Well, the results are in. After a week of slow riding, I didn't do any
caloric damage, and I seem to have maintained my speed. The "long" time
trial (10 miles going the long way home, half on a greenway) was within
normal range. The super sprint (2,112 feet from the bottom of Turtle Bay
to the top of Murray Hill) was actually three seconds faster than my
previous best time on the 3-speed. This is the northbound run into midtown
(UN Headquarters, actually) on 1st Ave. The light at 34th st gives the
pedestrians a 2-second jump (which I take) before the light turns green.
The 42nd st light is actually red in both directions for 6 seconds, which
is the reason I take this stretch at my top speed: even if I'm sluggish
that morning or if there's heavy traffic, I have 4 seconds more than I
should have to cross 42nd st.
I think I'm going to start mixing fast and slow rides and see what happens
long term.
--ag