First 20 mph ride, errrrrrr maybe?

So today I was lucky enough to finally have my first 20 mph ride. Finally it happened, then I come home and log it in my training log and it calculates it to 19.98mph. Argh, almost there. I'm gonna round up, maybe, what do you guys think, my bike comp said 20 lol.

I guess I'll give some history to maybe inspire others, I started out last Jul on what I guess I would call a 13 yr break from tri's and a 11 yr break from cycling. Got out on the rode, first ride of 13 miles, thought I was gonna die, average like 14.5. Worked my way up to 18 mph then got my tri bike, instantly I was up to 19.7.

Now I guess I better through in a disclaimer too for all those wondering about the road bike to tri bike switch, I was riding a 1987 Giant steel roadie and I'd say while it's still a nice bike, about any bike was gonna be faster lol, but I'd say most of that 1.7 was from the switch, and some from less rolling resistance of not having a 24 year old drive train.

Anyway back on topic, never did get the 20 mph ride last year, 19.8 was my best if I recall correctly and I lost that one in the last mile into a head wind.

The one nice thing I can say about today is it was windy, not bad but 14 gusting to 24 per weather.com, so I took advantage when I could and hunkered down and tried to maintain into it.

Hoepfully I can go 20+ in my race in 10 days.

I've been cycling less than a year, so I'll toss in my impression as a beginner then wait curiously to see what other folks say.  Here's my read on road bikes in normal weekend rides, NOT pros, and NOT a race:

Slow / Decent Beginner:  16mph

Decent / Intermediate:  18mph

Pretty Fast:  20mph

Elite:  22mph+

I've been cycling less than a year, so I'll toss in my impression as a beginner then wait curiously to see what other folks say.  Here's my read on road bikes in normal weekend rides, NOT pros, and NOT a race:

Slow / Decent Beginner:  16mph

Decent / Intermediate:  18mph

Pretty Fast:  20mph

Elite:  22mph+

I think you'll find that your scale slides as you get faster.  I used to feel the same way, but now I'd add ~2-3mph for each of those categories.

Agreed.  I averaged almost 22 in a race last summer and I am no where near Elite :-)

I've been cycling less than a year, so I'll toss in my impression as a beginner then wait curiously to see what other folks say.  Here's my read on road bikes in normal weekend rides, NOT pros, and NOT a race:

Slow / Decent Beginner:  16mph

Decent / Intermediate:  18mph

Pretty Fast:  20mph

Elite:  22mph+

So here's the next question then.

Given the same bike and rider and towards the upper end of the speed range, how much effort/time/training did it take you to get that extra 2-3mph?

As I stated, just a newb here but trying to get an idea of how much extra effort/time it's going to take me to improve.  I realize it's going to be different for every athlete and fitness level/talent/genes.

Looking for your n=1 experience.

So here's the next question then.

Given the same bike and rider and towards the upper end of the speed range, how much effort/time/training did it take you to get that extra 2-3mph?

As I stated, just a newb here but trying to get an idea of how much extra effort/time it's going to take me to improve.  I realize it's going to be different for every athlete and fitness level/talent/genes.

Looking for your n=1 experience.

So here's the next question then.

Given the same bike and rider and towards the upper end of the speed range, how much effort/time/training did it take you to get that extra 2-3mph?

As I stated, just a newb here but trying to get an idea of how much extra effort/time it's going to take me to improve.  I realize it's going to be different for every athlete and fitness level/talent/genes.

Looking for your n=1 experience.

So here's the next question then.

Given the same bike and rider and towards the upper end of the speed range, how much effort/time/training did it take you to get that extra 2-3mph?

As I stated, just a newb here but trying to get an idea of how much extra effort/time it's going to take me to improve.  I realize it's going to be different for every athlete and fitness level/talent/genes.

Looking for your n=1 experience.

varies like you said.  you have plenty of room looking at your logs.

most fast people on this site will ride around 450-600 miles per month.  unless you have some amazing genetics the formula is quite simple....time in saddle.  one difference i have learned though that cycling is similar to swimming, it terms of impact and recovery meaning its low and fast. 

therefore its easy to have 4 days of cycling per week and ride hard each day.  it is VERY VERY rare that you will find in my logs I rode less then 75% of my threshold.  if that happens its prior to a race or maybe after a big race.

this year i rode much less versus last year and saw great benefits my months were between 400-450 miles opposed to 500-550 miles.  but rest assured every mile was ridden with a purpose.

You'll soon realize that speed is a horrible metric for tracking your improvements.  I train by power, and I can make big jumps in my FTP without neccessarily seeing big changes in my speed for weekend rides.  My hardest rides (intervals) can sometimes be my slowest. 

I think you'll find that your scale slides as you get faster.  I used to feel the same way, but now I'd add ~2-3mph for each of those categories.

Agreed.  Last year I struggled to break 20mph for a bike split, and now I'm working to break an hour for the 40K, which will take quite a bit longer...

Everything is relative.

Agreed, I finally hit 20 for 15 miles a few weeks ago but I think the grouping listed is a bit low. At my sprint over the weekend I managed 19.8 for 13 miles.  I was 5th out 7 on the bike and firmly MOP overall.  So I would say that 20mph is intermediate and 21 is nearing pretty fast.  I would have had to do 23 to be 1st in my AG on the bike.