I look at it like I do daylight savings time, and look forward to the return of the faster speeds in the spring.

Change your point of view. You are riding normal now. This is how it is supposed to be. All is well.

Then spring comes, and you experience a glorious transformation. Everyhting is brighter, lighter, faster. Tis worth waiting for, and experiencing when it arrives.

Till then, enjoy riding. All is well. This does not suck, it is how it is supposed to be. Now think of all the reasons you will go faster next year.

I am mailing this to my very distressed friend.

Yup.

And to add insult to rolling resistance injury I am spinning this on my Fixed Gear.

http://media.rei.com/media/b/1470919.jpg Panaracer Crosstown 32 mm

vs

http://media.rei.com/media/671870Lrg.jpg Continental Gatorskin 23 mm

I had to regear from 48x16 to 48x19 If I ever want to be self propelled by the spring.

I also replaced the inner tubes with thick thorn resistant Pyramids, in addition to Mr Tuffys.

I counted over 50 goatheads last time I miscalculated my shortcut, and so far no flats.

No frozen fingers trying to change tires for me I guess.

My road bike still has the 23' Gatorskins and I am saving it for special occassions.

i for certain can tell you that i have to slow down, not by choice, but do to weather conditions(snow, ice, slush), and you then have the delicate balance of your air pressure in your tires, do you let you bike sit out side and acclimate to the cold and then top your tires off, or does if go straight from inside you house to the road? that can be a big difference in the tires, specially lower pressure tires.

From my experience, there are two main factors:
-You wear more clothes and therefore it's harder to move.
-The roads are slippery because of the ice and snow, so you hold on to the handlebar a little tighter and correct your trajectory and balance more often.

I could add the bike because mine is an older bike which is heavier and I ride mountain tires in the Winter: they are wider and have knobbies so there is more rolling resistance.

Mostly b.)

But I also think perceptions change this time of year. It's dark more frequently, so you're getting less visual input from the periphery. It's harder to see trees, bushes and telephone poles whooshing by because it's dark out. You develop a sort of tunnel vision and pedal harder because you think you're going slower (even though you're not), and that tires you out.

But mostly winter clothes, especially from the waist down. I try to wear shorts no matter how cold it gets.

Thank you for this thread, people! I really thought it was just me. I pulled over this morning on the way to work to see if I had a flat tire or a brake dragging. A street that I’m used to spinning quickly in fifth gear, I’ve been slogging hard in fourth, sometimes even third. And my morning commute time has gone from 21 to 25 minutes.

There is truth in that statement, founded in physiology. The same place in the brain that processes information on speed also handles contrast perception? When you decrease visual contrast input, such as in low light or severe fog situations, your perception of speed is altered making you think you are going slower. Such is the explanatin for why you see those hundred car pile ups in the fog on the west coast. The drivers unconciously speed up into the fog if they aren't paying attention to the instruments. Of course, even if they think they are only going 40 mph when they are doing 70, 40 is still too fast for conditions...........

But I think that the slowness talked about here is real, actual, measured decreases in speed using your bike computer. Effort levels are percieved, but I bet someone with a heart rate monitor could back up the slower speed per given heart rate/exertion.

I have no scientific evidence to back any of what I am about to say, but one thing I 'feel' like I am experiencing a lot since the weather got colder is more dense automobile exhaust. That stuff just seems to linger more and when I suck in a lung full of it I don't feel like I am getting as much oxygen as I normally would get.

Of course, it could be that as I feel that nasty stuff I just don't breath as deeply or as quickly, but I think it is just bad air.

In my case it's studded tyres, more upright riding position on my winter bike, extra weight on self and in panniers. I have to carry a full change of clothes, including winter jacket and such.
I see three possibilities:
- it's baklava
- they're not Greek
- you eat weird stuff :)

--J

I'm taking the train for a few months...... can't deal with the numb feet and hands anymore.

Yes, I am slower in the winter. Soon to be rolling studs (if it ever freakin' snows here!!) and have added a trailer to my commuter. I figure with all things being equal, come spring I'm gonna be ready to roll fast and long!!
So yeah. I intentionaly added even more resistance to my ride.

See ya spring!

From my experience, I would say (E), which is the cold headwind in the face which often slowed me down, until I got a ski mask.

I wear 8 lbs. more clothing in the winter. Last summer I spent $100 on a carbon seat post to save 1/20th lb. so I could go faster.

Is it true if I spend $16,000 on bike stuff this winter I will go just as fast as in the summer?

Could it also be that you are drinking less water than you would in higher temps? I know I have that problem when riding in cold weather and my body definately gets tired a lot quicker because of it. Just a thought

I think the two biggest factors are stiff bearings and the wind resistance of bulky clothes.

You can immediately feel the stiffness of a cold bike as you kick-off on your early winter morning ride. the bike doesn't even coast as easily as it did in summer. Theoretically, the ride will improve as the bearings and grease warm up, but I don't think that happens effectively in below freezing temperatures, especially with the hub flange and spokes to act as cooling fins.

Grease in rotating bearings at very low temperatures turns the grease to a consistancy of soap or spun honey.

Also, clothing makes a HUGE difference in wind resistance. We are essentially kites on our bikes. The bigger the kite, well you get the idea.

I think the stiff tire hypothesis is off-mark because hard tires are supposed to give less rolling resistance and make for a faster ride.

I had an 87 Nissan with a 5 speed manual transmission. When it was really cold it took a significant amount of effort to move the shifter. Newer cars seem better because I think they use a lower weight oil in the transmissions that don't thicken as much.

So I think you're right that the wheels don't turn as easy and neither do the cranks. Compared to a car's transmission, they don't generate as much friction and they're more exposed so the lubricant won't warm up as much.

I don't think tires roll as easy however. It's just a hunch more than anything I can explain. Yes they're harder and they don't flex as easily, but they don't unflex as easily either. I just feel as if they aren't rolling in an optimum way.

Conversely, you have to expend additional energy to offset the cooling effect of that air in your system.

I think it is a mix of things: extra weight of clothes, increased friction between the layers of clothes over your knees, and the need to carry extra clothes for emergencies. Theoretically, your bikes bearings should warm fairly quickly and I would expect them to stay warm (think about riding your bike thru slush at the freezing point, the ice accumulates on the cogs you aren't using and your chain stays ice-free). Even your tires will warm up in a short distance, the difference there is studs and wider tires with tread that is being engaged. Winter biking is riding on a beach, uphill, with MTB tires. Why wouldn't it be slower?

I have the answer! I ride the same bike and tires year round on Boston area roads.
Cold effects bearings, tires, oil, O2 density, lungs, energy to heat the body and adds clothing weight.

You may have heard me and/or others say, "I don't know who is the person in the mirror; I haven't changed." Winter doesn't change our riding; it changes clocks, powermeters and odometers! It may even change incline on hills, length of roads and distance between mile markers! It clearly changes my bathroom scale.

Maybe it's the added weight of hot chocolate in the water bottle cage instead of plain old water.