I got butter and jelly to go with that toast!  

Quote from aikigreg on Apr 20^th, 2007, 6:47am:

 
I expect if we made an early attack, the paceline would just ratchet it up and reel us in; I'm not fast enough to stay ahead of these guys when they're in a paceline.  That's the way recumbent racers like John Schlitter beat the uprights, though, leave them behind on the flats, then hang on on the climbs. I just ain't there yet.
 
Of course, you may be able to stay with them when you get your Tica. My average now is about 2 1/2 mph slower than the paceline, and yours is about 3 mph slower. You could very well gain that much with the Tica.
 
Heart monitors work pretty well for gaging your effort. When those two roadies came up behind me, my first effort to stay ahead was too much; I could see my heart rate was going to reach max, so I backed off one gear, to keep it 10 or 12 below max, figuring I could hold that the rest of the ride, and so I did. And while they did get my wheel after I slowed, they weren't able to get past me.
 
I saw the Tangleridge sign. If we used that as a starting point, though, we'd miss that first wonderful hill (unless we went down it, then turned around).

I think for 30 miles the tica should let me pick up enough speed to hang with them, or come close.  When I sold the baron I was averaging 18 when I was by myself with no competition.  At the Hotter than Hell it was 22mph in the 110* heat.  Given that the TICA is lighter, lower, and even more laid back I should be much faster.   And once garrie makes the wheel covers and CF boom and tiller, I should be lighter and more aero still.
 
By comparison my average on the p-38 by myself is 15-16, and now at 18-18.5 when "competing"  I should easily be able to see a 3mph increase on the lighter modern bike.  I hope so - I'm tired of seeing you able to take a wrong turn, have to turn around, and still be able to cruise effortlessly past me!  
 
Not to mention I should be 5 pounds lighter withing a few weeks as well, God willing.

I think the heart rate is definitely telling.  As you breathe easier on the route, more RPM ought to result.  Even though I stayed with the pack most of the way to Texas Plume, I still averaged less last night than last week.  I think partly because I didn't reset my computer after the slower 6 mile warm-up I did on the dam, and partly because I was carb depleted.  I only had about 20 grams of carbs yesterday.  Trying to lose a bit of this blubber that just won't seem to let go!

Well, I really can't hang with this group, but yes, many are younger. I just started riding less than 3 years ago, and ramped up pretty slowly, so I'm still improving. If I had a riding experience from 10 years ago to compare, I'm sure I'd be on the down slide, too.
 
I've seen some 50's and even 60's riders that are very fast, so I know it's not impossible. I think it just gets harder and harder to do as you get older, and if you were in peak form in younger years, you'll never match it at our age. I was never there, so I'm still learning what I can do.