I've just realised that I'm scared of riding fast!

[Ferdie]

When I hear from other commuters that their daily commute runs at an average of 20mph I just imagine that i'm just a fatty and my plodding 12-15mph (when I feel frisky) will never improve. According to my little iphone app I do little bursts of speed approaching 20 then I slow down for traffic.

The last few days however I have been riding home late a lot when the roads are much clearer. I feel like I am riding home faster but then I realise at the end of the ride that I've only shaved a couple of minutes from my daytime commute.

Then last night it dawned on me! When I feel myself start to speed up more than I'm used to I find 'excuses' to slow down a tad. Whereas during the day I would rely on slow moving traffic to slow me down at night I actively seek out ways to slow down (like an amber traffic light) or move in behind a car or another cyclist. It's silly I know but I can't seem to break out of this habit. I didn't think I was afraid of a bit of speed but riding alone on a straight road forces me to slow down.

Anyone else find themselves doing this?

 

[martint235]

You've not said much about yourself apart from "fatty" or how long you've been commuting for.

1. Don't worry about your speed, the main trick about commuting is to get to work rather than the local hospital.
2. If you've not been commuting for long, your confidence will improve and you'll find yourself going that little bit faster. I've been commuting for around 15 years and it still only takes a week or so off my bike to dent my confidence particularly in traffic but it comes back in a couple of days.
3. As in 2, your fitness will also improve. I don't know what your commute is like but try to push yourself a bit on clear roads with no junctions if you have the opportunity, basically somewhere where nothing can surprise you.

The main thing is don't worry and enjoy your commute.

 

[Dan B]

I would look with a certain degree of scepticism on anyone who tells you they average 20mph on a commute, unless their journey is almost entirely devoid of traffic, junctions, lights, etc etc. I am sure there are exceptions (and they are as likely to be on this board as anywhere, I suppose) but I think a lot of the time they're measuring "rolling average" and not counting the time spent speeding up, slowing down, and stopped

 

[davehann]

push hard get there first . dont worrky about speed. but if you do want to go faster use other (distant) commuters as carrots to chase.

 

[gb155]

at the risk of sounding cocky, im fast, I no longer get passed, im the one who does all the passing, I ride 30 miles a day, I push so hard my body screams out, I can sprint over 35 Mph, and I am more than happy cruising along at 22 + Mph !!!

That all said, on the days when I take the "Short" (normal) route into work (6 miles) my all time PB is 19Mph Average.

There is little chance anyone can average 20Mph commuting , unless you dont cycle in the rush hour or you cycle only on roads without cars/ school runs etc.

In sort, dont worry about it, race yourself, improve yourself daily,

 

[fossyant]

You possibly need to have a few non commuting rides with hills so you can feel the bike better rather than worry about traffic.

 

[palinurus]

I've never (knowingly) averaged 20 mph on my commute. Normally about 16-17. I can, given a nice road without junctions, average more than 20 mph over a similar distance so it's not just my legs.

 

[JonnyBlade]

I've travelled many sub 3 minute miles and was pleased to have my fastest average mile during the Meon Valley Riser of 32.4 mph.
In that same ride, I also had a 7 and 9 minute mile!
It depends on wind direction, cold, warm, wet, dry ................. in the end though, my aim is to set off and arrive with a whole load of cycling enjoyment and self testing in the middle

 

[coffeejo]

Forget times, focus on enjoying yourself. That, in my humblest of opinions, is where confidence comes from.

 

[GrasB]

Ferdie, don't worry about being fast or slow just do what you're comfortable with, the fact you're on your bike is the thing that matters. Going fast doesn't gain the rider much anyway, I could ride in at 15mph to work & what I'd lose in time taken I'd make up in not needing a shower at work etc. I just prefer to push hard & do a training ride.

As someone who regularly punches in 20mph (or faster) door to door commutes in summer. I spend a minimal amount of time in town & deliberately take quite back roads, further to this I always make sure I'm turning left onto major roads even if that means going on a 5 mile loop (but as I'm wanting to add over 10 miles to my minimum each way commute this is a good thing). I certainly wouldn't be averaging anywhere near 20mph with a cross town commute in traffic. I'm not going much over 24mph for any significant distance but because I'm on the back roads I spend a lot of time above 22mph without interruption.

I would look with a certain degree of scepticism on anyone who tells you they average 20mph on a commute, unless their journey is almost entirely devoid of traffic, junctions, lights, etc etc. I am sure there are exceptions (and they are as likely to be on this board as anywhere, I suppose) but I think a lot of the time they're measuring "rolling average" and not counting the time spent speeding up, slowing down, and stopped

Homebound commute today -
Dist: 30.42 miles
Rolling duration: 1:29:11
Door to door duration: 1:29:49

It's all about the route (see above)

 

[Bicycle]

I used to have a 22-mile commute and could (eventually) average over 20 mph... but not until I only took my avarage along the A roads between towns (about 18 miles of the journey).

Before that change, a few of red lights busy roundabouts could take 2-3 mph off my average for a 65-minute ride....

The other reason that I started to measure the shorter route was... (whispers) an almost irresistable urge to RLJ if I was on a good time and a light went red.... I can't believe I was tempted, but I was there... and I was tempted.

I wouldn't be too worried about the speed you do... Do the speed you like.

My commute went along a couple a legs of local TTs, so whenever I was feeling fast and clever, a couple of skin-tights would whip past me in silent TT aero-pose and bring me back down to middle-aged reality.

 

[brokenbetty]

My overall commute speed is 10mph. The only factor that would make a significant difference to that is RLJ. Since I've decided not to do that, I just kick back and enjoy the ride.

 

[Holdsworth]

I can just about keep an average of 15mph or so on my 9 mile commute, it has 2 sets of lights, 1 busy junction at the A51 and is mostly on country lanes which are used as a rat run by most. There is a one major "hill" each way, abut 5-7% and a 3-4%, I find a real struggle on the former with my weak-ish legs and persistent asthma but if I keep going I can manage around 10mph, usually with a long queue of cars behind me before the canal bridge.

 

[DrSquirrel]

Don't worry about doing 20mph averages, 16-17s are decent on a quiet route.

I would look with a certain degree of scepticism on anyone who tells you they average 20mph on a commute, unless their journey is almost entirely devoid of traffic, junctions, lights, etc etc. I am sure there are exceptions (and they are as likely to be on this board as anywhere, I suppose) but I think a lot of the time they're measuring "rolling average" and not counting the time spent speeding up, slowing down, and stopped

*ahem*

Been hitting 20 averages recently (over 10+miles).

But yes, its not common and traffic would ruin everything - damn cars slowing me down

 

[gaz]

I'm a fairly fast commuter. But my averages are always below 15mph. And thats due to over 100traffic lights or an average of 7 traffic lights for every mile. My rolling average is around 17mph which includes speeding up and slowing down.