Slower in colder weather???
11-25-07, 12:50 PM
#1
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Slower in colder weather???
It's been about 35f the past few mornings when I got started on my ride and I noticed that I'm about 1-1.5mph slower then I've been compared to where I was in the early/late fall. Does the cold weather have an effect on your speed or overall performance?
Last edited by EffSizzle; 11-25-07 at 12:57 PM. Reason: add
11-25-07, 12:52 PM
#2
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Yeah. Duh. Cause it's freakin' cold, man.
Anyway, don't despair. In cold weather you actually burn more calories. So even if you're going slower you body has to burn more fuel.
Anyway, don't despair. In cold weather you actually burn more calories. So even if you're going slower you body has to burn more fuel.
11-25-07, 12:56 PM
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Replace your bearing grease with lightweight oil. 
If you're putting in sub-average times, it's probably just due to the fact that hard efforts that leave one panting afterward are not nearly as much fun or easy to do once the mercury dips. I don't know how it goes for most other riders, but I'm not nearly as likely to do time-trial efforts once it gets cold. When fall and winter comes, I'm usually practicing and training for 'cross, so my workouts are much shorter anyway.
If you're putting in sub-average times, it's probably just due to the fact that hard efforts that leave one panting afterward are not nearly as much fun or easy to do once the mercury dips. I don't know how it goes for most other riders, but I'm not nearly as likely to do time-trial efforts once it gets cold. When fall and winter comes, I'm usually practicing and training for 'cross, so my workouts are much shorter anyway.
11-25-07, 01:05 PM
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Its a combination of factors.
1. Colder air is denser making the wind resistance higher.
2. Your body burns more fuel simply keeping itself warm, using some of the energy you'd use pedaling.
3. You're probably wearing more clothing which also contributes to the additional wind resistance.
4. We typically ride less in cold weather and are not in our peak shape.
5. If the roads are slightly wet or possibly icy, you may be taking corners more carefully, helping to contribute to your slower averages on a ride.
These are all little things but they add up. Don't sweat it, you're still going to be better off come spring than the fair weather crowd that didn't ride all winter.
1. Colder air is denser making the wind resistance higher.
2. Your body burns more fuel simply keeping itself warm, using some of the energy you'd use pedaling.
3. You're probably wearing more clothing which also contributes to the additional wind resistance.
4. We typically ride less in cold weather and are not in our peak shape.
5. If the roads are slightly wet or possibly icy, you may be taking corners more carefully, helping to contribute to your slower averages on a ride.
These are all little things but they add up. Don't sweat it, you're still going to be better off come spring than the fair weather crowd that didn't ride all winter.
11-25-07, 01:16 PM
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is this really true? i seem to need less water & calories when i ride in the cold. then again, i'm a freak.
11-25-07, 01:42 PM
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Synthetic grease is the way to go if you are riding in cold temperatures as regular grease gets pretty stiff and does add a good deal of resistance in the bb and hubs.
11-25-07, 02:38 PM
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Yes, cold weather does have an effect on your speed or overall performance. And you're not even into cold weather yet ... wait till it gets well below freezing!! I'm not any slower at 35F than I am at 50F or 80F, but once the temps drop below freezing, that's when I get slower.
As for burning calories ... not much difference in cold weather and hot.
As for water consumption ... you need to drink as much in the summer as you do in the winter. You still sweat the same amount, you just don't notice it as much in cooler conditions.
As for burning calories ... not much difference in cold weather and hot.
As for water consumption ... you need to drink as much in the summer as you do in the winter. You still sweat the same amount, you just don't notice it as much in cooler conditions.
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11-25-07, 02:49 PM
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11-25-07, 03:10 PM
#11
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?
I don't see what is funny unless you don't realize that when I speak of winter riding I am looking at riding in weather that can be extreme.
Our forecast for Monday is close to -30 C and in this kind of weather one uses products that are not adversely affected by cold... synthetics offer better cold weather performance than conventional greases and oils.
Monday's weather will be cold enough to give regular oil the consistency of honey.
I don't see what is funny unless you don't realize that when I speak of winter riding I am looking at riding in weather that can be extreme.
Our forecast for Monday is close to -30 C and in this kind of weather one uses products that are not adversely affected by cold... synthetics offer better cold weather performance than conventional greases and oils.
Monday's weather will be cold enough to give regular oil the consistency of honey.
11-25-07, 03:47 PM
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geez, this had been beatin' to effin' death. yes, you're slower. anything else?
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11-25-07, 04:09 PM
#14
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Amazingly enough, the correct answer usually is that your body cannot dissipate heat effectively when you're suited up to protect against the cold. That's why Asso's gets the big bucks for temperature specific clothing that allows your body to moderate body temperature effectively. Other answers provided are minor issues - unless it's freakin' cold.
11-25-07, 04:10 PM
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I need longer to warm up in cold weather, but I know what you mean.
11-25-07, 04:22 PM
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Absolutely it's true. Look it up in the medical literature. You body burns more fuel keeping itself warm than it does in warmer weather. I think in very warm hot weather the body even actually tries to burn less fuel - burning fuel causes heat, which is bad in hot weather. But it goes through the calories very quickly in cold weather trying to stay warm.
11-25-07, 04:52 PM
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I'm about 2.5 to 3.5 MPH faster under 40 degrees. Probably because it's freaking COLD and I want to get back in the warm house!!!!!
