Distances?

Theomerchant

Is anyone else having trouble covering the distances they were in the summer months?

Its my first winter riding road bikes and no matter how hard I try I cant hit the distances I was hitting the summer, I topped 115miles in 6.5 hours in the summer months and now I'm having trouble hitting 60 in 4.5 hours!!!, Just running out of energy really quickly!, is this because of the cold or riding less (because of the cold). Its really frustrating as this is my first year riding road bikes and I quickly got my fitness up over the spring ready for the summer.

I get about an hour an evening 5 times a week on the trainer doing variable interval training but I'm still worried its not enough to keep my fitness levels up.

Frustrated is the word for this winter!

MichaelW

You shouldn't expect to go as fast. We all hibernate in winter.
Traditionally, winter is used to build and maintain an aerobic fitness base using long, steady miles.
Come spring you work on some speed and climbing in preparation for the "season".
Everyone reaches some peak of fitness but you can never maintain this peak. Skilful trainers time the peak for their big competition. It is quite common to peak to soon in the season and burn out. You also have to avoid over-training injuries.

acidstrato

frustrated your not doing enough

yet your over doing it in my books

relax a little, take a few days off, you dont lose fitness levels over night, its only december after all.

ilm_zero7

blessed by being able to go for a cycle of around 20 miles before breakfast this am - in the relative warmth and on dry roads - flying tonight back to the UK so may be the last ride for 2 weeks looking at the weather

dodgy

Below roughly 5 degrees centigrade, air is about 7 or 8% more dense than air at 25 degs C. This roughly equates to 1.5mph off your average speed.

As I say, it's all approximate/rough/about etc etc, but the upshot is it's harder to rider further and faster in cold weather and not just because you're less motivated or wearing more clothes. It's air density.

Theomerchant

dodgy wrote:

Below roughly 5 degrees centigrade, air is about 7 or 8% more dense than air at 25 degs C. This roughly equates to 1.5mph off your average speed.

As I say, it's all approximate/rough/about etc etc, but the upshot is it's harder to rider further and faster in cold weather and not just because you're less motivated or wearing more clothes. It's air density.

No way!!, that makes a lot of sense as sometimes when I get out in the cold and go for it, it feels like I'm trying to breathe in syrup!!, oh well think I'll just have to grit my teeth like everyone else and wait until spring!!.

Thanks for that by the way!!

plowmar

My god does that mean that at -5 I'll be going backwards?

But it gives me a reason I was looking for last year for slower times. Plus of course your additional clothing will make you bulkier.

Just dig in, or should that be dig your way out, (haven't been able to get out of the estate for nearly a month), and you will be able to feel the benefit next March.

meanredspider

We had the local hospital physio and endurance athelete come in to talk to us about training. One point he made was that there's a correclation between how quickly you get fit and how quickly you lose that fitness. How true that is, I have no idea - except that he's a professional

Chiggy

Barometric pressure is also in the equation.

994 mb and -4 C. 9% more dense than STP.

Consider your clothing. You were wearing shorts and a S/S in the summer. I bet your wearing a lot more today.

And I bet you're not pre-heating the air before you breath it in....

meanredspider

dodgy wrote:

Below roughly 5 degrees centigrade, air is about 7 or 8% more dense than air at 25 degs C. This roughly equates to 1.5mph off your average speed.

The first bit is very true (you should notice your car goes quicker on cold damp mornings). The second bit depends pretty heavily on what your average speed was in the first place.

dodgy

I said roughly, several times. Just making a general point, not providing exact data.

But you probably knew that.

JackPozzi

OP are you drinking enough on the long rides? In the cold weather I find I'm less inclined to take a swig of energy drink but it's still surspringly easy to get dehydrated which could be why you're running out of energy?

AndyF16

I've noticed the same as the OP, I'm no expert but colder joints and muscles, cold air being 'more difficult' to breathe, and having to ease off on corners, roundabouts and cyclepaths must all contribute to the drop I expect

Garz

I also find if you have old injuries, during the extreme cold they tend to ache or play up. The snow/ice hasn't shifted enough round my way, only been on the turbo - it's highly frustrating, just have to be patient for the weather.

Theomerchant

Iv been taking about two full 750ml bottles out with me and even though I dont feel like I need that amount I end up finishing it before I even get home!, I think in a nutshell winter riding is pants in comparission to summer riding, Bring on 2011!!!

paulbox

I think it's much harder work when it's as cold as it is, went out on my mtb yesterday morning (roads round here are terrible still) and was knackered in under an hour.

Bite valve on Camelbak turning in to a block of ice between each swig isn't much fun either.

Bring on warm sunny days... 8)

Andrew N

I have always explained the fact I am tired cycling in the winter because I am less fit, since my main season goals tend to be mid summer...can I really explain away my poor performance on the weight of the air???

dodgy

Andrew N wrote:

I have always explained the fact I am tired cycling in the winter because I am less fit, since my main season goals tend to be mid summer...can I really explain away my poor performance on the weight of the air???

Partly, yes!