If that's how you like to ride, then no, you're not missing something. I on the other hand never consider anything a training ride. Training for what? I just ride for the sake of riding. Sometimes I go as fast as I can and other times I don't. It's whatever mood strikes me that day. Last Saturday my wife and I took the ferry to Block Island to bike the island. We were there all day and when all was said and done we had put in a whooping 18 miles at probably an average of 10-11mph. It was a great cycling day.

However, there is that one hill that I can now climb at 11mph instead of the 6mph like 3 months ago! So no matter how laid back, I guess we all have that 'I can do better this time' gene.