Tell us about your weekend ride

Second observation - I respond like a kitten to all alterations in territory. If I come off a downhill slope onto the flat my speed is set accordingly until another undulation, if I arrive on the flat from a climb my pace for that flat will be set to sluggish. I am a wuss. I find it impossible to impose myself on a ride.

It's winter riding. It's completely normal to feel like this when it's colder. Perhaps what your feeling is really telling you is that you're just riding your bike and not training? That could be the case, but relatively few people, some call them athletes, actually train. The rest of us are just riding our bikes. :)