Would a CC'er exaggerate?

[zacklaws]

I'm sometimes sceptical of some of the average speeds I see quoted and believe a lot of exageration comes into play.

Yesterday I did a ride, 85 miles in 5 1/2 hours averaging 15.5 mph in very hilly terrain, most unknown. As I have my Garmin set to record 5 mile laps, I see that I did the last 15 miles, 3 x 5 mile laps, all averaging just over 18mph, all the other laps, 14 of them have averages ranging from 11.8 mph up to 18 mph.

But if I look at the maximums for all the laps, not one is below 24 mph, with the average around 30 mph and the maximum just a shade under 40 mph, but despite all these high speeds, I only get an average of 15.5 mph.

How easy is it to say, which I don't, "I average between 24 to 40 mph".

If it was not for all the, hills, road junctions, railway lines and other hold ups, then my average speed over a distance would be a lot higher, but there again instead of having my Garmin set to pause at 0mph, if I was to set it to pause at say 10mph, cancelling out all the slowing down for hills etc, then who knows what my average would be.

When I did the last 15 miles, it was a straight dash for home on a main road, flattish and no road junctions.

So what it means is, you get riders who look at the mph whilst riding and take that as the average speed they do, and those who look at what the recorded average speed was over a measured distance, both figures are acceptable, providing the rider quotes what the average relates to, ie I usually average about 18mph when riding or I normally average about 16 mph over 40 miles.

 

[John the Monkey]

Depends upon your goals - my commute is training for me - my time is limited and it's difficult for me to get in long rides - the longest ride I've done this year is about 30 miles...quess who's got the Cheshire Cat in 3 weeks....eek

Not suggesting that you're boasting, you're just an example of someone I know who is faster than me!

 

[Debian]

Maybe you should sue your English rather than Maths teachers, then, as the quote wasn't about an average of 19mph but "over 20 mph".

7 x 60 / 19 = 22.1mph.

My computer tells me I have taken about 6 hours to do the last 80 miles, averaging 13mph. I'm happy enough with that, it's on a variety of surfaces and includes the time wheeling the bike around and I have a great time doing it.

As I said, I did it once and I've not got close to it since. It was one of those days, following breeze, every traffic light green for me, and I felt really strong. I was in a hurry as well which usually generates the opposite conditions. Did a double-take at my watch when I got home but 19 minutes (give or take a few seconds) it certainly was.

I'm usually nearer 25 minutes.

 

[wafflycat]

Some people are very good - I'd not try out-speeding (say) fossyant over the commute.

Just plough your own furrow. Keep riding, you'll see the improvement.

But what if I don't want to ride off-road?

 

[fossyant]

But what if I don't want to ride off-road?

Just get's your bike dirty doing that.....

 

[Christopher]

I took the computer off my bike as I was spending too much time looking at the info on it so now I've no idea what speed or distance or averages, etc I'm doing.
The only information I have now is I've been out for a few hours and had a lovely time in the countryside.

+1 - just what I've done as I felt like a slave to average mph... sometimes I even stop to read the paper in a nice spot!

 

[Kestevan]

I think a lot of people tend to only quote a rolling average.

In my book if you ride 10 miles in 30 mins, thats a 20mph average. If the same ride takes an hour cos you have to stop for a breather every mile, it doesn't count.

I'm lucky in that being a tight fisted yorkshireman I only bought a very basic computer. It doesn't pause when I stop at the lights, and doesn't have an AVG speed display. If I want to calculate an average I use distance travelled and total time.

Not to imply that I really care

 

[gbb]

I'm sometimes sceptical of some of the average speeds I see quoted and believe a lot of exageration comes into play.

Yesterday I did a ride, 85 miles in 5 1/2 hours averaging 15.5 mph in very hilly terrain, most unknown. As I have my Garmin set to record 5 mile laps, I see that I did the last 15 miles, 3 x 5 mile laps, all averaging just over 18mph, all the other laps, 14 of them have averages ranging from 11.8 mph up to 18 mph.

But if I look at the maximums for all the laps, not one is below 24 mph, with the average around 30 mph and the maximum just a shade under 40 mph, but despite all these high speeds, I only get an average of 15.5 mph.

How easy is it to say, which I don't, "I average between 24 to 40 mph".

If it was not for all the, hills, road junctions, railway lines and other hold ups, then my average speed over a distance would be a lot higher, but there again instead of having my Garmin set to pause at 0mph, if I was to set it to pause at say 10mph, cancelling out all the slowing down for hills etc, then who knows what my average would be.

When I did the last 15 miles, it was a straight dash for home on a main road, flattish and no road junctions.

So what it means is, you get riders who look at the mph whilst riding and take that as the average speed they do, and those who look at what the recorded average speed was over a measured distance, both figures are acceptable, providing the rider quotes what the average relates to, ie I usually average about 18mph when riding or I normally average about 16 mph over 40 miles.

I know there's hills and there's hills, but ive noticed something in the past...hills do not affect my average speed.
I can do a flat 30 miles or a 'rolling' hilly ride of 30 miles...the average is the same, give or take a tiny bit.
Of course, you go slower than your average uphill, but faster than your average down...it all averages out. The (mine anyway) average is the same, flat or hilly.

 

[blazed]

There are lots of people better than you, just because they are better cyclists doesnt mean they are exaggerating. People always says on here im exaggerating or lieing whatever but i put that down to jealousy.

 

[Bill Gates]

The only average speed that counts is a race effort over an out and home course. All other average speeds are meaningless as they are relevant to your level of effort, terrain, weather conditions, type of bike, light or heavy following traffic, traffic lights and RABs etc. etc.

If you are constantly trying to increase your average speeds then you're not focusing on what really counts re the purpose of your ride be it leisure or training. In my racing days I've gone out and ridden 3 x 10 mile TT's consecutively as training and my average speed was around 25 mph on those efforts only.

Anyone who says they are averaging 24 mph on a training ride is talking bull sh1t, unless the speed was recorded A to B with a following wind and/or traffic and no RAB's or T lights.

 

[Happiness Stan]

Tis the beauty of the internet, you can spout complete cobblers and no-one knows any different.

Some say Spire owns and actually rides a bike.

 

[Aperitif]

why do you care though?

I know full well people are faster than me. I know people do more adventurous tours, with more mileage per day. It will be ever thus.

It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if they're having more fun than me - as long as I'm having fun on my ride.

This is the great thing about cycling - ride on your own, or with a group, compete, or don't. Have the latest & greatest carbon gear, or a matching retro setup, or don't. Just have fun.

Well done JtM. Saves me some typing.

 

[wafflycat]

Tis the beauty of the internet, you can spout complete cobblers and no-one knows any different.

Some say Spire owns and actually rides a bike.

You owe me a new keyboard for that one!

 

[gbb]

The only average speed that counts is a race effort over an out and home course. All other average speeds are meaningless as they are relevant to your level of effort, terrain, weather conditions, type of bike, light or heavy following traffic, traffic lights and RABs etc. etc.

If you are constantly trying to increase your average speeds then you're not focusing on what really counts re the purpose of your ride be it leisure or training. In my racing days I've gone out and ridden 3 x 10 mile TT's consecutively as training and my average speed was around 25 mph on those efforts only.

Anyone who says they are averaging 24 mph on a training ride is talking bull sh1t, unless the speed was recorded A to B with a following wind and/or traffic and no RAB's or T lights.

Amen...

 

[beanzontoast]

Aside from organised racing, TBH I don't think it's wise to make speed your master when cycling on the roads nowadays - too dangerous. A steady pace makes more sense.