Hell and High Water said:Quoted message said:With 15mph over a 25mile course on the flats(?), and a top speed of 30-32
that's decent depending on your goals. You would be well able to ride with
Group B rides. So define your goals.
You don't know how good that makes me feel!!
25 miles with a few hills here and there.
If your bike computer says 15.x mph Avg Speed on a course with two or three
300 yd hills with a grade of say 4-6% then that is very good, depending on
your goals, age group, and the fact that you're a larger rider. At 6'5" you
probably have long femur bones (mechanical advantage?), but I'm just musing
here. There are plenty of >5'11, 185lb riders who motor along without much
trouble, Magnus Backstedt is one. (Pro rider from Sweden)
Quoted message said:What exactly is a 'Group B rider'??
I'm so ignorant at this point, it's really comical...
Amateur and Pro cyclists who race are divided up into Classes, 5, 4, 3, 2,
1 for Amateur, with those racing Class 1 being very very good. They have
licenses which permit them to ride and be rated, etc.
Recreational riders ride Group A, B, C and D rides. They go on 'fun rides',
and will sponsor longer rides called 'Centuries' (100miles), and shorter
rides (25 mile, 50 mile and 'metric' centuries 62.5 miles). These are
supported rides with entrie fees and periodic support stops with food and
fluid.
Which 'Group' as far as 'average speed' really depends on your location.
Group A rides on the flats would be faster speeds and longer distances.
Group A rides in the Rocky Mountains, or highly competitive areas might
require faster speeds. Here's one, chosen at random:
http://www.oakvillecc.com/briskpacerides.shtml
Here's the blurb for 'easy pace rides', which would typically be group C&D
group rides:
"The main group of each ride will ride at a springtime distances of 50-80
km, at speeds averaging 22-25 km/h. Most rides start outside Oakville and
head for the countryside. As the season progresses and everybody gets
fitter, then distances will increase to 60-100 km at speeds averaging 25-30
km/h at a brisk pace. Rides are generally scheduled as 9:00 a.m. starts
from late April to early October."
C and D rides mean that no one gets dropped, usually have one to three rest
stops.
Here's one for the flatlands of Tidewater:
A = 19 to 21 mph (with very few stops),
B = 16 to 18 mph,
C = 13 to 15 mph, and
D = 10 to 12 mph (with plenty of stops).
http://www.tbarides.org/Ride%20Schedule.htm
Note that though B has 16-18 mph average speed, they will typically be
seeing lots of 19-22mph on their speedometers, but due to slowing for
intersections and soforth, the final average speed is about 3mph slower.
Since you're getting 15mph on a course with hills, you'd easily fit into
the Tidewater 'B' group, imo. That's about where I hope to be next spring.
Quoted message said:I appreciate all your comments, and only one more question: What's the
best way to 'replenish muscle stores after long rides'??
16-32 oz of skim milk with Ovaltine, taken within 30-60 minutes post ride
is one way. That gives you a 4:1 carb:protein ratio. If you're lactose
intolerant, try other mixtures, or eat a turkey sandwich if you like solid
food. I think you want a certain number of grams of glucose per kilogram of
bodyweight. Start out with one bottle, and see how that works, I guess.
Here's a site chosen at random on nutritional requirements for riding 200
mile fun events:
http://www.louisvillebicycleclub.org/may01/eating.htm
So read up by searching on the relevant terms in Google and google groups,
and find a cycling group in your area and see if they have a website
HTH,
jj
Quoted message said:Again, thanks so much!
-Bob
