Originally Posted by
spdracr39
1) How do most of you calculate average speed. Does protocol require a simple distance/time or is it only while pedaling not counting rest stops, traffic lights, bathroom breaks, ect ...
2) How do you qualify a total ride distance. Is it whatever you ride in a day? What if there is a couple of hour break between rides is that still one total distance. If no what is the longest acceptable rest break while still counting it as one ride.
1) Average speed above 2mph. I have my garmin set to discard any movement under 2mph. When you deal with a lot of traffic stops, those instances of 2mph movement when you're pushing the bike along to fit in with traffic can kill your average speed, so I don't feel like they count. How did I get 2mph though? Well in my lowest gear I can climb a really steep hill at 3mph; anything slower and I fall off. So anything above 3mph counts in my book.
2) It depends on the ride. If I'm doing a quick warm-up before a club/charity ride, I'll split out the 1-3 miles before the ride into its own ride. If I'm riding to a club ride I'll keep it. But basically anything in a day goes.
But you know what? Don't sweat it. Use whatever system works best for you. It's about having fun, most of all.