Is it just me, or do you guys go faster on the city streets?

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I've been riding through neighborhoods...here in Orlando, theres about 6 neighborhoods that connect at various ends, giving me about 18-24 miles of road to work with. What I've noticed however is, I have to work much harder on these neighborhood roads. The pros of course being, less traffic, so the chance of getting hit is much less. The con of course being, that my average speed is much slower (18 mph) and I'm having to work harder. I notice there is more crosswind as well, but even still I feel like I'm having to work harder. I dont know if its because of the streets being narrow and houses on each corner or the road surface or what? The fastest I've gotten on this street was 32 mph with a sprint on a down hill. The fastest I got on a flat straight, with a nice new road was 24 mph. Then, I move over into the city streets, speed limit for cars is 45 mph, people are pretty good about moving over for cyclists. It's pretty much straight roads, and its almost cheating to take these roads, unless you double the distance, but whats so surprising is, my average speed on these roads never dips below 21 mph. Its astonishing, I can easily maintain 22-23 mph for a good 2 miles if I'm on this road. By the way, I'm kind of a noob to road biking. I've been mountain biking for years, but I definitely don't feel like I'm fast or can keep up stamina wise. I get discouraged when I hear of guys averaging 25 mph-28+ mph-- Lance Armstrong (Though I know hes pro, does what 27 mph on average?)

So what gives guys? Is it the cars driving along creating a little wind tunnel swooping me along or what? Is it just the huge two lane roads that gives me plenty space with not much room for cross winds? What do you guys prefer to ride? The city streets or the neighborhoods?

Jonathan

So what gives guys? Is it the cars driving along creating a little wind tunnel swooping me along or what?

I think that's the case. The more the traffic, the more you can draft (and with greater risk for your safety, I suppose).

I think that's the case. The more the traffic, the more you can draft (and with greater risk for your safety, I suppose).
I've noticed the same, and honestly I think it is just less hills and smoother roads.

The hills in my neighborhoods are very short, but very steep, and you never see things like that on a normal road frequented by cars. So instead of going up and down up and down constantly on 15% gradients, its just a nice flat or a very shallow drag.

Not sure about the USA but here in Australia it is common for street in towns to be a smoother asphalt than the rough chipseal on the out of town roads. There is quite a difference in the power required to ride the same speed on such different surfaces. I know when I visit places like Canberra, which has probably the smoothest city roads in the country, you always ride faster there.

Nothing like the smooth wooden boards of an indoor velodrome of course;)

cars passing you a couple feet away going 50mph will definitly help. when i ride on certain roads where cars pass me constantly from traffic, i feel almost no wind against me

cars passing you a couple feet away going 50mph will definitly help. when i ride on certain roads where cars pass me constantly from traffic, i feel almost no wind against meThere is a road I ride upon a couple times per year that is mostly flat, is cut through a forest in a direction where the winds are generally at your back. Traffic is heavy on this road and moves fast. 30 mph+ is effortless...

I have seen similar riding on traffic roads in the city. For example, it is quite easy to go quite fast on Fifth Avenue if you have the nerve...

I generally go slower through the neighborhoods, but that's mostly because I'm much more cautious about cars coming out of side streets or driveways, limited sightlines, kids running from behind hedges, stopsigns, etc.

I'm a lot more comfortable on an open 45mph street with all the traffic coming from my back.