Starting to realy enjoy new road bike.

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Holy Warrior

Active Member
Location
West Yorkshire
I personally think the opposite, in that more undulating terrain can be beneficial to quicker average speeds. Not taking anything away from you Angelfishsolo at all, this aint an attack. If you check my thread in the touring section you'll see that i'm new to this game and haven't ridden more than 30 mile in one go yet.


This might be to do with me, i'm not a strong rider, i'm small and slight, so I don't have great power to keep up a high average flat speed. I do however descend pretty quickly, despite nearly crapping myself everytime when my crappy brakes send my back tyre psycho! So downhill I don't have a problem getting my average speed back up, and over my flat speeds which are pretty poor. So much that I think I would average a few mph slower on completely flat terrain.


Like many have said though everyone is different and have different strengths and weaknesses! :smile:
 
OP
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Angelfishsolo

A Velocipedian
I personally think the opposite, in that more undulating terrain can be beneficial to quicker average speeds. Not taking anything away from you Angelfishsolo at all, this aint an attack. If you check my thread in the touring section you'll see that i'm new to this game and haven't ridden more than 30 mile in one go yet.


This might be to do with me, i'm not a strong rider, i'm small and slight, so I don't have great power to keep up a high average flat speed. I do however descend pretty quickly, despite nearly crapping myself everytime when my crappy brakes send my back tyre psycho! So downhill I don't have a problem getting my average speed back up, and over my flat speeds which are pretty poor. So much that I think I would average a few mph slower on completely flat terrain.


Like many have said though everyone is different and have different strengths and weaknesses! :smile:

You could well be right. I do go down the hills pretty quickly. Max 41.n today. My problem is finding a flat route. They don't exist in South Wales :sad:
 

doog

....
I personally think the opposite, in that more undulating terrain can be beneficial to quicker average speeds. Not taking anything away from you Angelfishsolo at all, this aint an attack. If you check my thread in the touring section you'll see that i'm new to this game and haven't ridden more than 30 mile in one go yet.


This might be to do with me, i'm not a strong rider, i'm small and slight, so I don't have great power to keep up a high average flat speed. I do however descend pretty quickly, despite nearly crapping myself everytime when my crappy brakes send my back tyre psycho! So downhill I don't have a problem getting my average speed back up, and over my flat speeds which are pretty poor. So much that I think I would average a few mph slower on completely flat terrain.


Like many have said though everyone is different and have different strengths and weaknesses! :smile:



I think if you have reached a certain level of fitness then you are right.

I did this mountain stage last month in the Pyrenees.


http://www.mapmyride...s/view/39786338


Going up my average was pretty dire with a couple of cat 2 cliimbs but it all evens itself out, the descent was 20 miles
biggrin.gif
...hence you learn that no matter what the terrain an average can usually be worked out and compared across the board.
 
Nice going AFS, 16.2mph is good on any terrain particularly good for a hilly terrain. IME I can go fastest overall on a flatter route however although top speed may be higher on an undulating route (with any serious climbs) the overall speed is reduced despite descending but undulating is usually more enjoyable :-)
 

pshore

Well-Known Member
I have a MTB background so it is sort of new and familiar at the same time :smile:

I've done the same, MTB first, then touring bike for 18 months and now a cheap road bike for 6 months.

I discovered the road cycling needs a whole different kind of fitness, its a more constant and smooth power whereas the MTB'ing needs you to hold some back so you can have a burst of power to get over obstacles.

My fitness has definitely increased since road cycling more and has benefited the MTB side too.


I think I am leaning towards the Audax side. Tea and cake fuel me, and real ale is the recovery drink. I am managing to resist the flat cap and a pipe at the moment. :smile:
 

Glover Fan

Well-Known Member
Am I reading right that you live in a hilly South Wales and your lowest gear is a 44-28? You mentalist.
 
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Angelfishsolo

A Velocipedian
I've done the same, MTB first, then touring bike for 18 months and now a cheap road bike for 6 months.

I discovered the road cycling needs a whole different kind of fitness, its a more constant and smooth power whereas the MTB'ing needs you to hold some back so you can have a burst of power to get over obstacles.

My fitness has definitely increased since road cycling more and has benefited the MTB side too.


I think I am leaning towards the Audax side. Tea and cake fuel me, and real ale is the recovery drink. I am managing to resist the flat cap and a pipe at the moment. :smile:
Oh yes I recognise the different power requirments. Audax are a thought for the future.
I don't drink so my recovery drink is different. When I start wearing a cap and hold a pipe people have permission to shoot me :biggrin:
 

Pigo

Well-Known Member
Location
Suffolk
Thanks very much indeed guys. I am feeling pretty good right now :biggrin:
And so you should! I'm totally impressed - I live in flat East Anglia & recently rode from Aberystwyth to Swansea around the coast....your hills are enormous! I done 55 miles on a couple of days & averaged just over 10mph It is a truly stunning area though & I'll be back. Lovely bike! Well done - keep it up!
 
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OP
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Angelfishsolo

A Velocipedian
And so you should! I'm totally impressed - I live in flat East Anglia & recently rode from Aberystwyth to Swansea around the coast....your hills are enormous! I done 55 miles on a couple of days & averaged just over 10mph It is a truly stunning area though & I'll be back. Lovely bike! Well done - keep it up!

Thank you very much indeed. :smile:
 
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