer have a problem with. But I just can't seem to get my average speed up. I seem to constantly hang around the 12-13mph mark.

A young lad at work who has a road bike, makes me look like I am standing still in comparison !

Im not looking to do any racing but my local club, from what I have heard is fairly competitive and I have given some thought to joining but feel that to do so I just need that bit of extra speed.

I do generally about fifty - sixty miles a week any advice?

 

[vickster]

Is your area very hilly? Or heavily trafficked? Is the gearing right on the Diverge? Tried changing the tyres?

I'd try a different brand of bike myself

Or ultimately does it matter if you feel better and enjoy it, as you say you don't plan to rave. If you like a challenge, try audaxing, super long distances at your sort of pace

Average speed is pretty meaningless in reality

If you want higher averages, joining a club and riding in a well oiled group should increase them...at least while in the group

 

[classic33]

Can the lad at work match you, distancewise?

 

[Banjo]

Tyres have a big effect on speed . Just keeping the ones you have at full pressure will help on the road .
not sure what tyres come with the Diverge but if they have tread or knobbly pattern that will slow you down on tarmac.
Personally I wouldn't worry too much just enjoy your bike and ride it lots.

 

[double0jedi]

I live in east Devon which is quite hilly ( or at least I think so ) I only included the average speed figures as I thought it may help to know what sort of speed Im talking about. I'm not concerned with what the actual speed is just about being overtaken at every opportunity when i seem to be pushing hard and then someone flies past me without breaking a sweat!! : (

I don't know if the young lad could match me for distance, only ever cycled with him on the way to work.

 

[vickster]

How old are you? How old is he? I wouldn't compare unless there is a reason

Try slick narrower tyres on your bike, see if that makes a difference. Knobbliest are energy sapping. Cheaper than a carbon roadbike. Are you using panniers or a rucksack? If so, that won't help, esp the latter

 

[screenman]

Clubs are not fast, a small percentage of the members may be, but most will be the same speed as you and a few a lot slower.

 

[S-Express]

My issue is that despite losing loads of weight ( which I am really happy with ) and my stamina and fitness improving dramatically, my speed just hasn't got any faster. I can do distances no problem and sections of my route where I used to falter I no longer have a problem with. But I just can't seem to get my average speed up. I seem to constantly hang around the 12-13mph mark.

First things first - 50-60 miles a week is really not very much, and probably not enough to see any major improvement over and above where you already are at.

Riding faster requires you to....ride faster, which generally means increasing your level of effort outside of your typical comfort zone. Your speed will not increase on its own, you have to push yourself beyond your limits regularly in order to see any kind of sustainable improvement.

So, ride more, ride harder sometimes.

 

[nickyboy]

How hilly your rides are makes a massive difference to average speed. On a flattish 50 mile ride I can do maybe 17mph, on a local hilly 50 I'll be pleased with 13mph
Beyond that, if you want to go faster you have to either increase your watts output or reduce your watts resistance .... or ideally both

Increasing your output watts takes training so that's hard work. If you want to get serious there are loads of free training plans online. But just trying to get faster and beat your times on your commute is a really good start. Reducing your watts resistance can often be surprisingly easy. As others have said, more appropriate tyres may help. Also consider your riding posture. Wind resistance is a major component in the things that stop you going faster. There's often a trade off with comfort in doing so, so bear that in mind. Maybe slow and comfortable is better than fast and uncomfortable

 

[Pale Rider]

More than fifty miles a week is best part of 3,000 miles a year - pretty good going in lumpy old Devon.

I agree the hills will be what's knocking the OP's speed.

To cheer himself up a bit, I suggest he plans a ride or two in a flatter area where he will probably be able to rattle along at 15mph+.

 

[Smokin Joe]

If you don't race or ride with people who like to shift along then speed doesn't matter. Just enjoy the experience.

 

[HarryTheDog]

Do you have a heart rate monitor? do you know your max heart rate/resting heart rate and training zones?. If not, get one and ride as you normally do and find out what effort you are putting in. If you ride by heart rate you will be suprised that when you normally ride you are probably resting a lot.I have hired a coach who has determined my short duration top end power is fine, my endurance is fine but I lack race pace. So I tend to do my road rides as 2 hr rides in my stamina aerobic zone 70-80% of max heart rate all the way apart from warm up and cool down of course). It shows how little effort I put in when the road goes downwards at all.( I do a lot of turbo work as well efforts etc). If you are serious about speed as others have said, more miles and more days on the bike are neccessary

 

[bondirob]

Do you mix it up a bit or do the same route?
My average has gone down a fair bit recently but I've been hitting the hills.
I find it meaningless tbh.
I'll never catch some riders it doesn't bother me.
On the other hand some will never catch me

 

[Globalti]

It's simple, you just need a faster bike. This means stiffer, lighter and lower. You'll be blown away by the increase in speed.

 

[Slick]

On my old commute I was passed by everybody from older guys to wee boys. After a few months the only ones that passed me were the club riders and after a year it was only the better club riders. I think any improvement kind of plateaued until I started riding with another rider who loved going uphill more than down, which was new to me. There is lots you can do to improve things like the heart rate monitor mentioned above, but your never going to compete against youth I'm afraid.