Thanks for the replies. It's been a few days and the problem remains present. Since the restart, it now requires several gears higher to reach times on boards that previously only required lower gears. I don't know what the problem is.
Temin, I appreciate you checking it out for yourself, that was a really big help, especially including details that you did.
I've spoken to others, and they haven't noticed much difference, but I'm riding at the upper end of the maximum avatar speeds SL allows, so I suspect things are much more sensitive up there than in typical speed ranges; typical ranges being what those I've spoken to ride in. I'll speak to someone else who uses the same vehicle as mine when I get a hold of him, and see what he has to say, because he did notice what I am describing on the 11th, but I haven't followed up with him since then.
I will try with a noob avatar, as per suggestion, and post a follow-up soon.
If either of you, or anyone catches wind of details surrounding this, or experience changes yourselves, please share.