How much slower are you when it's colder, and why?

neeb

Ok, so it's now 5-10C where I am, compared to 15-20C just 2 or 3 weeks ago. My average times on my favourite rides have dropped by a whole 1mph, and it feels harder too. The thing is, I'm dressed properly and don't feel cold at all, so why the difference? Is it just down to muscle efficiency at different temperatures? I suppose I've been riding a little less due to it being darker in the evenings. How much difference do you find that temperature alone makes to your speed/subjective effort?

virtuoso

I think it's three things

1 Higher air density
2 More clothes means you are less aero
3 Less motivated/happy when the weather is crappy

unclemalc

Your 'physical' biorhythm might be low at the mo'.
See if the same thing is happening same time next week, all other things being equal....
It might get worse before it gets better however.

http://www.facade.com/biorhythm/

I know most readers will diss this as bollox but I rate it as a good indicator of form.

chuckcork

colder means winter and darker which tends to slow anyone down....

fossyant

Get the clothing right - No difference here !

cycologist

if it's a bit chilly I often ride briskly in order to keep warm .The cold also aids my concentration and therefore maintains the pace, whereas if it's really warm, I just enjoy it and can't be arsed to make and maintain an extra effort.

neeb

I'm thinking now that I've just become a little untrained during the last few weeks... I guess I have been out a little less, and for less long, due to lack of light. Time to get the indoor trainer out....

singlespeedexplosif

I find I'm faster, if anything. Cold gives you the extra motivation to dig deeper and push harder. Plus the added motivation of getting to the cake shop sooner.

eyes like marbles

i am slow as it is - dark and cold i'm even slower.
puddles on the cycle path/mud bath is verrrrry slow.

maybe i am part sloth?

ride_whenever

faster in the cold definitely, sounds like you're overdressing.

synchronicity

Why are ants slower in colder weather? (I know, the answer -cause they are reptiles)

I would say it is mostly about how well you cope with #3:
"Less motivated/happy when the weather is crappy"

SCR Pedro

Hey there,

My excuse is that it's getting late in the season and I'm becoming fatigued from the hard efforts over the summer months. Add to that to a mountain of problems I'm having to overcome, and you have a recipe for crappy speeds.

I'm strangely looking forward to taking December/January off and getting into something else.

Cheers
Pedro

feel

synchronicity wrote:

Why are ants slower in colder weather? (I know, the answer -cause they are reptiles)

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:?

neeb

Another theory I have is that during the winter you are fighting viruses off half of the time, so even if you don't really have any symptoms your body is using energy fending them off... don't know if there's a medical basis for that, just an idea.

Really though, I think it's probably just that I'm a bit lazier when the weather's bad and find it easy to fall below a certain critical threshold of weekly mileage. :oops:

martinwitnam

It could be to do with the amount of clothes that you wear and that the extra clothes worn in the cold restrict joint movement.
I always thought that ants were insects not reptiles??? :?

Leedsblue

Coming from a running background I alwatys feel that winter training helps build stamina and makes you go faster in summer. Reasons :

Colder therefore more clothes therefore heavier therefore have to work harder
More clothes, less aero-dynamic
The wind is normally stronger in winter (no proof on that, just an observation)
Work harder to do the same due to the colder conditions
Roads are worse with more debris/leaves/silt/water which all slows you down

chriskempton

I think Virtuoso's along the right lines - if you're a regular at a series of weekly TTs, virtually everyone does slower times at the cold events. Think the muscle warmth thing is an important point. Also, in winter, the layers of tights, overshoes etc. create resitance against joint movements and slow you down more.

Jeff Jones

chriskempton wrote:

I think Virtuoso's along the right lines - if you're a regular at a series of weekly TTs, virtually everyone does slower times at the cold events. Think the muscle warmth thing is an important point. Also, in winter, the layers of tights, overshoes etc. create resitance against joint movements and slow you down more.

Ditto - I always TT a lot slower in colder conditions than warm ones, and I'm no less aero. Maybe it's a combination of muscle warmth, breathing in cold air and higher air density, I'm not sure.