Why is my average speed so low?

[Citius]

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

GPS will not give you an extra 5mph (it won't even give you an extra 2mph) - regardless of how you set it up.

 

[Bobby Mhor]

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?

and seeing as I'm feeling generous, have a like

Have a nice day, friend

 

[Brandane]

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

I know that! But the rider I am referring to is someone I know, and believe me; he isn't going to average 23 mph on the circuit in question. Like I said, even HE says it is BS...

 

[Joffey]

To the OP:

Don't worry about it, keep putting the miles in and gradually your average speed will increase!

 

[Brandane]

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?

As Adrian beat me to saying - we don't. It's you who doesn't get our POV......

You should do it to the best of your ability and aim to make constsnt improvement. I can't understand how so many 'cyclists' have no interest in times, power, speed etc.

You're so busy trolling on a cycling forum these days - your uber God like cycling performance must be suffering .

 

[Racing roadkill]

Make the downhills count.

 

[Stantheman]

Last year I would use distance as a measure to getting fitter not speed, the further I ride the fitter I must be getting.

 

[gavgav]

I average 11 to 12 mph on most rides, perhaps 12.5 on flat rides, which I know is slow. But with a heavy bike and a pack I know it won't get much faster. To me, cycling isn't about the speed though, it's the enjoyment of being out

 

[ScotiaLass]

I'm only gradually getting back into cycling, so while I am fitter than I was, I am still a long way from 'fit'. However, I am a bit disappointed with my average speeds. I live in Pembrokeshire and, while it is not the Lake District, it's certainly bumpy and my routes have a lot of gentle to moderate hills in them. My average for a circular run is between 10 and 11 mph usually. I'm happy to accept that this is a pretty miserable performance, but what surprises me is that, on a level bit of road, I can maintain 15-17 mph without much difficulty and I feel I could keep going all day. Do hills affect your average speed as much as this? (I understand that mathematically you can never regain the energy you put in going up a hill because of the need for braking and losses from wind resistance on the way down, but I'm surprised it is as much as this.)

On the flat, even on the MTB, I can hold around 16mph, easily.
Show me a hill though and that drops to well under 10! I blame my arthritic knees but I think I just have an aversion to hills!

 

[jonny jeez]

I'm only gradually getting back into cycling, so while I am fitter than I was, I am still a long way from 'fit'. However, I am a bit disappointed with my average speeds. I live in Pembrokeshire and, while it is not the Lake District, it's certainly bumpy and my routes have a lot of gentle to moderate hills in them. My average for a circular run is between 10 and 11 mph usually. I'm happy to accept that this is a pretty miserable performance, but what surprises me is that, on a level bit of road, I can maintain 15-17 mph without much difficulty and I feel I could keep going all day. Do hills affect your average speed as much as this? (I understand that mathematically you can never regain the energy you put in going up a hill because of the need for braking and losses from wind resistance on the way down, but I'm surprised it is as much as this.)

If it helps, when I'm in really good form, for me to average say over 100 miles a speed of 18-20mph...then I have to be riding on the flat at about 25-27mph, to counter the stops at junctions, hill loss and slower sections of road.

I have only managed that a very few times when I was in pretty good shape, nowadays I'm a stone or two heavier and about 3,000 miles a year lower on my distance.

So, More realistically these days I can ride out on a Saturday and be buzzing along at about 22 mph (seems to be my capability right now) and over about 40 miles that always translates to about 14-15mph average...no matter what the terrain.

Also, Strava nicks about 1-2 mph when it translates my data. My garmin will show an average of 17mph, but when uploaded strava suggests something like 15....always.

 

[phil-b]

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.

but what is it that he is comparing it to. He says his average speed is low but compared to what? his previous performance or just a number pulled from others riding stats that where made under completely different circumstances by riders at different stages in training and skill level

to improve you need to better your own previous performance. it is good to have a goal but that needs to be something tangible and not just a random number

 

[Smokin Joe]

Last year I would use distance as a measure to getting fitter not speed, the further I ride the fitter I must be getting.

If you read any of the professional riders talking about training they refer to time spent and effort expended, ie two hours hard, six hours steady, etc. I have never heard one mention average speed, presumably because it is a meaningless figure.

If you want to improve concentrate on the effort you put in and the time spent riding, average speed will take care of itself. That nonsense is for Strava junkies.

 

[stupug]

Does the weight of you might bike a big difference to up your average speed?

 

[phil-b]

Does the weight of you might bike a big difference to up your average speed?

Do you mean does the weight of the bike make a big difference? The answer is No. bike weight may make a small difference but it is just on factor out of many. The person on the bike is the engine and this is the biggest factor that will determine how fast a bike can travel. Put the 1 litre eco engine from my corsa in the Ferrari F1 car and the average speed will drop,

If you want to improve get training if you just want a better bike go buy one

 

[tallliman]

Relative average speed on a circuit is what I use to judge how I'm doing (relative to me) but even then, wind direction can be a pretty large modifier on that for a flat ride.

Apart from that, just adding miles will help improve fitness which should (at least initially) translate to speed.