I decided to go for 60%!

(I switched to metric.)

If OP is serious, I'd start by resetting the calibration down by about 5%. Repeat again in the middle of the winter. Another 5% by the middle of next summer, repeat as needed to get it close. Leave it 5-10% high so she still feels like she's going faster than most people she knows.

a few thoughts

1
op is just about the worst person in the world
without exception
or exageration ;)

2
if she is now riding a hybrid or mtb
get her a superlight
and super fast
road bike
and install a properly calibrated computer
and she should be able to actually go as fast
as she thought she was going before

She had a flat today on the way home form work and didn't have a way to fix it. She walked the bike part of the way until a got there to pick her up. She said that she was walking 3.8 mph, and that was into a breeze. I think she is stating to figure it out. I really just wanted her to feel good about her rides, and I always planed to do a roll out calibration, time just got away from me. I also got to say that thing came with one good battery.

"Just about he worst person in the world?" Really. You all sure take your miles seriously, all this reminds me of the song that says, "dose anyone really know what time it is."

I took his comments as sarcasm. Maybe it wasn't but that's how I took it.

You know... sometimes the thing attached to the spokes can slip a bit. Through no fault of your own. Maybe that's what happened?

Here's a plan. Deduct 5 mm from the setting after every 2 or 3 rides. So then when she gets on the bike she will want to go the same speed as last time. The difference is she will need to put out that hair more effort. So here conditioning will increase a hair every time she rides. By next year she will be able to keep up to you at a decent pace. haha Win Win.

it was a joke
but with a kernel of truth

modifying your wifes odometer
was a well intended
but wrongheaded thing to do

very much on the same level as
adjusting the bathrom scale

you basically signed your wife up for the special olympics

'i know you dont go very fast
but you should still feel proud of yourself
we are all winners
in our own way'

If you gradually try to change it back, I'd imagine she'd start to realize it if you travel any of the same roads and she pays any attention to the mileage/speed on her rides.

I'm not sure why being honest with her and having a laugh about isn't the first decision in this situation. Would she really be that upset that you wanted to spend time with her and did this in hopes that it would encourage her to ride more with you?

If you gradually set it back, she'll think she's getting slower and slower and be down at the doctor to see what's wrong.

Face it, there's just not a good way to handle this.

I'd suggest the approach used by Squidward at 1:27 in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Gvk0efE20
Specifically, handing the other person a club and saying "Here. Please hit me as hard as you can."

The best thing to do is to do a reset, then a roll-out while she is watching, using precise accuracy as reason. Then you can claim the rollout, being the most accurate way to set a computer, was necessary to really record her mileage/accomplishment. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU JUST FESS UP, as that is just asking for it.

Sorry, I don't envy your situation at all.

She's going to pissed when she hits 100 miles on a century ride only to find out that she has about 30 more miles to go! :lol: