Starting over

jrewil said:

I hear that most people can cover 20mph quite easily (32kph)

From what I've seen, this is not at all true at the recreational and club levels. 17-18mph seems to be more of the cutoff between "quite easy" and "working hard" at those levels. 15mph is not at all bad for a beginner.

jrewil said:

Where i ride does have many climbs and i am never usually on a flat flat road for more than 5 mins before im climbing or descending. I am riding on my own any tips to improve and get quicker, ive heard riding in a peleton will speed me up but with not many people to cycle with where i live.

Riding with others is more fun because you have people to talk to. It'll help get you out to ride more often, build your handling and communication skills, and if you're a little competitive then you may help push each other to improve faster.

jrewil said:

Also another problem i encounter is that im struggling to get to tips with my gears. I have a double front ring and usually i stay in the largest cog at the back and flick inbetween my front two rings when im going up my hills and on the flat and occasionaly i go down to my smaller cogs at the back when i feel comfy and untired, which is very rare on my rides.

Unlike what you described, most people shift the rear more often than the front. At the speeds you mentioned, it's probably best to stay in the small front chainring and shift the rear cogs based on how easy the pedalling is. Typically, things work best if you keep your chain somewhat straight (ie, small chainring with big cogs, and big chainring with small cogs) most of the time. If you get to a downhill portion where you find yourself wanting the smallest cogs, then shift the front instead. When the road levels out again or turns up, then shift back to your small chainring.

[quote="frenchyge"]From what I've seen, this is not at all true at the recreational and club levels. 17-18mph seems to be more of the cutoff between "quite easy" and "working hard" at those levels. 15mph is not at all bad for a beginner.
QUOTE]

That's a relief, frenchy. I've done about 5 rides between 10-15 miles so far on my new bike. Average speed always seems to settle in at about 14.5 by the end of the ride according to my computer. You nailed my speeds, too. I can cruise in the 16s easily on relative flats (which is really all we have here in coastal NC, save an overpass or two), but getting into the 17s or 18s and maintaining it for more than a minute or two really gets my HR going.

Thanks for all the help already, keep the tips coming! I really appreciate it and i cant wait to get out on my bike, getting up at 5.30 tomorrow to have a ride and avoid all the idiot drivers.

I wish they would give me the respect i give other cyclists when i ride!