Road Cycling - Speed reduction for winter roadies?

How much does your speed drop in the winter? Mine drops about 2-3 mph. I can't figure out what is the cause. Is it the extra layers of cloths? Is it the brutal wind? Is it the air being more dense? Do your muscles work slower? Or is it just all the above working a together to kill you?

Just thought I'd pitch this out to other roadies. :)

I think it's the beer!

Mine has actually risen about .8mph. But it's not really that much cooler around here. However, when it gets really cold its hard just to find a nice cadence to spin at which usually messes up my speed.

I look at the big picture. Over the last 20 years, I think my average speed has gone UP about 5mph. Getting stronger the older I get... I like that...

My speed also drops. :crash:
I think it's a combination of the colder temperatures (just can't get the legs moving for some reason) and the extra layers of clothes (extra weight??).

On days when the temperature gets warm enough, I start peeling off the layers so I feel "normal". :)

All of the above, for me, riding in winter has never been about speed though.

It takes more energy for the body to keep temperature in the cold

How much does your speed drop in the winter? Mine drops about 2-3 mph. I can't figure out what is the cause. Is it the extra layers of cloths? Is it the brutal wind? Is it the air being more dense? Do your muscles work slower? Or is it just all the above working a together to kill you?

Just thought I'd pitch this out to other roadies. :)

My speed drops too, by about the same amount. I am firmly convinced there is less oxygen in cold air!

Well, it might be that you need more oxygen to keep the heat up, so less can be used to make your muscles work. It used to take me about 5 minutes of pedaling to warm up. Now, it takes almost 15, and sometimes more.

My speed drops too, by about the same amount. I am firmly convinced there is less oxygen in cold air!

I think your bronchial tubes constrict, I could be wrong though.

I am the same way, when the temp is below 40 or so I find that I have to work harder to hold the same average speed. I'm no scientist but If I remember correctly cold air is denser and if that's true wouldn't there be more resistance?

The fact that you are riding is what matters. We rode in 35 degree weather Sunday. We lost 4 mph off our average. We didn't care because we where the only ones with the balls to ride.

Feltup: you are right, the important thing is that we're riding while many others are not. I've only been riding since this Summer but the coldest I've ridden in has been 23 degrees or so. As long as there isn't snow/ice on the roads I plan on riding as much as I can.

My cruising speed hasn't suffered but I definitely don't have the jump speed I did this summer.

As long as the sun is shining, I don't mind riding into the upper 20s. The most frustrating thing I deal with is that I have to blow my nose the whole time I'm on the road! :eek:

Summer or winter,i ride the same,thats so cal weather i guess.

It took me an afternoon to travel just 4 miles during a recent snowstorm. I had an absolute blast and it turned into a heck of a work out. It makes no difference to me how fast I'm going,but how much time I spend riding.

Cheers.

Last year I never rode under 40 degrees. My racing season reflected this fact... I've ridden this year down to 15 degrees with my club thanks to investment in the right clothing. It also helps to ride with a team since when you're drafting it is easier to stay warm (please, no flatulence!!). I no longer fear the cold, though I do fear the wet.

The team definitely rides slower than it does in the summer months. I am a relative newbie to racing and ride with 1s and 2s. Our speeds are around 17-19. It is purposely slower due to this being the 'base' training time. Once January hits, I'll be hanging on for dear life to their wheels until a mad paceline drops me.

Many factors contribute, but air density doesn't change significantly. The contributing factors are:

- heavier less flexible clothing;
- less flexible footwear (I am more efficient with free ankles);
- clothing that limits perspiration... and self-regulation;
- roads that might be slippery... and self-regulation;
- downright snowy roads (10 cm of snow is a good speed damper...)

Regards

The fact that you are riding is what matters. We rode in 35 degree weather Sunday. We lost 4 mph off our average. We didn't care because we where the only ones with the balls to ride.

Of all the people I normally see, other cyclists, joggers, etc., I have seen only two when the temp drops below 40. One of the ones I saw remarked that only "fanatics" were out. I corrected him to say "dedicated sportsmen."

"Yeah," he said, "that's what I said!"

Shockhead

What a shame! Look at all the Winter riding war stories you will NOT be able to regail your friends with. You know, like "how I learned to ice skate on my Treak 5200." and other equally compelling stories.

Bill

While my avg. speed hasn't dropped, most of the local racers are in recovery mode right now, are building their base miles, and aren't letting their heart rates exceed about 60% of max. This is psychologically good for me because I was able to finish our club's "A" ride with the pack yesterday for the first time ever. Once the speeds pick up again next year I'll probably start getting dropped again!

I've heard cold air is denser than warm air. In addition to the fact that the body works a little harder maintaining warmth and you do carry a pound or two more of clothing on you. My mph has dropped by 3. Part of that due to a layoff and some physcial stress associated with a recent blood clot. Not to mention the winds seem to be a bit strong in the winter than summer.

you can't warm up your muscles as well in the winter... as a test of this, try to touch your toes after a winter ride, and then do it after a summer ride. you'll be able to reach further down in the summer

It's to do with grip, or rather the lack of it - you lose grip - you lose downforce - you lose speed - as simple as that :D

Yesterday we rode the annual "Hangover 100" on a perfectly sunny 80 degree day. I felt great, and my speed was back to normal. I suffer in the cold as well, but cold here in South Florida means 50-60 tempratures. I think it's the rigid muscles and lack of blood flow that slow me down in lower temps.

Cheers

Shockhead

What a shame! Look at all the Winter riding war stories you will NOT be able to regail your friends with. You know, like "how I learned to ice skate on my Treak 5200." and other equally compelling stories.

Bill
Thats ok.i'm not much of a story teller.I did do a 50 miler last sat. and had to wear 2 ls base layer with a ls jersey.The rewturn 25 i took one of the base layers off as it had warmed up into the low 40's.Mid 30's when we left.

"The most frustrating thing I deal with is that I have to blow my nose the whole time I'm on the road!"

Amen to that.

"The most frustrating thing I deal with is that I have to blow my nose the whole time I'm on the road!"

Amen to that.

When its cold or windy,mine runs faster then i ride.A paper towel in my jersey pocket helps.

Yep the cold slows everything down. You maybe able to touch your toes after a ride, but chances are you won't be able to feel them. All my roadie buddies are also hibrenating for the winter so everything is solo. That means theres nobodies legs to rip off except my own. There is also a shortage of fine look'in lady's in thier riding kits. That keeps the heart rate down. :(
Its supposed to snow pretty good today, so I'll just have to put the bike back on the trainer and flip the TDF tape back in the VCR. Thats the closest I'll ever get to riding with Lance, but it keeps me going when I can't get out.
Enjoy the season

Jim

I find cooler air makes me perform better. I recently set a personal record out at one of my favorite places to ride.

Extreme cold is another story. It can certainly be difficult to get going when it is below 35-40.

I find cooler air makes me perform better. I recently set a personal record out at one of my favorite places to ride.

Extreme cold is another story. It can certainly be difficult to get going when it is below 35-40.
Just takes longer is do a warmup ride,after that it normal riding,at least for me.

I've found that I'm usually ~1mph slower on the same routes when it's <40 outside. I definitely think the extra drag of my winter gear is largely to blame. I'm a relatively muscular 5'10" 147lbs, so clothing that fits my arms/chest ends up being baggy around the waist. As a result it feels like a parachute slowing me down if there's any sort of headwind. At least I'm warm though!

However, I wonder if the increase in viscosity of the chain/bearing lubes makes a differnce?