"When perusing all the great info on your site, specifically about the SIGs I read, ""Any ride’s average speed is typically 3-mph less than the indicated pace."" What exactly does this mean?"
Average speed? vs Pace?
Fri, 01/23/2004 - 2:53pm
Fri, 01/23/2004 - 4:10pm
#1
Unless you are dogging it, you will drop your speed in hills. And you will not be able to make up for the drop in speed when you descend.
Fri, 01/23/2004 - 4:10pm
#2
"""average speed"" vs. ""indicated pace"""
"I may be open to correction on detail here but the general idea is:
""average speed"":
The number which will appear on your cyclometer as the average speed for that ride (includes slowing down for traffic, lights, mechanicals etc.)
""indicated pace"":
The number portion of a ride's designated pace (eg. A20, B16, C14 etc.) In principle, this represents the speed which a rider should be able to maintain on a flat road in order to complete that ride comfortably."
Fri, 01/23/2004 - 4:47pm
#3
Things to Consider
This is always a tricky one to answer as hills, group size and paceline skills must be considered. Certainly, if you can comfortably maintain 20 mph on a flat by yourself, with appropriate paceline skills you should be able to participate in an A-20 ride, unless you are not a good climber and the ride is very hilly. Also consider moving along at 20 or more miles per hour is much easier in a large group than in a small group, and if you are comfortable with following a wheel closely. Of course none of this matters with the spin classes I will be taking tomorrow. Brrr! Grrr!
Fri, 01/23/2004 - 7:47pm
#4
Saturday vs Sunday
The same ride often tends to have a frisky factor on Saturday, when people are fresh. On Sunday they're tired and slower.
