Speed in traffic

[captainhastings]

Is there such a thing as being too slow in traffic ? On my old steel marin any sort of gradient has me on the middle chain ring spinning away which is fine if I can keep too the left but in places when I need to get in lane I do feel like I am just going too slow and a hindrance too traffic. Even worse when I load the bike up with shopping.
On the flat I can manage a decent speed most of the time nearly

 

[Seigi]

At the end of the day if they could get past you they'd speed along only to be stopped by the next set of traffic lights to which you'd merrily cycle by them into an ASL, I wouldn't worry about it too much unless you're going at like 5mph.

 

[captainhastings]

Nah I think my speed was down too 8,9,10 mph in the worst bits it feels so slow in traffic though. But at least it makes the road bike feel nice and zippy

 

[BlackPanther]

I think that as a general rule, the people who think they are too slow 'in traffic' are the people who don't ride on roads anyway......they plod along happily at 6 or 7 mph on the pavement, which is fine. I very rarely come across anyone going this slowly on the road, most 'road riders' average 12-15 mph. I try an stay in the 18-20 mph on the flat on the road bike. If anything, car drivers get more frustrated getting stuck behind a road bike doing 20-30 mph as even though they'd have to break the speed limit to get past, they just don't think it's right to be 'stuck behind a bloody cyclist........who doesn't pay road.......tax blah blah blah.

If you're asking the question, then you're probably plenty fast enough.

 

[al78]

I think that as a general rule, the people who think they are too slow 'in traffic' are the people who don't ride on roads anyway......they plod along happily at 6 or 7 mph on the pavement, which is fine. I very rarely come across anyone going this slowly on the road, most 'road riders' average 12-15 mph.

I do when going to work, there are some hills that are sufficiently long and draggy that I prefer to go up at a relaxed pace to conserve energy (my weekly mileage is close to the maximum I can sustain without becoming exhausted).

 

[captainhastings]

My average today was 13mph and the same route on my road bike would be much higher but that is not what I was worrying about

 

[Matthew_T]

I do hate it when I am out with the club, and we are going up a steep country road, and there is a car behind us. You just want to speed up.

Normally, if I can see that I am going so slow, that I will easily catch up to the bunch, I will simply pull over and wave them by.

People in the country seem a lot nicer, as they appreciate the fact that you have seen and acknowledged them.

 

[captainhastings]

Might slap a new pair of tires on the old girl the existing ones are quite soft and only go up to 45 psi

 

[cyberknight]

I think that as a general rule, the people who think they are too slow 'in traffic' are the people who don't ride on roads anyway......they plod along happily at 6 or 7 mph on the pavement, which is fine. I very rarely come across anyone going this slowly on the road, most 'road riders' average 12-15 mph. I try an stay in the 18-20 mph on the flat on the road bike. If anything, car drivers get more frustrated getting stuck behind a road bike doing 20-30 mph as even though they'd have to break the speed limit to get past, they just don't think it's right to be 'stuck behind a bloody cyclist........who doesn't pay road.......tax blah blah blah.

If you're asking the question, then you're probably plenty fast enough.

You mean where you live they actually drive around at the speed limit? Most of the time you only see them do that near a speed camera as the rest of the time they are generally going around 10 mph over the speed limit.

 

[dellzeqq]

Is there such a thing as being too slow in traffic ? On my old steel marin any sort of gradient has me on the middle chain ring spinning away which is fine if I can keep too the left but in places when I need to get in lane I do feel like I am just going too slow and a hindrance too traffic. Even worse when I load the bike up with shopping.
On the flat I can manage a decent speed most of the time nearly

I think there's something in this question.

On my own and on a fast bike I feel safer than when I'm with Susie and travelling, of necessity, that little bit more slowly, and much safer than when I'm on the Brompton carrying a full load of shopping. I don't care in the least about being a hindrance, but I like to manage where and when I'm overtaken, and riding more quickly allows me to do that.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Might slap a new pair of tires on the old girl the existing ones are quite soft and only go up to 45 psi

That is a good idea. 45 psi on the roads is like riding in tar!

 

[Bman]

I think there's something in this question.

On my own and on a fast bike I feel safer than when I'm with Susie and travelling, of necessity, that little bit more slowly, and much safer than when I'm on the Brompton carrying a full load of shopping. I don't care in the least about being a hindrance, but I like to manage where and when I'm overtaken, and riding more quickly allows me to do that.

I agree. I find the faster (or should I say, the closer to the speed limit) I go, the easier it is to hold my lane.