Looking back over nearly eighteen years of ride data, it would be easy to conclude that I’ve become slower. My average speed today is certainly lower than when I started using a Garmin and saved the ride data in 2008. But the numbers only tell part of the story.

Back then, I was definitely faster and more consistent, often averaging over 15 mph. My fastest ride, though, was in October 2019, when I averaged 17.9 mph.  Maybe not fast by some people’s standards, but it is by mine! This shows that it’s not just about slowing down.

What has really changed isn’t just my speed. It’s the way I ride.

In those early years, I was often chasing a higher average speed. These days I don’t judge a ride by how quickly I complete it, but by how much I enjoyed it, what I discovered along the way and whether it leaves me looking forward to the next adventure and events like the London to Southend Bike Ride, the next audax and 100-mile challenges. My rides are longer, more relaxed and much more about the journey than the destination. I enjoy exploring the quiet lanes of Essex and beyond, riding with friends, discovering new cafés and spending time in the saddle rather than worrying about every tenth of a mile per hour.

My average speed now tends to be around 12–13 mph. However, I don’t simply see that as getting slower. Instead, I see it as finding a sustainable pace that allows me to ride further, recover better and enjoy cycling for what it has become: an adventure rather than a competition.

Of course, it’s still satisfying to see a fast ride appear on Garmin now and then, but success means something different these days. If I’ve covered a good distance, discovered a new route, shared good company and returned home with a smile on my face, then it’s been a successful ride.

Perhaps I have slowed down. Or perhaps I’ve learned that the best part of cycling isn’t how quickly I  get there; it’s how far I can go, and everything I experience along the way.