Thanks for all the feedback. I
am probably expecting too much too soon. In fact, I have to go back several years to remember the glory days. I was also intrigued by the suggestions that something in my setup could be holding me back. I usually check that the brakes aren't rubbing before every ride. I check the tire pressure once a week!
That's probably not often enough because I've noticed that these tubes deflate rather quickly. My average
has picked up since I started. At the beginning of July my average was encroaching on single-digit territory.
I forgot to mention that I'm dieting. It's one of the reasons I'm not doing more miles. When I tried riding five days a week, I started getting dizzy spells. I'll be able to increase mileage and intensity in a couple more months.