22mph 100miles, what kind of upgrades do i need?

[AndStilliRise]

I may have asked this before, so forgive me!

Would anyone know the best way to average 22mph for Ride100 next year. I did it this year ~21mph on my Giant Advanced Defy (£1600) with some continental 4000s which was a surprise but want to start improving my times.

Would an upgrade of the bike parts help or am i better off spending more money on a new bike. I am constantly working on my fitness so no doubt would have improved but don't really want to be hitting the points of diminishing returns in terms of cost/performance benefit.

Thanks all.

[Ashfordian]

Better training is what will make the most difference. A power meter will mean your training could be better structured. Only suggesting this as you seem insistent on buying something.

Any weight that could be lost so you are faster up the hills?

Only other tip is to find a group that is going at that pace. Better training will allow you to keep up and contribute to the group

Personally I don't think you can buy your way to that increased speed

[rs4al]

A Pinarello Dogma F8 in sky colours.....

[mcelliott]

So this would be mostly a group ride I'm guessing - 22mph isn't actually that quick if done as part of a group, you should have no problem. The biggest difference you can make is by training harder, and saving yourself a st load of money in the process. If you're fat, you could always shed a bit of timber - makes a huge difference.

[anonymous-user]

Just jump on the wheel of every single person that passes you, the bigger the group the better.

[The_Jackal]

Laxatives?

[Biker 1]

Fit an engine

[Biker 1]

Oh, & take drugs like all the other top cyclists

[WinstonWolf]

Have you tried a Wattbike session to maximise your efficiency?

[outnumbered]

Save your money, you won't go any faster on a more expensive bike than the one you have (assuming it fits you properly and you can get as low as you want to), unless you just want one for pleasure of ownership, which is an entirely valid reason.

[Magic919]

Many of the previous replies will be valid. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[arcticnick]

A power meter, a turbo trainer and a Trainer Road subscription. Also, losing weight and/or lowering your position without dropping power.

I averaged 24 mph this year (4.5w/kg FTP) before crashing badly on the final run in! I guess up with another guy of similar fitness and we rode it as a 2-up TT.

The PM helps tone down your efforts in the first hour when you find yourself getting caught up overtaking 1,000s of riders and burning out too early...

[okgo]

How is this thread any different to the other

Sit in the wheels.

[upsidedownmark]

Train. The bike will make fk all difference, especially in a bunch ride.

[louiebaby]

Make sure the bike is properly serviced a few weeks before to get everything running just so. Get a decent bike fit if you haven't already to tune your position, but keeping the comfort.

And train over the winter, ride up everything, and practice being in groups too.

(I'd have thought, I'm working out how I'll get round the Dartmoor Classic Grande on a Brompton after someone called my bluff.)

[loudlashadjuster]

upsidedownmark said:

Train. The bike will make fk all difference, especially in a bunch ride.

+1

[J886ATV]

Getting an early start time is the key. If you are off much later than 7.00am there simply isn't the space to make the progress safely.

I was away at 6.15 this year and finished in 4.38 - so almost bang on your target.
Lots of wheels sucked
Bike - 2014 Defy 1 (so £999) and many miles on it - so it definitely isn't the equipment

[AndStilliRise]

Thanks for all your replies. Looks like i can put the credit card back in the wallet then and get training.

Been doing 50m-70m at least once a week recently and that seems to be helping. Last year i didn't do anything like that and in Spring really struggled in the first few weeks to get back into it.

Thanks again.