mickc
Breaking the 13-mph ceiling
Improving my average speed
I have finally made the jump to a 29-inch wheel bike from my favourite 26-inch Scott scale. I obviously knew that a 29-inch was faster, but I didn't quite want to let go of the manoeuvrability of the 26-inch.
My average speed on the 26-inch wheel on my local routes was generally around the 12mph mark, often between 11.6mph and 11.9mph. When I got the new bike, these jumped straight away to over 12mph, but I knew it was the bike and not me.
So, I set myself the challenge over the summer of reaching an average of 13mph. I didn’t specifically train but decided to put more effort into my riding. It has certainly paid off.
I got the new bike at the end of May. I instantly obtained an increase to an average 12.1mph on all my local routes. That was the wheel size having an impact as everyone said it would. This continued through most of June and the beginning of July.
It was the end of July when I benefited from my efforts. I saw the change after I’d had a couple of weeks off the bike. After my Scotland adventure at the end of June I got the dreaded Covid and was knocked out for a couple of weeks. I returned around the 21st and got a couple of 12.5 mph averages.
Then came the real breakthrough. I put some more air in the tyres and hit the trail as hard as I could. I did my local Hardwick route and was lucky with the lack of walkers, runners and other off-road traffic. I hauled an impressive 13.2mph over 17 miles. I’d broken the barrier. Just like when Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile record I expected to keep getting the improved average as psychologically I’d done it. Little did I know how lucky I was that day.
The next ride was 12.8mph on a lumpier longer Moorgreen reservoir loop. Then it was 12.6 mph on a Forest trail loop around Harlow woods. I tried the same loop a couple of days later and hit 12.7 mph average. It was getting frustrating. The next ride, only 11 miles through the felly resulting in an 11.8 mph. Then the Pig Hill Route at 18 miles I clocked 12.3 mph. I was at a loss as to how I get back up to the 13-mph ceiling.
I relaxed a bit and as it was the summer holidays I had to get out when I could. This probably helped me body recover a bit. Also, I had a few sessions off Taekwondo which I do in parallel. The end of August came quickly, and the last few rides were 12.5mph over 19 miles, the same over 18 miles.
September had to be the month. The very first ride I pushed really hard and up to the last mile I had an average of 13.2 mph. The problem was I’d forgotten about the final hill so that scuppered me, and I finished with a frustrating 12.9 mph. The second ride was the same story, pushing a great average and then dropping off at the end. Again, 12.9 mph average over 15 miles. I felt I was getting so close.
Then it happened. I nipped out for a ride early doors before work, and I felt so good. I was flying all the way round and attacked the steep hill halfway through the route. I hit home with a 13.1 mph average. I had done it. Question is could I keep hitting over 13 mph.
…and I did. Next ride 13.3 mph over 19 miles, 13.5 mph over 17 miles, 13.3 over 18 miles and even a 13.7mph over 18 miles. I felt really strong, especially on the hills. I was cruising up the hills. I kept pushing and achieving. I am so happy with my fitness and speed at the moment, and it feels so good achieving a goal I set myself.
To this day I’m still hitting over 13 mph average and, in most cases, reaching over 13.5 mph. So, should the goal now be to reach a 14-mph average. I’ve had a 13.9 mph so could be achievable. Autumn, winter, and wet ground is coming fast so I may keep enjoying what I’m doing, keep my fitness up and go for 14 mph average next spring.
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