Anybody else start out as a slow biker??? (Page 2)

Still slow!

recently started breaking into the 19-20 range, but that's after a year of cycling fairly consistently.

Rode a Mt Bike for your first tri - no sweat.  13.19 on your first ride on Roadie: you have a learning curve of more than a day to make the  transition to riding it hard.  You also can't run stop lights and the like so that slowing down and accellerating takes away from you avg, speed.  As another poster siad - the MT Bike is significantly slowere - (heavy, poor aerodynamics, lots of road friction, even the suspension uses energy that could otherwise be transferred to forward motion).  Another poster sasd keep going - it gets better - So true.  I have gained 2-3 mph in my first year of bike training and more stamina. 

For people that are hold ing a few too many pounds on themselves - gains will be made as that diminishes - not only because it is less weight to drag 15 miles but you will process O2 better.

Edited by bruehoyt 2009-09-16 12:35 PM

Oh I forgot to say that when I went from a moutian bike to a tri bike I picked up 2-3 mph that same day, no fitness change required.  It was free speed.  The main thing was that it was so much fun to go faster and farther that it made riding less of a chore and more fun.  A 100 mile ride is still a bit of a chore, however...... It's fun for the first 56 miles and then gradually becomes less so 8). 

Also started racing in that 17 mph range 2 years ago and was in the bottom quarter. Last week finshed in the top 15% at an Oly! No substitute for focused riding and making it hurt now. Seeing improvement on race day is such a high and sucks you right back into training. Good luck and keep it up!

It depends on your terrain/course.

I basically averaged 15mph when I started a couple years ago and I still average about 15 mph (during training).  However, I can go much longer, feel better after long rides, and my race speed has decreased a bit over the years.

It is all about the motor. However, going from a hybrid or a mountain bike, to a road or a tri bike should add some speed.After that, it's the Indian, not the arrow.

I was really slow...now I'm just a little less slow.  My first tri (18 mile bike) in 2007, I averaged 18.49 mph (and finished in the bottom 37% of my age group).  Just did the same tri again on Sunday and averaged 20.40 mph (and finished in the top 25% of my AG).

In 2007, according to the helpful stats in my BT log...    ...I averaged 13.16 mph (red lights and all).  This year (so far), I've averaged 15.86 mph.

I did upgrade bikes from a $479 aluminum roadie to a $2000 all-carbon ride along the way, but I think all the miles in the saddle made a bigger difference.  YMMV...

Edited by tcovert 2009-09-16 6:15 PM

I started biking a year and a half ago.  Being 45 years old I would classify myself as right in the middle of my age group on the bike (based on my previous races).  Bike is my weakest leg and I have worked pretty hard to improve.  I am improving - but ever so slowly.  I look at those around me, all ages, male - female and wonder how they are so doggone fast. I have come to conclude one common denominator---miles, miles, miles - and years in the saddle.  

So yes - I too started as slower than most and would still say I am slow--BUT - I am improving.  
Keep it up!!! 

I swim slow, bike medium, and run slow.

But slow is slowly becoming a little faster.

I bought my current road bike in Feb this year and on my regular route which is 9.3 miles that I do 3 times per week I have seen the following improvements:

25th March 2009 - 35mins 34 secs = 15.8 mph
20th May 2009 - 29min 35 secs = 18.88 mph
17th July 2009 - 28mn 56 secs = 19.26 mph
17th Sept (Today) - 27 min 15 secs = 20.48 mph

This is through lots of riding and a few accessories eg clipless pedals/shoes and aerobars but everything else is stock on a Trek 1.2 Pilot from 2005.

Oh and I've lost 28lbs since March which helps!

Edited by Bob the Trier! 2009-09-17 6:15 AM

Last year I averaged 16.0 mph in the three sprints that I "raced".  This year, I just finished an Oly at 20.5.

Adjusting to a new bike takes time.

Also, do you have stops and starts included in your time? I ride at 19 or 20 mph now, but my commutes to work still average 13mph because I get stuck at lights and have to slow down for rough patches, etc.

10 years ago I was in your place. I actually got passed by an old lady on the bike path. I was 23.

I was usually the last name in my AG, or the second to last name in the results.

Now I am placing in my AG regularly.

It just takes time and hard work! I know it's discouraging, but track your workouts and you'll see improvement!

Also, when I moved up from a road bike to a tri bike, my first ride was actually terrible and my speed was slow. It took me some time to adjust and now I am faster than I was on the road bike.

Still am...