Dear Willy

1. the deadness makes a road feel dead. could be a false flat, looks flat but is actually a bit uphill. more likely to be a change in the road surface. bikes roll slower on coarser pavement (eg. peats ridge rd vs ourimbah crit circuit).

2. The dropping HR is something to be experienced. Never had an answer on it, most likely you have a slight tailwind that you can't feel, otherwise you're possibly seeing your heart's adaptation process in action. You won't hurt yourself, and if you keep the pace up it should eventually go back up to expected values.

The high HR when the rest of you feels good is usually a sign that your cardiovascular system needs some recovery time, you haven't had enough sleep, have a little virus, or you've overdone the high intensity stuff. Regardless, you need to drop the intensity back to under ATHR (ie. base) for the rest of the ride.

You say you can't find the balance/co-relation between HR, speed, cadence and pain: that sounds wrong. you've already discovered that balance, and you are reacting to things you are seeing that are outside the known norms. Interpret those signals and take the most appropriate action.

That'll be $250.00 thanks