My computer (cateye) has 2 settings for timing. One keeps the clock running even when I stop, and the other stops the clock when I stop riding and resumes when I resume riding. While this makes no difference for the ride itself in measuring my speed, distance or cadence, when I keep track of my average speed for training purposes, it can make a difference of up to 5%, depending on whether I make or just miss some long red lights en route.
I was curious as to how people deal with the issue for training purposes.
I got a new bike and computer recently, and I accidentally had the computer on the manual start/stop setting. In the middle of my first "real" ride on the bike, I got a phone call from work. (I know, I know, why the hell did I answer it?) I was on the phone for quite a while -- with the timer still running. When I finished my ride, my average speed was AWFUL!
Two lessons: - Use the auto timer on the computer. - Don't answer phone calls while on a ride, especially ones from work! 😉
