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2007-03-26 1:11 PM

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Subject: Measuring Cycling performance
Ok, to date I've spent most of my training running and swimming. I've done some trainer riding this winter and teach at least two spin classes a week.

I'm trying to see how 'fit' I actually am for cycling. Currently I can ride 15-20 miles and average 19-20mph for the ride. I think this is kind of slow but really don't have much to gage this by. What does everyone think? I can ride 30-50 miles and average 17-18mph.

I have a HIM in July and would like to get the 56 mile ride portion done at about 20-21mph...is this possible to get this done by then?


2007-03-26 1:19 PM
in reply to: #737232

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Subject: RE: Measuring Cycling performance

Realistically and conservatively I'm going to say probably not, at least not from what I'm seeing in your logs. You can certainly make some advances, but if you're talking about doing the bike in 2:40 you probably need to have a bigger base than what you've built so far.

Stranger things have happned, though.

2007-03-26 1:23 PM
in reply to: #737232

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Subject: RE: Measuring Cycling performance

How flat are your rides?  How technical?  How much head/tail wind do you have?  How hot/humid is it?  How hard are you riding?  How about the same for the HIM course?

FWIW, my training paces were generally in the 16-19mph range during the last 2 seasons.  The HIMs I did were in the 20-21mph range.  My home routes are generally fairly hilly while only one of the HIMs had any real hills with which to contend.

2007-03-26 1:28 PM
in reply to: #737232

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Subject: RE: Measuring Cycling performance
Possibly, but to agree with Bear, probably not. A 3mph increase over 56 miles, in 3 months, is a pretty big deal. But hey, go for it! Ride more, ride more, ride more - nothing bad will come of it!

And to quote a Speedo ad I saw, which seems pretty appropriate for you:

It's not how far you swim
It's not how fast you swim
It's how far you swim fast.


Replace swim for bike, and, you know, be smart and such.
2007-03-26 1:32 PM
in reply to: #737232

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over a barrier
Subject: RE: Measuring Cycling performance
It won't matter if you can average 20mph if you end up killing yourself to do it...just make sure you can run when 56 is done! Walking a mile will kill all your gains from going 20mph vs 18mph and being able to run fresh (ish) off the bike.

My 1/2 was a good example. I had my highest average on the bike of all my races and ended up shelled on the run...took me 2:35 to run a half mary that should have been done in 2:00 at the longest.

If you can ave 18 and be fresh I think you're better off...imo.
2007-03-26 1:34 PM
in reply to: #737259

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Subject: RE: Measuring Cycling performance
JohnnyKay - 2007-03-26 2:23 PM

How flat are your rides?  How technical?  How much head/tail wind do you have?  How hot/humid is it?  How hard are you riding?  How about the same for the HIM course?

FWIW, my training paces were generally in the 16-19mph range during the last 2 seasons.  The HIMs I did were in the 20-21mph range.  My home routes are generally fairly hilly while only one of the HIMs had any real hills with which to contend.



The rides are fairly flat around here. As far as technical not sure what you consider technical but usually most of the rides are out and back on a rails to trails type of course which leads to a lot of stops...crossing roads, etc. Incidently, the course I'll be racing on is right here where I live so I'll have plenty of chances to ride it. As far as the wind goes It's usually pretty 'breezy' around here until about June so most of the rides will have a fair amount of headwinds(I swear the wind swirls around here).

My main reason for this question is that what you see in my logs is all I've done and I can do 15-20miles @ 19-20mph without killing myself. So, If I start training more like I need to be how much effect will this have on my race in July?


2007-03-26 1:39 PM
in reply to: #737283

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Subject: RE: Measuring Cycling performance
running2far - 2007-03-26 2:32 PM

It won't matter if you can average 20mph if you end up killing yourself to do it...just make sure you can run when 56 is done! Walking a mile will kill all your gains from going 20mph vs 18mph and being able to run fresh (ish) off the bike.

My 1/2 was a good example. I had my highest average on the bike of all my races and ended up shelled on the run...took me 2:35 to run a half mary that should have been done in 2:00 at the longest.

If you can ave 18 and be fresh I think you're better off...imo.


This is exactly the advice I'm looking for! I don't want to look like a fool if I can only do 18 on the bike. I'm just trying to get a feel for what is a decent biking base to build from. I'm guessing that I'm not too bad off and just need to ride much more. My main concern would be to be able to run the half mary at the end.

I ran a 1:30:49 HM race on saturday so I can make up a lot of time on the run...as long as I can run after the bike!

Edited by jmickle11 2007-03-26 1:41 PM
2007-03-26 2:07 PM
in reply to: #737286

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Subject: RE: Measuring Cycling performance

I hadn't checked out your logs before.  Nor seen you HM pace. 

IMO, you can do 20-21 by this summer just putting in some more miles.  You've clearly got the engine, but need to learn to apply it on the bike more.  That said, and echoing some other advice, how fast you end up riding should not be dictated by some target mph pace.  You need to go by effort level (power, HR, RPE, whatever) so that you leave yourself with enough reserves to put up a good run afterwards (for you, probably sub-1:40 assuming reasonable conditions).  Whatever mph that gives you on race day is what it is.  Speed itself is generally not a very good pacing device on the bike because of all the external influences (the point of all the questions that I asked).

2007-03-26 2:57 PM
in reply to: #737232

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Subject: RE: Measuring Cycling performance
The best race performance predictor is racing itself; IOW get into a local Time Trial or do one yourself (and wear a HR while you are at it so you can estimate your training zones) and use the results to benchmark where your fitness level is TODAY vs where would you like it to be in 3-4 months. With a poor cycling base your 1:30 hrs ½ Mary time can quickly become a 2:00 hr shuffle suffer fest, but once you know your fitness baseline you’ll have an idea of how much work you need to do and if you will have enough time to reach your goal or if you’ll have to adjust your goal pace so you can post a good run. As training progresses you can retest your fitness a couple of times and do race rehearsals or B races (like an Oly) and then you will be able to adjust your training and know how realistic would be riding 21mph for 56 miles and be able to run 13.1 miles at a good pace. Finally, remember that speed is relative and yes it will be greatly influenced by your cycling fitness but also it will vary base on race course terrain, equipment, weather, etc.
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