How slow am I?

Speed will increase over time as you get greater fitness. Many folks do
their first century at 13 mph or so.
If this is what you want to do just keep riding and try to lengthen
your long rides gradually. I think you'll find your speed will increase
on its own.

Weisse said:

I'd like to work my way up to doing a century one of these years, but
I'm afraid I'm just too darn slow!

I'm 48, in moderate shape and have been biking for about 3 years. I
ride a Trek 7500 (hybrid). I get out at least 3 times/week I have
no problem with rides in the 30-mile range. But my problem is speed.
I average about 14 mph on short rides (less than 15 miles) and 13 mph
on longer rides. If my math is right, a 100 mile trip is going to
take almost 8 hours of solid ride time!

I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike? What
should I target for an average speed?

Most centuries start early in the AM (7:00 is common I think), so even if it
took you /ten/ hours (with breaks) it would be OK.

Also, almost any route is going to include some tailwind and downhill
sections; take advantage when you can! (Unfortunately, the opposite is
true, too 🙂 )

Get to where you can ride 50 or 60 miles fairly easily, and you'll complete
that century no sweat. (Well, maybe SOME.)

I'm betting you buy a fancy road bike before the event :-D

Bill S.

Weisse <[email hidden]> wrote:
:> I'd like to work my way up to doing a century one of these years,
:> but I'm afraid I'm just too darn slow!
:>
:> I'm 48, in moderate shape and have been biking for about 3 years. I
:> ride a Trek 7500 (hybrid). I get out at least 3 times/week I have
:> no problem with rides in the 30-mile range. But my problem is
:> speed. I average about 14 mph on short rides (less than 15 miles)
:> and 13 mph on longer rides. If my math is right, a 100 mile trip is
:> going to take almost 8 hours of solid ride time!
:>
:> I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike?
:> What should I target for an average speed?

I did my first century last year at only slight faster than 13 mph. I
finished in under 8 hours. Also, you can start out early if you like, say
30 minutes.

You do need to start increasing your miles, though.

Don't worry about the speed, the distance is what matters. I'm 57 and
ridden 3 centuries and 3 metric centuries this year, and will be riding
a century next weekend, a day after my 58th birthday. My average
speed is 13.5 -14 mph. For me the hardest part of the century is being
on the bike for so many hours. Ride long distances, get used to being
on a bike for longer periods of time. When you ride your first century
hook up with people that you can ride comfortably with. Practice riding
with others in a pace line, that will help increase your speed in a
century. Remeber its not how fast you do the ride, its doing the ride
and finishing.

Weisse said:

I'd like to work my way up to doing a century one of these years, but I'm
afraid I'm just too darn slow!

I'm 48, in moderate shape and have been biking for about 3 years. I ride
a Trek 7500 (hybrid). I get out at least 3 times/week I have no problem
with rides in the 30-mile range. But my problem is speed. I average
about 14 mph on short rides (less than 15 miles) and 13 mph on longer
rides. If my math is right, a 100 mile trip is going to take almost 8
hours of solid ride time!

I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike? What
should I target for an average speed?

1) There's nothing magical about a century. I don't understand why everyone
feels they need to set goals for everything. But, ok, maybe try for a metric
century first (62.5 miles).

2) 48 isn't old. People in there 70s do centuries.

3) Your bike is not ideal for doing long rides. It's heavy, slow, puts you
in an upright position that is not aerodynamic, and puts lots of weight on
yer butt.

4) Choice of pace on a century is important. Start too fast and you risk
"hitting the wall." But if you go too slow, you're in the saddle for a
l-o-n-g time, and it's going to hurt. Riding at 13 mpg or so is ok, but 10
mph means 10 hours in the saddle.

If you just want to do a century for bragging rights, I'd say don't bother.
If you want to do rides of 40-50 miles on a regular basis, get a road bike,
and gradually increase your mileage. Eventually you will be able to do a
century.

My local club does a flat century every May. The group starts doing weekly
rides the first week in March, starting at 25 miles, and increasing 5-10
miles per week. Even rank beginners that stay with the program are able to
complete the century.

Art Harris

"Weisse" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike? What
should I target for an average speed?

You should target whatever *you* feel comfortable with. The thing is, if you
enjoy it, it doesn't matter how long you are in the saddle - it's fun!
Unless you happen to be training to do the TdF, then that's another matter
;-)

Cheers, helen s

Quoted message said:

Thanks,
Tony

"Weisse" wrote...

Quoted message said:

I'd like to work my way up to doing a century one of these years, but I'm
afraid I'm just too darn slow!

I'm 48, in moderate shape and have been biking for about 3 years. I ride
a Trek 7500 (hybrid). I get out at least 3 times/week I have no problem
with rides in the 30-mile range. But my problem is speed. I average
about 14 mph on short rides (less than 15 miles) and 13 mph on longer
rides. If my math is right, a 100 mile trip is going to take almost 8
hours of solid ride time!

I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike? What
should I target for an average speed?

Thanks,
Tony

Start early, keep a steady pace, use the rest stops wisely (nibble a little
food, top off your water bottles, use the toilet and get back on the bike)
and you should be fine. Too slow for who? You should be doing the ride for
yourself.

More than one person over 70 finished this year's
Triple Bypass ride from Evergreen, CO to Avon, Co (115 miles, 10,000+ ft of
climbing) so you've got a few years to get ready. And lots of them averaged
less than 12 mph on the bike, but they seem to have had just as much fun as
the faster riders.

Definitely boost your mileage on some of your training rides so that you can
maintain your speed the full distance of the century.

If you can maintain 13 mph on a flat bar hybrid, you can probably do a good
bit better on a good road bike, touring bike or audax bike with drop bars
and a more efficient riding position.

Above all, enjoy the ride.
--
mark

"Weisse" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

But my problem is speed. I average about 14 mph on short rides (less
than 15 miles) and 13 mph on longer rides. If my math is right, a 100
mile trip is going to take almost 8 hours of solid ride time!

I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike? What
should I target for an average speed?

I rode the 204 miles of the STP with my 12 year old this summer over two
days. Our first day was 108 miles, and the second 96. It took us ~12 hours
to do the first day, and about 12.5 hours to do the second. Our average
speed on the bike was probably about 12 mph, but we took lot of rest breaks
along the way.

Most centuries aren't races, they're about doing your personal best or
having fun. If you want to do a century, and average 13 mph, nothing's
holding you back. For most of them, just get on the road early, get used to
people passing you, and you'll make it over the finish line before it
closes.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

My New Year's day centuries are no faster than 12 mph or so; my summer trips
average 14 -15, more with a tail wind, less with a strong headwind or lots
of hills.

"Weisse" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'd like to work my way up to doing a century one of these years, but I'm
afraid I'm just too darn slow!

I'm 48, in moderate shape and have been biking for about 3 years. I ride
a Trek 7500 (hybrid). I get out at least 3 times/week I have no problem
with rides in the 30-mile range. But my problem is speed. I average
about 14 mph on short rides (less than 15 miles) and 13 mph on longer
rides. If my math is right, a 100 mile trip is going to take almost 8
hours of solid ride time!

I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike? What
should I target for an average speed?

Thanks,
Tony

In article <[email hidden]>,

Arthur Harris said:

Weisse said:

I'd like to work my way up to doing a century one of these years, but I'm
afraid I'm just too darn slow!

I'm 48, in moderate shape and have been biking for about 3 years. I ride
a Trek 7500 (hybrid). I get out at least 3 times/week I have no problem
with rides in the 30-mile range. But my problem is speed. I average
about 14 mph on short rides (less than 15 miles) and 13 mph on longer
rides. If my math is right, a 100 mile trip is going to take almost 8
hours of solid ride time!

I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike? What
should I target for an average speed?

1) There's nothing magical about a century. I don't understand why everyone
feels they need to set goals for everything. But, ok, maybe try for a metric
century first (62.5 miles).

That's because you are not a goal-oriented rider. I don't mean that as a
bad thing. For most riders, the fresh air is the motivation. For some,
performance goals drive riding and training (be it a century, a personal
best, or a race win), and for me, well, I just ride to work. Seriously.
My prime motivation for my riding for about a year was just to get to
work as soon as possible, and since I have a tendency to avoid riding,
the unavoidable riding of commutes was excellent motivation. After that,
I started racing.

Quoted message said:

If you just want to do a century for bragging rights, I'd say don't bother.
If you want to do rides of 40-50 miles on a regular basis, get a road bike,
and gradually increase your mileage. Eventually you will be able to do a
century.

For some people, bragging rights are the best possible reason to ride a
century. Let me be quite clear in this: your non-riding friends will be
in shock when you tell them. You will become "the bike guy" on your
block. It's pretty neat.

Bragging rights. Why do you think half the amateur racers out there keep
training? It's not for the endorsement income!

Motivation is rarely negotiable, and is as individual as saddle
preferences.

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics
to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos

Weisse says...

Quoted message said:

I'd like to work my way up to doing a century one of these years, but I'm
afraid I'm just too darn slow!

I'm 48, in moderate shape and have been biking for about 3 years. I ride a
Trek 7500 (hybrid). I get out at least 3 times/week I have no problem with
rides in the 30-mile range. But my problem is speed. I average about 14
mph on short rides (less than 15 miles) and 13 mph on longer rides. If my
math is right, a 100 mile trip is going to take almost 8 hours of solid ride
time!

I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike? What
should I target for an average speed?

Average speed depends on things like terrain and the number of stops you
are forced to make. If there are a lot of grueling climbs, 13-14mph
doesn't sound that bad. A lot of starting and stopping will also make
your average speed look worse. A better yardstick might be what speed
you can maintain on level ground without interruptions. I think a
strong rider should be able to maintain 17-20mph on level ground without
a head wind depending on your bike. Considering your bike, you would be
doing well to be at the lower end of that spectrum. With a road racer
maintaining 20mph+ shouldn't be difficult. Your bike is definitely not
helping and something sportier would be better.

Weisse said:

I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike? What
should I target for an average speed?

Does it feel like you're winded or sore? No?. Stomp on those pedals
harder, mate. :P You might want to get a heart rate monitor if you're
worried about overdoing it and find out from your physician what she/he
recommends as far as your targets. I don't have one myself--but they sure
look handy for training.

It's not a horrid speed for an upright bike either--and 30 mile rides
ain't nothing to sneeze at.

The bike could be partially to blame. The more upright seating
position of a hybrid could eat a mile per hour, but if you like it,
so what? Might want to get some faster tires if you don't already have
some mounted. I don't mean super skinny, just fairly high pressure,
highish thread count, and little or no tread to squirm. That might give
you another mile per hour if your existing set's treads are eating your
power.

You're still plenty fast for a century attempt, no worries.

An 8 hour bike ride is pretty normal. People do centuries between 4 and 12
hours. There's a pretty popular double century curcuit around here, lot's
of people spending 12 to 20+ hours on their bikes.

"Weisse" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'd like to work my way up to doing a century one of these years, but I'm
afraid I'm just too darn slow!

I'm 48, in moderate shape and have been biking for about 3 years. I ride

a

Quoted message said:

Trek 7500 (hybrid). I get out at least 3 times/week I have no problem

with

Quoted message said:

rides in the 30-mile range. But my problem is speed. I average about 14
mph on short rides (less than 15 miles) and 13 mph on longer rides. If my
math is right, a 100 mile trip is going to take almost 8 hours of solid

ride

Quoted message said:

time!

I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike? What
should I target for an average speed?

Thanks,
Tony

Turtle or Rabbit ...

When I ride, I go slow. Why kill myself. A few years ago I rode 115 miles
in one day, fulling loaded with touring, camping gear. Seemed like a long
haul but I took the entire day. From the first break of dawn until sunset.

Just plod along.

===================
"Weisse" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'd like to work my way up to doing a century one of these years, but I'm
afraid I'm just too darn slow!

I'm 48, in moderate shape and have been biking for about 3 years. I ride
a Trek 7500 (hybrid). I get out at least 3 times/week I have no problem
with rides in the 30-mile range. But my problem is speed. I average
about 14 mph on short rides (less than 15 miles) and 13 mph on longer
rides. If my math is right, a 100 mile trip is going to take almost 8
hours of solid ride time!

I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike? What
should I target for an average speed?

Thanks,
Tony

Turtle or Rabbit ...

When I ride, I go slow. Why kill myself. A few years ago I rode 115 miles
in one day, fulling loaded with touring, camping gear. Seemed like a long
haul but I took the entire day. From the first break of dawn until sunset.

Just plod along.

===================
"Weisse" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'd like to work my way up to doing a century one of these years, but I'm
afraid I'm just too darn slow!

I'm 48, in moderate shape and have been biking for about 3 years. I ride
a Trek 7500 (hybrid). I get out at least 3 times/week I have no problem
with rides in the 30-mile range. But my problem is speed. I average
about 14 mph on short rides (less than 15 miles) and 13 mph on longer
rides. If my math is right, a 100 mile trip is going to take almost 8
hours of solid ride time!

I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike? What
should I target for an average speed?

Thanks,
Tony

Turtle or Rabbit ...

When I ride, I go slow. Why kill myself. A few years ago I rode 115 miles
in one day, fulling loaded with touring, camping gear. Seemed like a long
haul but I took the entire day. From the first break of dawn until sunset.

Just plod along.

===================
"Weisse" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'd like to work my way up to doing a century one of these years, but I'm
afraid I'm just too darn slow!

I'm 48, in moderate shape and have been biking for about 3 years. I ride
a Trek 7500 (hybrid). I get out at least 3 times/week I have no problem
with rides in the 30-mile range. But my problem is speed. I average
about 14 mph on short rides (less than 15 miles) and 13 mph on longer
rides. If my math is right, a 100 mile trip is going to take almost 8
hours of solid ride time!

I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike? What
should I target for an average speed?

Thanks,
Tony

Tony: [ I ride a Trek 7500 (hybrid). ]

Art: {: 3) Your bike is not ideal for doing long rides. It's
heavy, slow, puts you
: in an upright position that is not aerodynamic, and puts lots
of weight on
: yer butt.}

ROB: That bike is designed for max comfort. Cushy as can be. My
wife has a similar model. I think it would be like doing a
century in you living room armchair. But it's true that it's not
designed for speed. It does have a really nice wide range of
gearing, though, so you can zip up the hills easily. Just take
your time and enjoy the ride. What's the hurry? And remeber,
there's always going to be someone slower than you!

mo fo said:

Tony: [ I ride a Trek 7500 (hybrid). ]

Art: {: 3) Your bike is not ideal for doing long rides. It's
heavy, slow, puts you
: in an upright position that is not aerodynamic, and puts lots
of weight on
: yer butt.}

ROB: That bike is designed for max comfort. Cushy as can be. My
wife has a similar model. I think it would be like doing a
century in you living room armchair. But it's true that it's not
designed for speed. It does have a really nice wide range of
gearing, though, so you can zip up the hills easily. Just take
your time and enjoy the ride. What's the hurry? And remeber,
there's always going to be someone slower than you!

I have this bike and it's OK, but not the most comfortable bike. It
-definitely- puts more weight on your butt because you're not stretched out
enough. It was tough on the hands, causing numbness and some pain with the
straight bar and limited hand positions even with bar ends, and just before
trading up to a drop bar bike, I found I kept trying to do a 'thumbless'
grip on the bars. I found the reason for this was it moved my hands forward
about 1/2" and took some of the weight off the saddle and on to the pedals.

IMO, if you're thinking that comfort on a bike = sitting (in a soft chair),
I'd suggest that's heading the wrong direction.

<shrug> If you wife likes it then that's cool, but I think it's fairly well
recognized that an upright position can eventually turn out to be
uncomfortable, and that a straight bar also cambers the wrists unnaturally
and limits the options for repositioning.

Just 2 cents. ;-)

jj

On Fri, 12 Aug 2005 23:51:15 -0500, Fred Barney <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Weisse says...

Quoted message said:

I'd like to work my way up to doing a century one of these years, but I'm
afraid I'm just too darn slow!

I'm 48, in moderate shape and have been biking for about 3 years. I ride a
Trek 7500 (hybrid). I get out at least 3 times/week I have no problem with
rides in the 30-mile range. But my problem is speed. I average about 14
mph on short rides (less than 15 miles) and 13 mph on longer rides. If my
math is right, a 100 mile trip is going to take almost 8 hours of solid ride
time!

I gotta know, is this just too slow? Is it me or is it my bike? What
should I target for an average speed?

Average speed depends on things like terrain and the number of stops you
are forced to make. If there are a lot of grueling climbs, 13-14mph
doesn't sound that bad.

On a continuous climb of about 5% do you realize that you'd have to
maintain close to 400 watts to go this speed? I'd say that's exceptional.
(just a friendly comment)

Quoted message said:

A lot of starting and stopping will also make
your average speed look worse. A better yardstick might be what speed
you can maintain on level ground without interruptions. I think a
strong rider should be able to maintain 17-20mph on level ground without
a head wind depending on your bike. Considering your bike, you would be
doing well to be at the lower end of that spectrum. With a road racer
maintaining 20mph+ shouldn't be difficult. Your bike is definitely not
helping and something sportier would be better.

I've ridden a Trek 7500fx, with 700x32c tires and while it's ok, I believe
I gained about 1-2mph avg speed increase almost the moment I started riding
a Trek 1000, with 25mm tires and drop bar, with it's better aero position.

I'm loathe to push the person to feel like he has the wrong kind of bike.
IME, when it's time to upgrade you -will- know it. It came to me in a flash
when I realized I no longer was benefitting from being upright. I had the
wrong idea from the beginnning - that 'comfort' had to do with a soft
saddle and an upright position. If I had to do it over, I'd have gotten the
1000 immediately.

jj