Are some people just faster and what can you do about it?

i don’t think you did think. The top end ratio spread on a compact is pretty much identical to a conventional double, you gain bottom end though. If you *need* the 53×11 you either need to learn to pedal or tap up Dave Brailsford and show his boys how to do it. If you aren’t a pro you don’t *need* pros gears. I prefered them when i was racing (euro pro) And still have them on some of my bikes (old team stuff.) I doubt I’d use them now. I can’t put down the same power i used to.

And FWIW a guy i used to race with as a junior used to spend his weekend evenings trying to get into pubs and getting pissed, then winning 3 w v j races on Sunday. Ended up realising that beer and women were much less hard work than training. Still turns up to sportives now as a slightly chubby bloke in his late 40s and taps round in the fastest group he can find. The only training he does is 10 odd miles a day to work and back. Would have made a far far better pro than me.

This thread has opened a whole can of ‘who’s-fastest-hardest-fittest’ STW worms… Predictably.. :eyeroll:

FWIW. To the OP if you are small (and skinny) you are likely to have amazing potential at beating people on tough climbs. Short, sharp hard, or long ones. Power 2 weight init. Your boss may be bigger and simply able to kick out more watts on the flat, hence the faster speed. Outright watts lose out every time though when the going goes up.

Remember – as others have mentioned – you are blessed with what you were born with – and even with best and hardest training in the world- you can only improve on that by 10% or so – at best!

Apparently around 20% of people will see little improvement with training. Watched a documentary on it the other night with that “trust me I’m a doctor” bloke.

i don’t think you did think. The top end ratio spread on a compact is pretty much identical to a conventional double, you gain bottom end though. If you *need* the 53×11 you either need to learn to pedal or tap up Dave Brailsford and show his boys how to do it. If you aren’t a pro you don’t *need* pros gears. I prefered them when i was racing (euro pro) And still have them on some of my bikes (old team stuff.) I doubt I’d use them now. I can’t put down the same power i used to.

I was just stating my preferences, to be fair, compacts didnt exist so consider me a grumpy old man. The OP would get fitter IMHO with the gearing I used. Feel free to fire away, its just my thoughts, the OP might think it interesting even if you dont. I will say I’m quite proud of my pedalling, learn some manners young man!

I wouldn’t call it very slow – it’s pretty decent *for a fat smoker on an Apollo MTB*, but not incredible.

Putting it in context and to ensure I am not counted in the willy waving group, I mean 15mph for an hour on the road (with just 900ft of climbing as in example) is very slow for someone that rides a bike a lot. For a fat smoker who never rides then yes it is okay.

I find that that 15mph is around the point where you have to start putting effort in to increase speed, i.e. 16 takes a bit more 20 take a lot more but 15 is pretty much spinning along (again on flat roads as in example)

Yes I am.
F@$£ all.
HtH

I’m small and skinny (5’2″ & 9stone 4lbs) but I wouldn’t say I’m a good climber. I can catch a reasonable number of folk on road climbs, and I’m always in the top third of Strava segments locally, but my 6ft 14stone mate destroys me on the climbs.
Mind you, he did finish Paris-Brest-Paris in 72hrs.

Tyres make a massive difference (an Apollo will likely have less chunky tyres than a mtb designed for offroad)
recording equipment will make a massive difference (my garmin vivoactive watch is 10% lower on metres climbed and distance is usually under an iPhone recording)
Weather, wind, ground,

Unless you get in a laboratory conditions or Just Go out for a ride with a mate then it’s difficult to compare

Personally I ride better early morning,
Ps. If you wanna get better at hills move to West Yorkshire

kerley – Member
, I mean 15mph for an hour on the road (with just 900ft of climbing as in example) is very slow for someone that rides a bike a lot.

Interesting. My ride to and from work is around 12 miles each way, with 1200 ft of climbing each way, and I average anything between 12.5 – 14.5 mph depending on conditions and what traffic I meet trying to knock me off in the lanes.
I do it on my Arkose with conti cx tyres.

What would you consider as riding a bike a lot? I reckon I ride around 7 hours a week. Just trying to gauge if I need to a) ride more or b) work harder.

What would you consider as riding a bike a lot? I reckon I ride around 7 hours a week. Just trying to gauge if I need to a) ride more or b) work harder.

If your aim is to get faster then you will need to ride more and work (train) harder so a and b

I ride less than you and have never trained in my life and am old, or well past my prime at least (48), which I guess answers the OPs original question…

Anyone telling you power to weight ratio isn’t a key factor in speed is in denial
Lose weight
Get a turbo trainer and use trainer road type program and you will get stronger. Simple mileage on a static bike is almost useless. Junk miles
Technique is important, sprint, hills, downhill, single track
Age, I’m 58 this year. Age isn’t a barrier. You still have huge stamina.i bet plenty of people in clubs have very fit fast older men and women. They have age and experience on their side.
Diet and sleep and rest are also major components. Typically an older rider needs double the rest

@muddydwarf: At 5’2″, 9st4lb isn’t even remotely skinny.

@tenfoot: both a and b