This page describes some potential factors that slow us down in winter and how much of an effect each factor could have on our speed. They claim that the density of colder air is the big winner in causing us to lose speed.

https://www.icebike.org/Articles/SlowerWinter.htm

I fall into that 10% - not sure if I should worry though

I'm glad I came across this thread as I was wondering the same thing. I had chalked it up to bearing grease getting thicker and a tendency for stronger winds from less helpful directions.

I'm unconvinced. I don't think I know anybody who'd miss that reference.

I do, too. And I'm one if those whipper snappers. ;-)

I like to think that more than ten percent would get it, but then again I'm not that great with numbers. For example... 1, 2, 5, no, 3. See what I mean?

PS-Tis but a scratch. :-P

Well, you have to know these things when you're a king.

We were in the nick of time. You were in great peril.

I don't think I was.

Yes, you were. You were in terrible peril.

Look, let me go back in there and face the peril.

No, it's too perilous.

Look, it's my duty as a knight to sample as much peril as I can.

No, we've got to find the Holy Grail. Come on.

Oh, let me have just a little bit of peril?

No. It's unhealthy.

I bet you're gay.

Am not.

I got a lot slower when I was turned into a newt












I got better

Hi,

If you really have a tail wind the whole time, yes, it will help.

But most of the time, you'll find that you get a head wind half the time and a tail wind the other half, and in that case, you lose more than you gain. (Just like you lose more time going up and down a hill than you would on a flat road.)

Cheers,
Charles

p.s. Yes, the wind often hits you on the side, but that doesn't help most people...

I got a lot slower because I had to chop down the tallest tree in the forest with a herring, and then bring back a shrubbery, along my way.

Ni!

It's good to be the King.

"Pee Boy!"

"Oui, oui?"

Well i didn't vote for you.

you can't expect to weild supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you.

"It's a simple question of weight ratios! An 18 pound bike could not carry a 200 pound...wait, let me check my notes."

Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away.

I know this thread is dead, but oh well.

My own speeds on cold winter mornings vary by day - it doesn't make any sense to me. I even got off my bike to check tire pressure a few times, convinced I had a flat because pedaling was so difficult. I think it came down to dense air, wind, and I might have been tired from my workout the night before.

And for the sake of consistency:

Help, help, I'm being repressed! Did you see him repressing me? You saw it, didn't you!

because i can ,


Bloody peasant!



On topic , the biggest speed variations i see are the different between Monday and Friday . Temp doesn't seem to have much to do with it .

It's probably already been stated... remembering the "Ring of Truth" and the 32 jelly donuts per day...
BTW, for the record I'm European and laden.

Most of the calories (energy) we produce are to keep our bodies warm.
The next greatest portion of energy used while riding is to push aside the air, faster means more calories required
Air speed greatly increases heat transfer from our warm bodies, face and head to the cold air
The temperature difference body to air also matters, greater temp difference means greater energy transfer
Cooler muscles are not as efficient as warmer muscles
So, we go slower in cold weather because there are less calories available to generate continuous power comfortably and our muscles are not quite as efficient.

perhaps that is a simplification, I'm sure all of the other things also matter.

This thread is a silly place.