Originally Posted by
jbenkert111
I don't understand why you would count the stopping time that you have no control over. It does not seem to provide an accurate assessment of your physical conditioning. Enlighten me please.
As I said, it's just my preference and others may not share it.
The way I figure it, stopping is resting whether I stop because of a red light or a train or whether I stop to rest, it's all the same to me.
Also, If I don't include the time stopped, average speed becomes an indicator of traffic rather than my effort. If I go out at midnight to ride thirty miles, it takes me significantly less time than if I go out at 2 pm. But, if I don't count time stopped, my average speed in the afternoon is significantly greater because of all the rest I get at stoplights and such.
edit: Another way to look at it from my perspective (which is not shared by everyone) is that I'm interested in my average speed for a thirty-mile ride, not the average of the average speeds of thirty one-mile rides.