first ride with me computer...any good????

[Rob3rt]

If you go to any cycle club website, they say things like "to join our rides, you must be able to cycle at 16mph for 40 miles, 18mph for training rides." These numbers aren't accompanied by an elevation chart.

So yes, OP, if you are a beginner, they are pretty good numbers.

Just because cycling club's write something on their website doesn't make it particularly meaningful, it's relatively useless without context just as people say in this thread. However seeing things from the club's point of view, if a club ask for a certain average speed could you realistically expect them to provide an exhaustive selection of different ride profiles and then specify for each profile the average speed you are expected to be able to do? Of course not! They are generalising and tbh you should probably assume they mean a flattish route unless otherwise specified, 16mph on a flat route of 40 miles, is a modest requirement. Assume the lowest requirement means to join the easiest ride they do, 16mph on the flat is the entry point, from there you will be able to join some rides, as you progress and get faster and fitter you will see more and more ride opportunities open up for you.

If someone specifically asks if their average is good and want's a proper answer that number needs to be contextualised so that it has meaning to the other party i.e. they NEED to provide at least a brief comment on the ride try, flat, undulating, hilly (preferably with a total elevation gained figure) because a good average on a hilly coarse, is a modest to poor average on a flat course.