Fifty Plus (50+) - Low average MPH

I have a regular ride that I do of around 25 miles- 11 miles to the cafe and 13/14 back. Last night I got out and gave myself a bit a cardio workout. Route down is a bit up and downish and I averaged a Heart rate of 135 and an average speed of 14.4 mph. In other words- a bit better than my average for this run.

Maximum Heart rate only got to 148 so I seemed to stay constant on effort put in so was quite happy.

Run back takes in a long slope that turns into a mile long 8 % and in general is a bit more hilly than the route down. The 8% comes in early on the ride and I got to 152 up this slope. Got home and checked the computer and route back and I only had an average of 12.1mph. Suppose the 8% did a bit of that and possibly the Gateaux at the 11mile mark but I'll gloss over that.
Then I checked the HM. Max I got to was 162- just below my maximum and the average for the route back was 146.

So two parts of a ride- but which half should I be pleased with? Down to the cafe and 14.4 average is good for me. The return run at 12.1 sounds poor but keeping that HR up that high at 146 and I am quite happy.

Think I'll start forgetting to put the computer on in future- It gets so disheartening

If your HR is up and your speed is down, you might be in need of a bit of rest or some easy spinning for a few days (or in my case, for the next year or so).

If it was me I would stop measuring and enjoy the ride.

It gets so disheartening

Please don't get dis heart ened.

It makes it so difficult to use your HRM!

I only wish I could make such a ride so quickly!

So two parts of a ride- but which half should I be pleased with? Down to the cafe and 14.4 average is good for me. The return run at 12.1 sounds poor but keeping that HR up that high at 146 and I am quite happy.

What's wrong with being equally happy with both halves? They are, after all, different things so of course objective measures like speed and heart rate are going to be different.

So what kind of pie did you enjoy at the cafe?

^^^^

Sounds like the speed back could depend on what you had to eat at the cafe.

Some of the pictures of food you've posted in the past look like they could slow you down 2-3mph....

Maybe reverse the route and see what happens (of course, include the stop at the cafe....)

Cycling has so many variables, both internal and external.......from rest patterns the day before to wind to blood sugar, etc.......gotta take a "long view" of the numbers rather than an any-given-day. That, and some fall days are just too lovely for an HRM.