Averages?

[Matthew_T]

Just a little rant about a snag I have discovered.

When calculating my average for the day, I have an accurate reading on my speedo. But unfortunately I use te time off my camera to calculate how long it to me to do it. By using this, I take into consideration stopping for junctions and traffic lights. Which means that my average will not be accurate as I will be considering time wasted.

I can not work out any way around this so will just have to put up with 15mph averages when it should actually be 18mph.

 

[HLaB]

Its not wrong and if anything its probably more accurate, your average journey speed rather than your average moving speed as long as you are consistent and know what you are comparing

 

[gaz]

Why can't you use the time off your computer? Why not buy a computer which calculates moving time?

Moving average is never a true representation of your moving average as it still logs the time you decelerate and accelerate to/from a stand still.

 

[hellmate]

Just a little rant about a snag I have discovered.

When calculating my average for the day, I have an accurate reading on my speedo. But unfortunately I use te time off my camera to calculate how long it to me to do it. By using this, I take into consideration stopping for junctions and traffic lights. Which means that my average will not be accurate as I will be considering time wasted.

I can not work out any way around this so will just have to put up with 15mph averages when it should actually be 18mph.

If you pause the time on a stopwatch at each stop you will have moving time. This is how most cycle computers work as I understand it.

 

[BSRU]

Does your bike computer have a ride time timer, one that starts/stops automatically, this will show you the time you were actually riding.

Then again why are not just using the average speed from your speedo?

 

[Matthew_T]

Does your bike computer have a ride time timer, one that starts/stops automatically, this will show you the time you were actually riding.

Then again why are not just using the average speed from your speedo?

The average on my speedo says 'Err'. So I think it is a bit confused.

My speedo does have a timer on it but as it is a basic halfords 8 function, I am unable to work it. The only bits I pay attention to are the distance, odometer, and max speed.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I have a basic bike computer with no average speed on it. I work out the average on a calculator, divide the distance by journey time in minutes and multiply by 60. this includes the time you spend stopped but surly if you go for time moving only this is not a true reflection of how long the journey took and gives an artificially high average speed.

 

[Matthew_T]

This includes the time you spend stopped but surly if you go for time moving only this is not a true reflection of how long the journey took and gives an artificially high average speed.

Understandable but it causes your averages to be very low if you are stuck waiting at traffic lights for ages.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Understandable but it causes your averages to be very low if you are stuck waiting at traffic lights for ages.

Yes but if you are not training or racing does the average matter? I know its nice to have a high average but if you are only commuting or doing general running about it doesn't really matter.

 

[HLaB]

I have a basic bike computer with no average speed on it. I work out the average on a calculator, divide the distance by journey time in minutes and multiply by 60. this includes the time you spend stopped but surly if you go for time moving only this is not a true reflection of how long the journey took and gives an artificially high average speed.

Depends what you are doing if you are route planning its probably the best technique (journey time) but if you are comparing routes which might have different times from one time to the next it can be an unfair comparison. I.e rider A journeys the route in 25 minutes but during the peak and spends 5mins stopped at junctions, where as rider B does the same route off peak in 21 minutes and is only stopped for 45secs; rider A is a faster cyclist although he takes longer

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Depends what you are doing if you are route planning its probably the best technique (journey time) but if you are comparing routes which might have different times from one time to the next it can be an unfair comparison. I.e rider A journeys the route in 25 minutes but during the peak and spends 5mins stopped at junctions, where as rider B does the same route off peak in 21 minutes and is only stopped for 45secs; rider A is a faster cyclist although he takes longer

I can see that if you are doing stuff like that you may want just the journey time, but that's stuff I've never done, and I'm not likely to do, I don't think its something most people are likely to do. Outside of racing and training average speed is something people tend to worry about but in truth its not very important.

 

[the snail]

Depends what you are doing if you are route planning its probably the best technique (journey time) but if you are comparing routes which might have different times from one time to the next it can be an unfair comparison. I.e rider A journeys the route in 25 minutes but during the peak and spends 5mins stopped at junctions, where as rider B does the same route off peak in 21 minutes and is only stopped for 45secs; rider A is a faster cyclist although he takes longer

Depends how you look at it, rider A had a 5min break to get his breath back.

 

[HLaB]

I can see that if you are doing stuff like that you may want just the journey time, but that's stuff I've never done, and I'm not likely to do, I don't think its something most people are likely to do. Outside of racing and training average speed is something people tend to worry about but in truth its not very important.

Yeah it is over rated; I know how fast I can cycle or how slow compared to other folk, the important thing outwith training/ racing is how long will it take me to get from A to B, what time do I need to get out of my bed

 

[the snail]

The average on my speedo says 'Err'. So I think it is a bit confused.

mine (halfords) does that occasionally, if you reset the odo it should work again.

 

[Matthew_T]

mine (halfords) does that occasionally, if you reset the odo it should work again.

Will try that then.