Beginning biker...I need advice

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by sparknote_s
After one loop 20 mi ride on the flat bike trail, and a 15 mile ride loop on a hilly road, it is apparent that my max average mph is only a whopping 16 mph.

Here's my questions:

1) Let's say my goal is 17 mph. Many times during the ride, I'm pedalling hard to stay at 19 or 20 mph. If my goal is only 17 mph, should I save my energy for when I need it? I find that later in the ride, my legs get REALLY tired which is why I slow down to less than 16 mph. For example, on the way down the road my avg was 19 mph. When I came back, I was going around 15 mph and even lower on hills. When I'm going above my goal, should I save my energy for when I'm going into the wind or on a hill or something?

2) How can I improve this pathetic biking? I'm going to be doing some triathlons, and I really need to get my biking up to par. Any ideas on how to reach a goal of being able to go 25 miles at 21 mph average? Even if this is not until next year or something.

EDIT: Also, I'm riding a hybrid bike. With clipless pedals. No aerobars for the wind.

First, you need to get yourself onto a real road bike and not a hybrid. Second, you need to just get out there and ride. It all depends on what you want to put into your cycling. Just like in running, interval sets are a key training regiman to go faster. If you want to get better on hills then you need to ride more of them. Is there a group or a club in your area that you could join?As with anything, training with people better than you are generally raises your own level.