Slowing Down In Winter...

LeicesterLad

I'm no sport scientist, so...Notice lately that my commute into work has slowed by about 1.5 minutes, and my commute home by a little more (i take a longer route home), however it still feels like im putting in the same effort as i was in July, now i know my commute home would slow down because there are unlit sections and i tend to ride with more care, however in the morning, its still light(ish), the roads havn't been Icy or wet, so no danger there...is it just a temperature thing? Does this mean when its -5 out my commute will take about 6 hours instead of 25 minutes? :?:

jibberjim

Yes, you are slower in the winter due to the road temperature, and the air temperature. The air is thicker and the cold roads harm road resistence.

CiB

I'm slower but put it down to not being able to see pot holes etc along dark unlit roads, esp with oncoming traffic insisting on keeping full beam as long as poss.

rolf_f

I'll post my speed plot over the last 2 years if I remember to tonight; it is quite interesting. Last winter I slowed horribly but that was mostly due to over-doing it and the slowdown began in August!

This year I am being a bit more sensible and I haven't lost too much - probably between about 2 and 5 minutes depending on if I do the short 9.5 mile route or one of the longer ones around 20 miles or more.

There are several factors though. Aside from air properties, as mentioned is greater precaution (though I'm not sure that makes so much difference - cautious cornering for example won't have a big impact on total journey time) and heavier traffic which probably costs me a couple of minutes on some of my longer routes. Another hit soon will be moving from a carbon bike to a heavy steel tourer and then, when the snows come, my MTB.

keef66

I can't blame the bike cos I only have one, or the traffic since I cycle on largely traffic-free lanes in the evenings, and I never cycle cautiously anyway. I put it all down to having to push through cooler, denser air.

I notice the same with the car where journey times are the same but fuel consumption is maybe 10% worse in winter.

It's annoying; I've just been put on iron tablets to correct my anaemia, and already I'm feeling a lot stronger on the bike, but because of the falling temperatures in true Little Britain fashion, the computer says no.

Ben6899

keef66 wrote:

I can't blame the bike cos I only have one, or the traffic since I cycle on largely traffic-free lanes in the evenings, and I never cycle cautiously anyway. I put it all down to having to push through cooler, denser air.

I notice the same with the car where journey times are the same but fuel consumption is maybe 10% worse in winter.

It's annoying; I've just been put on iron tablets to correct my anaemia, and already I'm feeling a lot stronger on the bike, but because of the falling temperatures in true Little Britain fashion, the computer says no.

Chin up, keef. You're still putting in the miles - most folk, at this time of year, go into hibernation. Whether they're fair-weather cyclists or runners or whatever. Think how good your CV fitness is compared to the average bloke on the street.

MattC59

jibberjim wrote:

Yes, you are slower in the winter due to the road temperature, and the air temperature. The air is thicker and the cold roads harm road resistence.

Actually, as the road temperature and tyre temperatures are lower, the molecules in the tarmac and rubber will be vibrating less, and rolling resistance will decrease.

cougie

I dont think its wise to be pushing for PBs all year round.

Something the Brownlee Brothers said once - 'Those who race well in training, rarely race well in races'

Take your time in winter - you'll be slower - extra clothes and you need extra caution in the conditions.

Save the speed til Spring or Summer.

gmacz

Greasy slimy muddy roads bring down the speed. Fast into a bend and you see the rainbow effect of the diesel/water/oil and you know you should be slowing down.

sloppyschleckonds

All my rides this month have been my fastest all year, but then its not winter yet

t5nel

I, for one, am *much* less brave in the dark or as soon as there is a wet road. I have no intention of finding the limits of adhesion of my tyres! I am also more cautious about cars etc than when it is light.

Whilst there is some physics behind comments about air density etc I really doubt it would make that big a difference.

I reckon biggest difference is more traffic, more clothing and more strain on CV system in cold.

I might 'go for it' aerobically tonight and see how close I can get...for me average seems to be about 10% slower now than september.

Tim

LeicesterLad

As a mythbusting excersize, i too am going to PLF tonight, see how the numbers crunch after that. I suspect ill still slower.

rick_chasey

I'd imagine it's more to do with body temperature and bulky clothing restricting movement.

LeicesterLad

Well i worked like a dog and was still a minute down this evening. Its probably a mix of all the above, ill have to try riding the same Sunday loop as i did a few months ago, see if the numbers change on a longer ride...i imagine they will.

hambones

Still only wearing shorts and one layer on top for my commutes and times are about the same. Also I can't remember what a wet road looks like, not been out in the wet or rain since early August!

I must add that I am the lightest I have been for 26 years and faster now than at any other time due to some excellent training over the past couple of months. I'm looking to keeping it going through the winter before stepping up the intensity come spring...

Bozman

With me i find layers of clothing and the greasy roads slow me down but it's the clothing that seems to restrict me more than anything, your skin needs to breathe so surely layers restrict this however breathable your clothing is and this will effect your performace.
As soon as i'm back down to a SS jersey and bib shorts my times pick up, the winter bike may be a slight issue too but i'm not going to blame my tools.

Stone Glider

'Slowing Down In Winter' is tricky in the wet, scary on wet leaves & d*mn near impossible on ice.

Sorry, rather misread the OP :oops:

t5nel

LeicesterLad wrote:

Well i worked like a dog and was still a minute down this evening. Its probably a mix of all the above, ill have to try riding the same Sunday loop as i did a few months ago, see if the numbers change on a longer ride...i imagine they will.

average 80% MHR horrible traffic...

net result 34:30 ~ 2:30 extra

TBH remove the traffic from the equation and it would have been close but still slower

rolf_f

Here it is - mileage and speed since March 2010. And they tell you that average speed doesn't tell you anything!

You can see that since recent holidays, top speed has been lower but slower trips have been faster. Basically, my route is more down in the morning than up so normally I am much quicker in the morning. In the last couple of weeks, wind has either been low or from the East which has helped push me uphill home - to the extent that some of my return trips have averaged almost the same speed as my outward trips which is pretty remarkable.

Edit - well you would be able to see the November mileage if there was still a scroll function for images......

iOptix

i am slower in winter too - mainly due to the fact i just cant be bothered

Peddle Up!

When the light fades and the temperature falls my body goes into fat retention mode. My excuse, anyway.

LeicesterLad

Peddle Up! wrote:

When the light fades and the temperature falls my body goes into fat retention mode. My excuse, anyway.

In the Winter, usually around christmas, i just go into Fat mode.

Peddle Up!

LeicesterLad wrote:

Peddle Up! wrote:

When the light fades and the temperature falls my body goes into fat retention mode. My excuse, anyway.

In the Winter, usually around christmas, i just go into Fat mode.

Ah yes, the first ride of the New Year.

LeicesterLad

Peddle Up! wrote:

LeicesterLad wrote:

Peddle Up! wrote:

When the light fades and the temperature falls my body goes into fat retention mode. My excuse, anyway.

In the Winter, usually around christmas, i just go into Fat mode.

Ah yes, the first ride of the New Year.

usually a 3mile loop, Average speed 8mph.

Peddle Up!

LeicesterLad wrote:

usually a 3mile loop, Average speed 8mph.

That fast eh?

Subsy

Is this just on your commute or do you mean you generally aren't as fast, even on longer rides?

Slowing down deliberately during the off season is a very good idea to build your base for the next season.

LeicesterLad

Subsy wrote:

Is this just on your commute or do you mean you generally aren't as fast, even on longer rides?

Slowing down deliberately during the off season is a very good idea to build your base for the next season.

Just on my commute, been taking it easier on my longer rides, however i don' really need a rest, because i don't race!

Subsy

I have no explanation beyond whats been discussed already - if its a shortish commute you might simply not be getting fully warmed up - you could test one day by doing 20 minutes on the trainer before you leave - but probably a bit overkill, and not ideal before work!

briantrumpet

LeicesterLad wrote:

however i don' really need a rest, because i don't race!

Ditto. I'll do fewer and somewhat shorter rides (and will really push the commute, as I'm not saving the legs for 100-mile efforts), simply because of the weather. Curiously I haven't slowed down yet, but maybe that's just because I'm fitter than a year ago. Dunno though - my riding is highly unscientific.

Garz

Peddle Up! wrote:

When the light fades and the temperature falls my body goes into fat retention mode. My excuse, anyway.

+1

Less time on the bike due to no more evening rides, with work and the wife soaking up the time I have now gone into this mode too!

That and on wet, damp or icy roads I tend to not go hell for leather on the remote Pennine lanes...

Jonny Fortnight

+1 for cold muscles.

I find it takes a LOT longer to get the legs warmed up but they never feel as strong as in the summer months.