Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Are you slower in winter?

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Are you slower in winter?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-07-12 | 07:58 AM
  #51  
giantcfr1's Avatar
Ha ha ha ha ha
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,555
Likes: 19
From: Gold Coast; Australia

Bikes: 2004 ORBEA Mitis2 Plus Carbon, 2007 Cannondale Bad Boy Si Disc, 2012 Trek Gary Fisher Collection Marlin WSD 29er Aldi Big Box (Polygon) 650b

Originally Posted by MinnMan
...I moved temporarily to Canberra ...
Please say hello to Uncle Ken for me. He lives in Oxley.

I am much much faster in winter. The summers are too humid here in Kyoto to ride hard.
giantcfr1 is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 08:37 AM
  #52  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,299
Likes: 16
It doesn't get any easier, you just go slower...

On those rare winter days when the temp gets up to 60F and I'm in shorts and long sleeve shirt, my average speed goes right back up to my summertime average.
jeffpoulin is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 09:26 AM
  #53  
Essex's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 1
From: Northeast United States

Bikes: Tarmac, Focus Urban 8, Giant Hybrid

Originally Posted by jdon
Fort Chip? Coldest ever recorded is -51. Do I still need to go north to find this elusive -60? Like speeds and distances on BF, people like to exaggerate weather stories.
Fahrenheit readings and record lows - Resolute Bay Airport. It's cold up there.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
Temp.jpg (42.8 KB, 13 views)
Essex is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 09:34 AM
  #54  
shoemakerpom's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Palm Coast, Fl.

Bikes: Cannondale SystemSix Carbon

Definitley slower foir me! I think its because I am always trying not to get sick so I don't always ride where I am breathing too heavy witch for me lead to soar throat.
Summer is always better no matter how hot it gets.......
shoemakerpom is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 09:49 AM
  #55  
Senior Member
Sheldon Brown Memorial - Titanium
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,243
Likes: 49
Originally Posted by Essex
Fahrenheit readings and record lows - Resolute Bay Airport. It's cold up there.
Been there many, many times. It can get cold. It isn't in Alberta though.
jdon is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 09:57 AM
  #56  
surgeonstone's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,222
Likes: 30
From: South Bend IN

Bikes: 1976 FRESCHI, 2004 Crumpton.

Originally Posted by jdon
Been there many, many times. It can get cold. It isn't in Alberta though.
Give it a break, Matchka's a right on solid person and says it like it is. You're nit-picking sounds a bit foolish.
surgeonstone is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 10:14 AM
  #57  
Senior Member
Sheldon Brown Memorial - Titanium
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,243
Likes: 49
Originally Posted by surgeonstone
Give it a break, Matchka's a right on solid person and says it like it is. You're nit-picking sounds a bit foolish.
Fact often sounds more foolish than fiction. I could care less what she claims and frankly, don't share your opinion. To each his own.
jdon is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 10:16 AM
  #58  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
From: US
Originally Posted by Machka
There's some debate (especially over in the Winter Cycling forum) if it is ...
-- the tire pressure
-- cold bicycle lubrication
-- the extra layers of clothing constricting movement
-- air density
-- road conditions


It would be interesting to see a segment on this topic on Mythbusters ... is it really air density or are there other factors at work?
Try this https://www.kreuzotter.de/english/espeed.htm

Originally Posted by surgeonstone
Give it a break, Matchka's a right on solid person and says it like it is. You're nit-picking sounds a bit foolish.
Yeah, he got pretty angry at me for debunking his lies about shaving hair on legs. He shaves his legs.
Rimmer is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 10:27 AM
  #59  
surgeonstone's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,222
Likes: 30
From: South Bend IN

Bikes: 1976 FRESCHI, 2004 Crumpton.

Originally Posted by jdon
Fact often sounds more foolish than fiction. I could care less what she claims and frankly, don't share your opinion. To each his own.
In this particular situation, the only thing that sounds foolish is a something or someone called jdon. Cheers.
surgeonstone is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 10:32 AM
  #60  
Essex's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 1
From: Northeast United States

Bikes: Tarmac, Focus Urban 8, Giant Hybrid

Originally Posted by jdon
Fact often sounds more foolish than fiction. I could care less what she claims and frankly, don't share your opinion. To each his own.
I posted data which illustrates how cold it can get at various points in Canada - specifically at that latitude near the North Pole. With windchill effects temperatures can certainly dip into lower numbers at lower latitudes in Canada. Either or, the conversation is about the physics and physiology related to perceived speed/fitness in colder temps.

On a physiological note - the kids up there certainly aren't thwarted by the cold as much as I was. They were riding beater bikes all over town ....many without brakes.
Essex is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 10:37 AM
  #61  
surgeonstone's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,222
Likes: 30
From: South Bend IN

Bikes: 1976 FRESCHI, 2004 Crumpton.

Originally Posted by Rimmer
Try this https://www.kreuzotter.de/english/espeed.htm



Yeah, he got pretty angry at me for debunking his lies about shaving hair on legs. He shaves his legs.
Is that chart accurate? For my typical weekday ride of 35 miles it calculated 400 watts average to get my average speed, seems a bit high.
surgeonstone is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 11:09 AM
  #62  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,247
Likes: 7
From: Northern VA

Bikes: Moots Vamoots, Colnago C60, Santa Cruz Stigmata CC, and too many other bikes I don't ride

So it's close to mid 60s today, and i just finished my morning ride. My average speed is right back to my summer average. Damn cold air.
dalava is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 11:20 AM
  #63  
surgeonstone's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,222
Likes: 30
From: South Bend IN

Bikes: 1976 FRESCHI, 2004 Crumpton.

Originally Posted by dalava
So it's close to mid 60s today, and i just finished my morning ride. My average speed is right back to my summer average. Damn cold air.
My brother is a schooner captain and sails and races nearly year round. His life is one of water, wind and meteorology. I mentioned this winter slowdown phenomena to him and without a seconds hesitation said the exact same thing, " Damned cold air is as heavy as lead, that's the problem".
surgeonstone is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 11:34 AM
  #64  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 595
Likes: 0
From: US
Originally Posted by surgeonstone
Is that chart accurate? For my typical weekday ride of 35 miles it calculated 400 watts average to get my average speed, seems a bit high.
I don't have a power meter to confirm. Difference in temperature for summer and winter 100F to 40F only shows 0.5mph for me which looks consistent with what people are saying. I don't wear heavy clothes in the winter.
Rimmer is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 12:06 PM
  #65  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Doohickie
It's the drag of extra clothing layers.
I'd debate it's the drag of the extra fat I've packed onto my love handles over the holidays flapping in the wind. But I make myself feel better and say it's the extra clothing. I could eat and drink less over the holidays i suppose....but then it wouldn't really be the holiday season now would it?
portland376 is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 06:40 PM
  #66  
a1penguin's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,209
Likes: 33
From: Silicon Valley, CA
I'm definitely slower in colder weather. We had a 60ş day and my commute was a lot faster. Extra weight from clothing, flapping wind jacket and having to warm up cold air are three reasons that I figure contribute to slower speeds.

Last edited by a1penguin; 01-08-12 at 02:59 AM.
a1penguin is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 08:14 PM
  #67  
Senior Member
Sheldon Brown Memorial - Titanium
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,243
Likes: 49
Originally Posted by surgeonstone
In this particular situation, the only thing that sounds foolish is a something or someone called jdon. Cheers.
Yeah, name calling always proves you are a champ.
jdon is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 08:54 PM
  #68  
mark1974's Avatar
y u dont like me?
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by baj32161
If I was any slower than I am in the summer, I would fall over
i dont get it
mark1974 is offline  
Reply
Old 01-07-12 | 11:56 PM
  #69  
surgeonstone's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,222
Likes: 30
From: South Bend IN

Bikes: 1976 FRESCHI, 2004 Crumpton.

Originally Posted by jdon
Yeah, name calling always proves you are a champ.
You do realize that saying one is doing something foolish is not name calling, it is rather an observation of an action. There is a difference.
surgeonstone is offline  
Reply
Old 01-08-12 | 12:02 AM
  #70  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,299
Likes: 16
Originally Posted by mark1974
i dont get it
He's saying he can't do track stands.
jeffpoulin is offline  
Reply
Old 01-08-12 | 02:18 AM
  #71  
MinnMan's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,768
Likes: 5,405
From: Minneapolis

Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease Carbon Deore 11, 2020 Salsa Warbird GRX 600, 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX disc 9.0 Di2, 2020 Catrike Eola, 2016 Masi cxgr, 2011, Felt F3 Ltd, 2010 Trek 2.1, 2009 KHS Flite 220

Originally Posted by giantcfr1
Please say hello to Uncle Ken for me. He lives in Oxley.
I went by Oxley this afternoon, on my way to the hill on Erindale Drive. Alas, I didn't see your Uncle Ken.
MinnMan is offline  
Reply
Old 01-08-12 | 08:05 AM
  #72  
Walter's Avatar
SLJ 6/8/65-5/2/07
Sheldon Brown Memorial - Titanium
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 5,398
Likes: 20
From: SE Florida, USA aka the Treasure Coast
There's a saying about arguing on the internet. Some of you are going out of your way to validate it.

Cease, desist, stay on topic and stop taking things personally.
__________________
“Life is not one damned thing after another. Life is one damned thing over and over.”
Edna St. Vincent Millay
Walter is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bananazebra
Commuting
21
10-18-14 10:59 AM
staleygreg
Road Cycling
7
07-30-14 06:23 AM
globecanvas
Road Cycling
18
01-05-12 11:50 PM
chico1st
Winter Cycling
23
09-13-11 09:58 PM
rumrunn6
Commuting
45
12-18-09 12:52 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.