Johnny Law

i noticed in mountain biking that it is much harder to breath when its cold out, is that normal?

The reason i ask is because i am about to head out and grab my first road bike, and i really want to ride it this winter!

grimslade

No, on a road bike, your lungs won't mind the cold.

Johnny Law

my lungs wont mind anything at all, heck people smoke and they dont mind it.

The question was, should i mind it?

Grumpy McTrumpy

i r yo

Just clarify to them you're on a road bike, should make all the difference.

hao

the human brain - is a roadie's brain as damaged as a mountain biker's?

MegaTom

Cold air is still cold no matter what kind of bicycle you're on.

Now if you're riding a trike, then that's another story......

Velo Gator

A picture says a thousand words.

SactoDoug

The air temperature should not make it harder to breath. I have run 5+ miles in Alaska in -30 F or colder temperatures. It didn't bother my lungs at all.

Now my legs and arms were different. Until they got warmed up, they felt weaker and stiff. Also, at such low temperatures, you have to have all skin covered.

I am assuming that you are not riding in -30 F temperatures. If so, then you should be fine.

kayakdiver

Do you remember the ending of the "Shining"

dploy

I find it much more difficult to breath in colder air - but I have asthma.

chadteck

That should work, but if not I've heard that wearing a balaclava or something similar helps people that have trouble breathing in the cold.

Seattle Forrest

The air temp doesn't depend on what kind of bike you're on. When you walk out the door, you're going to be cold. If there's any difference between road and mountain bikes, though, it's in how people ride them. Roadies don't like to stop. Once you warm up, you stay warm, thanks to the aerobic exercise. On the other hand, mountain biking can mean a lot of things, including letting gravity carry you down the hill as you keep yourself upright. Not only doesn't that generate enough body heat, but it also creates a chilly breeze.

Get a wool neck gaiter, attach it to the bottom of your neck, and pull the top up over your nose. Wear a wool beanie, too. As you warm up, pull the gaiter down, until you take it off entirely.

Lamabb

Cold air obviously bothers me, but it's tolerable until we get close to freezing and blow. Then I whip out the face mask. When you exhale with a face mask that covers your mouth, you get to breath in the air you just made warm by breathing out and it's nice.

Talldog

Cold air constricts blood vessels, including coronary arteries. It is a favourite technique of some cardio technicians to perform stress tests with the thermostat way down and the patient shirtless. Speeds things up as well as amplifying results. Exercising in the cold requires a gradual warmup to acclimate the body to the conditions. At that point you should be fine, although never at the same level as when exercising/riding in a "normal" or ideal temp.

Pilsley

You noticed (developed an opinion), so it would appear so.

Ride away.......!

dmcdam

Ummm, you mean CO2? Guess if you're looking to pass out....

tagaproject6

Just do what Jens would say in this situation...say, "Shut up, lungs!"

CFXMarauder

Perfect

DannoXYZ 

Pick up smoking. It toughens your lungs and you won't be bothered by cold anymore.

OC Noob Rider

ro-monster

Are you sure you don't have mild asthma? Cold air is a very common trigger for asthma attacks. Even an air-conditioned room is enough to set mine off. You can try lightly covering your nose and mouth with a scarf or balaclava; the cloth helps to take the chill off the air.

ArthurIhde

it is funny

coasting 

is this a parody of the human butt thread?

z-man

Fundamentally, cold air affects everyone's lungs, however, some people notice it while others do not. As air travels through the nose (and to a lesser degree through the mouth) it gets humidified and warmed. Thus, the colder the air outside the more potential for colder air to hit the airways, which causes them to narrow a bit, making it harder to breathe. Typically asthmatics (or others needing inhalers) are sensitive to this, but others may also notice the difference in breathing, especially at the beginning of the cold season.

As for riding...as has been said, you should feel it about the same as when riding a mountain bike. Although, the different terrain or speed in which you ride will affect your breathing and maybe how much you notice it.