Training Miles and Speed

I find there are just too many external factors to compare speed/distance. For a better comparison, find a way to track work in the form of heart rate or watts. Then measure time relative to the work being done.

For example, an hour at 70% max HR could yield drastically different speed and distance results based on the day/wind/temp/bike. But regardless of what or where you ride the time and work load remain constant.

Very, very true comments there. In my part of the world, with my temps, humidity and winds, I like to keep the avg speed above 15mph if it includes some good hills and around 17-18mph if mostly flat, then I know for sure I've had a good, hard ride. On easier solo rides I try to keep it between 16-17mph on the flats and whatever on the hills. My hard day is Sat morning with a group of roadies - this on a rigid karate Monkey running 38mm City Slickers, bike weighs about 27-28lbs without alll the necessary stuff on.

burn_atp said:

I find there are just too many external factors to compare speed/distance. For a better comparison, find a way to track work in the form of heart rate or watts. Then measure time relative to the work being done.

For example, an hour at 70% max HR could yield drastically different speed and distance results based on the day/wind/temp/bike. But regardless of what or where you ride the time and work load remain constant.

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Well firstly, i use training volume in time as my indicator rather than miles. And as for a time for the 30-50 mile spin, i think on my own on flattish rolling terrain id be about 3 hours 15 mins for the 50 mile spin, maybe double if it was on the mtb and hilly.

Speed/miles tell you little. Hours/effort tells you lots. I don't run my bikes with a computer except under certain situations.

Merost said:

I'm trying to get a consensus of how many road miles/mt bike miles is decent for amateur racer? What is a decent average speed on the road bike, say for a 30-50 mile ride?

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I ride with a bunch of amateur racers, cat 1, 2 and 3 and out on the road as a group we average about 21-24mph for 2-4 hour rides. Riding solo I try to maintain about 20mph for pretty much any distance up to 100miles and I know I'm far from the quickest in my group of mates. Then again it's flat around here so it's easy to maintain a steady pace.

50 miles is a nice benchmark to maintain for which I try to finish as close to 2 hours 30 as possible, though some days when the weather's crap I'm happy with under 3.

I used to be able to knock out 50 miles in about 2 hours, but that was a few (many) years ago.