Originally Posted by
jgf310
Average speed is useful for me - a 51 yr old newb...
i do more or less the same route about 4 or 5 times per week - 25 miles with some decent (for connecticut) climbs.
when i started out on that route in about march or april, i was struggling to be in the mid 13 mph (moving average) now, i'm nearly at a 16 mph moving average. at my level, i'm not sure what else i need to know...
all the stopping and slowing for lights etc. averages out. i would say it more or less averages out for each ride, but even if it doesn't, it surely averages out over a few rides.
i use a garmin etrex vista hcx, and i figure differences of 0.2mph in average speed are significant.
one reason average speed is useful for beginners, is that group rides are organized by average speed, so it's easy to know which group you should go with - i find i'm faster with a group anyway.
sure, advanced riders and racers may really get into a more detailed analysis of performance data, but i can't really be bothered.
This is a good reason average speed should not be used. I've seen allot of strong riders who have poor group riding skills. If your new to group rides, start with a slower group to learn the skills before moving up.