Cold weather riding

[CannonChick]

Hey everyone!
This is the first winter that I will be road biking... it seems that since the temperature started dropping, my performance is not what it was in the summer. I can ride as far as before, but not as fast. Is this normal, or am I being a wuss or something?

 

[bmhosey]

Hey everyone!
This is the first winter that I will be road biking... it seems that since the temperature started dropping, my performance is not what it was in the summer. I can ride as far as before, but not as fast. Is this normal, or am I being a wuss or something?

I often find myself hydrating less when its cold out... to the point that it affects perfomance. Think aout other things that may change... diet? sleep? borth change for me in the winter months with shorter days and cravings for hearty comfort food.

Someone else may chime in that knows what they are talking about.

 

[Smartt/RST]

I often find myself hydrating less when its cold out... to the point that it affects perfomance.

This appears to be very common, as most seem to think that since it is cold, they don't need to stay on top of their hydration (just personal observation over the years - I also don't see most people drink/eat enough in general .
This is true to an extent, but cold weather is also dry weather (unless you're riding in the rain, of course) and so we loose a lot more moisture through our breathing that when it's warm/humid.
Another common "error" I see is cyclists not wearing enough clothes during cold weather. When a part of your body gets cold, your body diverts blood away from the cold area as much as it can get away with (to what degree depends on where we are talking about). With the legs specifically, this can mean a decrease in blood flow to areas that are not "directly" contributing to the work of pedaling your bike (feet, knees, achilles, etc., making them feel stiff). Cold legs can also lead to an increased use of muscle glycogen, which will increase the rate of fatigue. Note: your body's primary guage of core temperature is below the brain, so if you are wearing a lot of clothes on your torso, but not your legs, you may "feel" warm while your leg muscles are actually quite cold.
There is more physiology involved (including basic acclimatization to temperatures you are not familiar with...as with heat or also altitude), but suffice to say, cold is a stressor. To perfom well in it, you must stay warm, hydrated, fueled up and just plain ol' get used to it.

 

[CDR114]

Yes this is also my first year riding when the temperatures drop below 55 F. I have also noticed that when the temperature is below 50 F, my "hard" rides are are only 1% faster then my "easy" warm weather rides. This has been especially noticable this fall with some days in the upper 50's to lower 60's and other days in the upper 40's. I have dressed warm on the colder rides. I have rationalized the decrease in performance to having more cothes on (i.e. more resistance on leg movement). I wonder if the body has a harder time breathing colder air? I am also an avid snow skier and never felt a performance degradation in that sport, but you don't ski in the summer so I have no reference point to judge from.

 

[closesupport]

I like to apply a good layer of deep heat or Similar heat traetment creams to my legs, lasts for about 2 or 3 hours keeping your hands feet and legs warm whilst riding so its still shorts for me, although i have started using arm warmers, i don't think it is cold enough for leggins

 

[JTE83]

Hey everyone!
This is the first winter that I will be road biking... it seems that since the temperature started dropping, my performance is not what it was in the summer. I can ride as far as before, but not as fast. Is this normal, or am I being a wuss or something?

I'm not a fast biker, though I hit a top speed of 32.9mph. This is my first year of biking using a heart rate monitor (Polar S720i). I biked 2035 mi this year as of Nov 8. On July 19th - after several good weeks of training my Heart Rate of 158 bpm had an avg speed of 18 mph. But as of Nov 6th, I had an avg speed of 16 mph at a heart rate of 159 -- so it seems that colder weather makes you decrease in performance -- e.g., higher heart rate for a certain speed. Either that or my less milelage biked in Oct has atrophied my muscles.

 

[bluecann]

cold/dry air is more dense than warm/humid air, thus slowing you down.

 

[CannonChick]

cold/dry air is more dense than warm/humid air, thus slowing you down.

thanks for all the great info... I really appreciate it!

 

[Docinabx]

Hey everyone!
This is the first winter that I will be road biking... it seems that since the temperature started dropping, my performance is not what it was in the summer. I can ride as far as before, but not as fast. Is this normal, or am I being a wuss or something?

Good chance you have occult asthma!!

 

[Smartt/RST]

I like to apply a good layer of deep heat or Similar heat traetment creams to my legs, lasts for about 2 or 3 hours keeping your hands feet and legs warm whilst riding so its still shorts for me, although i have started using arm warmers, i don't think it is cold enough for leggins

I don't recommend the use of such products for regular training. Their effect is mainly superficial.
Anecdote: We all see the pros greased up in major races, but that's because they know they will be working very, very hard to offset any cold conditions. In contrast, pros typically wear more clothes during training than most cyclists I see. Yes, they are lean, but what they understand is the importance of keeping the poorly vascularized connective tissues warm (e.g.: knees, achilles heel, hands, feet). It may feel like the legs are warm from rub on heat treatments, however, it's not that the heat has reached the muscles, it's because your neural sensors for temperature are very near the surface of the skin (the other primary one is below the brain).

 

[Smartt/RST]

cold/dry air is more dense than warm/humid air, thus slowing you down.

????
Last I checked, air density was a matter of altitude (the higher the altitude, the lower the air pressure) and humidity (as in water is more dense than air).

 

[CannonChick]

Good chance you have occult asthma!!

is that asthma from too much devil worship?...lol!!!

 

[bluecann]

????
Last I checked, air density was a matter of altitude (the higher the altitude, the lower the air pressure) and humidity (as in water is more dense than air).

part of that is true. air density does decrease at higher altitudes but thats due to air pressure not humidity. at lower altitudes air density also decreases with a higher level of humidity. when its humid outside (usually in the warmer months) heavier oxygen and nitrogen molecules are replaced with lighter water molecules so the air is less dense. as fall/winter approaches the humidity level drops, the air becomes drier, & those lighter water molecules are replaced with the heavier oxygen & nitrogen molecules so the air becomes more dense and adds resistance. you would think that the opposite would be true but it isnt.

 

[closesupport]

I don't recommend the use of such products for regular training. Their effect is mainly superficial.
Anecdote: We all see the pros greased up in major races, but that's because they know they will be working very, very hard to offset any cold conditions. In contrast, pros typically wear more clothes during training than most cyclists I see. Yes, they are lean, but what they understand is the importance of keeping the poorly vascularized connective tissues warm (e.g.: knees, achilles heel, hands, feet). It may feel like the legs are warm from rub on heat treatments, however, it's not that the heat has reached the muscles, it's because your neural sensors for temperature are very near the surface of the skin (the other primary one is below the brain).

i do recommend the use of heat creams, for no other reason than they help keep my arms and legs warm, until i get warmed up. you see ric i ride at 4.00am here at the minute its very cold, more often than not its also very wet, and the first 4-5minutes in shorts in these conditions are nothing more than pure perishing. its feet, and hands that get me the most now. i'm looking for arm warmers, and a gillet at the minute just to add a little warmth and comfort to my rides.

 

[Smartt/RST]

part of that is true. air density does decrease at higher altitudes but thats due to air pressure not humidity. at lower altitudes air density also decreases with a higher level of humidity. when its humid outside (usually in the warmer months) heavier oxygen and nitrogen molecules are replaced with lighter water molecules so the air is less dense. as fall/winter approaches the humidity level drops, the air becomes drier, & those lighter water molecules are replaced with the heavier oxygen & nitrogen molecules so the air becomes more dense and adds resistance. you would think that the opposite would be true but it isnt.

Thanks...I stand corrected. Coincidently, just had this conversation w/Ric. He slapped me something good and warned me never to be incorrect again.

 

[ric_stern/RST]

Thanks...I stand corrected. Coincidently, just had this conversation w/Ric. He slapped me something good and warned me never to be incorrect again.

damn right.

 

[closesupport]

damn right.

guess! you have never been wrong before hey? if you say thats right, i have to wonder weather your male or female, since its the women that are always right ric, go easy... we all make mistakes from time to time, even me

 

[robkit]

i had attributed material reduction in speed to increased frontal area - the colder it is the more gear we put on. a goretex jacket alone must add .10cm^2 to frontal area over a tight jersey or skinsuit?

 

[Carrera]

Comfort seems an alien concept these days and I confess my whole approach to harsh weather training is chaotic. Seeing as I work shifts and it's dark by 16.00 p.m. when I get up I find myself cycling in pitch dark and rain in the night. Went for a sprint last night in a wooly pullover and tracksuit bottoms, with a white T-shirt on top so car drivers can see me. I had a good sprint uphill but got soaked and felt pretty miserable in the process. Still, the task was completed.
Like you I sometimes cycle at 4.00 a.m. as a means of trying to beat the rain. By day it usually always rains but early mornings sometimes provide a gap.

i do recommend the use of heat creams, for no other reason than they help keep my arms and legs warm, until i get warmed up. you see ric i ride at 4.00am here at the minute its very cold, more often than not its also very wet, and the first 4-5minutes in shorts in these conditions are nothing more than pure perishing. its feet, and hands that get me the most now. i'm looking for arm warmers, and a gillet at the minute just to add a little warmth and comfort to my rides.

 

[closesupport]

Comfort seems an alien concept these days and I confess my whole approach to harsh weather training is chaotic. Seeing as I work shifts and it's dark by 16.00 p.m. when I get up I find myself cycling in pitch dark and rain in the night. Went for a sprint last night in a wooly pullover and tracksuit bottoms, with a white T-shirt on top so car drivers can see me. I had a good sprint uphill but got soaked and felt pretty miserable in the process. Still, the task was completed.
Like you I sometimes cycle at 4.00 a.m. as a means of trying to beat the rain. By day it usually always rains but early mornings sometimes provide a gap.

i can sympathise with you there, i have been working very early mornings 5.00am starts but i do cycle to work, i have found myself sprinting pretty much every morning to and from work, since its dark when i get up but light when i go to bed, since having 2 children sleeping at 9.00pm onwards is totally out of the question, any how, today was my final day at work on this grave shift, so maybe i'll beable to put in some extra miles that i have neglected over the last few months.

Out of work, but looking forward to time spent on the bike, plus added bonus, track fee's are reduced when signing unemployed so if there is anyone in the wigan area, who can offer me a job oppertunity, maybe even someone near by that wants someone to accompany them on rides over the next few months up until the racing season begins again.

Here I am available for ride and work.

wooley jumers i find to hot, coats and tracksuits are to hot, and i suffer from the effects of heat exhaustion that causes me to vomit, but i have found comfort in riding in tights, top and a thermal top (Carrera Boys thermal top) thin sock hat with helmet, therml socks are always a plus.....