Why is my average speed so low?

[Kajjal]

Hills and wind will really hit your averages as will bike maintenance issues such as under inflated tyres. Riding in the drops with relatively tight fitting clothing makes a significant difference to cruising speed. By this i don't mean in a TT outfit

 

[phil-b]

I also live in Pembrokeshire are you riding just on the road or do you use any of the shared cycle paths. The cycle paths will also slow down your average speed because of the many gates.
but worrying about average speed is a little futile anyway as you are not comparing like for like. To check if you are getting faster you need to measure your time over a set route and repeat the same route and then compare your times. Also if you are riding alone you average will always be lower than riding with a group.

How are you measuring your average speed are stops included in your time or is the timer paused if you take a break, What average speed are you trying to achieve and how did you arrive at this number. Is it an arbitrary number pulled from space (or cyber space). it is easy to get hooked on the numbers and in essence they are meaningless unless you are working from a datum that is relevant to you. In the first line of your post you said you are fitter. So think what are you trying to achieve if it is fitness then it is already working. If you want to get faster so you can ride with a group don't worry that you are not good enough just find a beginners group ( they will teach a lot and they will be very patent with you as you get up to speed) and then you can work your way up.

 

[Bobby Mhor]

If you are enjoying your cycling, why worry about speed?

 

[Brandane]

Looking at strava flyby after my ride (pictured left) yesterday another rider on a harder 40 mile course averaged 18mph.

View attachment 115304 View attachment 115305

Youtube: Budget Road Bike Review $500 VS $15000

Don't believe everything you read on Strava. A mate of mine records average speeds of about 23 mph on a local circuit. He is not slow, but even he will admit that 23 mph is BS.. Not sure, but I think the fact he uses his phone rather than a Garmin might have something to do with it.
From memory, when initially setting up you can set it not to record when speed drops below a certain level. Supposedly so that when walking the bike through pedestrian areas etc. it doesn't affect average speed, but if someone was to set that at say 15 mph......

 

[Pikey]

Pembrokeshire is tougher terràin than your'e given it credit for. Plus you always seem to be against the prevailing winds. Your Dawes isn't particularly a machine to rush, so ignore your average speed and enjoy being out there. That's all its about.

Yeah, I wish strava could work out an average enjoyment measure and display that.

 

[phil-b]

this guy it talking about running training and seems a little wacky but I think he has a good point here that is also relevant to cycling

 

[nickyboy]

I ride in a very hilly area, typically 100ft climbing per mile. My "normal" average speed on a reasonably long (say more than 30 mile) ride is about 13.5mph. On a very flat ride in Cheshire, for example, I will average about 18mph

The reason is that the wind resistance is proportionate to the square of the velocity. If you do the maths, maintaining a constant speed results in less wind resistance than some fast riding (downhills) and some slow riding (uphills). That is the reason that hilly riding is slower than flat riding

The effect is marked. In the Peak District even the local professionals struggle to do more than 18mph on a hilly ride. The other speed killer is when the downhills are small, narrow roads where you have to scrub off speed to remain safe. I hate that

 

[Pikey]

In fact, I think that might be my new years resolution; to ignore my Strava segments and averages etc...
I think I got hung up on them last year and tbh, it really sucked the soul out of my riding and I think I lost sight of why I ride in the first place. I found myself and a mate waiting until the wind was blowing a gale in the right direction to get out on the tt bikes and 'smash' a segment, obsessing after each ride about my averages and why they weren't as high as this time last month etc... FFS.

Now I have the third wheel, I'm just gonna enjoy the rides, if they get longer and faster as a bi product, all the better.

I think the lack of 'kudos' wont make me cry myself to sleep for very long

 

[400bhp]

Don't believe everything you read on Strava. A mate of mine records average speeds of about 23 mph on a local circuit. He is not slow, but even he will admit that 23 mph is BS.. Not sure, but I think the fact he uses his phone rather than a Garmin might have something to do with it.
From memory, when initially setting up you can set it not to record when speed drops below a certain level. Supposedly so that when walking the bike through pedestrian areas etc. it doesn't affect average speed, but if someone was to set that at say 15 mph......

It's entirely possible to achieve 23mph with the right rider on the right circuit.

 

[blazed]

If you are enjoying your cycling, why worry about speed?

Considering he has made a thread about average speed one can assume that he is not just content with cycling about, and wants to make performance increases.

Why do the 'just ride your bike brigade' have such a hard time understanding why people would actually want to go faster/increase fitness?

 

[400bhp]

It is, and that is fine for those who are up to it and enjoy it. For everyone else though, why do it? Why not just ride your bike and enjoy it?

Not sure I follow that?

If you can physically do 23 then you can enjoy it.

If you can't physically do it then, well, there's nothing to talk about.

 

[Citius]

I am still a long way from 'fit'. However, I am a bit disappointed with my average speeds.

You just answered your own question. Average speed will improve with fitness.

 

[400bhp]

Ah, understand.

I guess it's a hang-up people have, maybe psycholigically related.

Hang-ups or something more.

 

[phil-b]

[

Don't believe everything you read on Strava. A mate of mine records average speeds of about 23 mph on a local circuit. He is not slow, but even he will admit that 23 mph is BS.. Not sure, but I think the fact he uses his phone rather than a Garmin might have something to do with it.
From memory, when initially setting up you can set it not to record when speed drops below a certain level. Supposedly so that when walking the bike through pedestrian areas etc. it doesn't affect average speed, but if someone was to set that at say 15 mph......

It's entirely possible to achieve 23mph with the right rider on the right circuit.

I think the point was not all GPS readings are always accurate

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

Don't worry. I don't give a stuff what my average speed is. I'm out and flying, that's all that matters.