Why does my small ring feel so big in the cold?

I'm OK riding in the colder weather, but it never ceases to amaze me
how much more work it seems to be to make the bike go once it gets
below 40 degrees. Just don't tell me it's mostly got to do with the
density of the air...

;-)

(Mark Scardiglia) writes:

I'm OK riding in the colder weather, but it never ceases to amaze me
how much more work it seems to be to make the bike go once it gets
below 40 degrees. Just don't tell me it's mostly got to do with the
density of the air...

I was wondering this today. When it's cold out, my average speed
drops and my subjective effort increases. I think that it may have to
do with the fact that cold weather tends to occur with short daylight
hours and less riding, which in turn leads to less fitness and slower
speeds and more subjective effort. In other words, I'm out of shape
when it's cold out.

Despite that, I was lucky enough to be able to take advantage of
unseasonably warm and clear November weather here in Minnesota to get
in a 180 mile week. Usually by now we have had at least a 1" snow
fall; instead it's been in the mid-40s F.

(Mark Scardiglia) writes:

I'm OK riding in the colder weather, but it never ceases to amaze me
how much more work it seems to be to make the bike go once it gets
below 40 degrees. Just don't tell me it's mostly got to do with the
density of the air...

I was wondering this today. When it's cold out, my average speed
drops and my subjective effort increases. I think that it may have to
do with the fact that cold weather tends to occur with short daylight
hours and less riding, which in turn leads to less fitness and slower
speeds and more subjective effort. In other words, I'm out of shape
when it's cold out.

Despite that, I was lucky enough to be able to take advantage of
unseasonably warm and clear November weather here in Minnesota to get
in a 180 mile week. Usually by now we have had at least a 1" snow
fall; instead it's been in the mid-40s F.

Tim McNamara wrote:
(Mark Scardiglia) writes:


I'm OK riding in the colder weather, but it never ceases to amaze me
how much more work it seems to be to make the bike go once it gets
below 40 degrees. Just don't tell me it's mostly got to do with the
density of the air...


I was wondering this today. When it's cold out, my average speed
drops and my subjective effort increases. I think that it may have to
do with the fact that cold weather tends to occur with short daylight
hours and less riding, which in turn leads to less fitness and slower
speeds and more subjective effort. In other words, I'm out of shape
when it's cold out.

If that were the main effect I'd expect to still feel slow on days in
the winter that are exceptionally warm. But I've found that a bike ride
feels particularly effortless on such days. Conversely an early cold
snap has an immediate effect on perceived effort - long before any loss
of fitness could occur. I'd attribute part of the effect to the need
for more clothing and partly to physiological factors; e.g. your body
needs to expend more energy on keeping warm and I'd expect some
efficiency losses in the lungs as blood vessels contract in response to
cold air.

Despite that, I was lucky enough to be able to take advantage of
unseasonably warm and clear November weather here in Minnesota to get
in a 180 mile week. Usually by now we have had at least a 1" snow
fall; instead it's been in the mid-40s F.

That's better than I managed this week in the much warmer but wetter
SF bay area. Born in Minn., grew up in ND, glad to have escaped.

Tim McNamara wrote:
(Mark Scardiglia) writes:


I'm OK riding in the colder weather, but it never ceases to amaze me
how much more work it seems to be to make the bike go once it gets
below 40 degrees. Just don't tell me it's mostly got to do with the
density of the air...


I was wondering this today. When it's cold out, my average speed
drops and my subjective effort increases. I think that it may have to
do with the fact that cold weather tends to occur with short daylight
hours and less riding, which in turn leads to less fitness and slower
speeds and more subjective effort. In other words, I'm out of shape
when it's cold out.

If that were the main effect I'd expect to still feel slow on days in
the winter that are exceptionally warm. But I've found that a bike ride
feels particularly effortless on such days. Conversely an early cold
snap has an immediate effect on perceived effort - long before any loss
of fitness could occur. I'd attribute part of the effect to the need
for more clothing and partly to physiological factors; e.g. your body
needs to expend more energy on keeping warm and I'd expect some
efficiency losses in the lungs as blood vessels contract in response to
cold air.

Despite that, I was lucky enough to be able to take advantage of
unseasonably warm and clear November weather here in Minnesota to get
in a 180 mile week. Usually by now we have had at least a 1" snow
fall; instead it's been in the mid-40s F.

That's better than I managed this week in the much warmer but wetter
SF bay area. Born in Minn., grew up in ND, glad to have escaped.

"Peter" wrote in message
...
| Tim McNamara wrote:
| (Mark Scardiglia) writes:
|
|
| I'm OK riding in the colder weather, but it never ceases to amaze me
| how much more work it seems to be to make the bike go once it gets
| below 40 degrees. Just don't tell me it's mostly got to do with the
| density of the air...
|
|
| I was wondering this today. When it's cold out, my average speed
| drops and my subjective effort increases. I think that it may have to
| do with the fact that cold weather tends to occur with short daylight
| hours and less riding, which in turn leads to less fitness and slower
| speeds and more subjective effort. In other words, I'm out of shape
| when it's cold out.
|
| If that were the main effect I'd expect to still feel slow on days in
| the winter that are exceptionally warm. But I've found that a bike ride
| feels particularly effortless on such days. Conversely an early cold
| snap has an immediate effect on perceived effort - long before any loss
| of fitness could occur. I'd attribute part of the effect to the need
| for more clothing and partly to physiological factors; e.g. your body
| needs to expend more energy on keeping warm and I'd expect some
| efficiency losses in the lungs as blood vessels contract in response to
| cold air.
|
| Despite that, I was lucky enough to be able to take advantage of
| unseasonably warm and clear November weather here in Minnesota to get
| in a 180 mile week. Usually by now we have had at least a 1" snow
| fall; instead it's been in the mid-40s F.
|
| That's better than I managed this week in the much warmer but wetter
| SF bay area. Born in Minn., grew up in ND, glad to have escaped.


I have attributed the 'more fatigue/ energy input req'd' cold weather
phenomena to two things, primarily:

It takes a fair bit of energy to warm the air one breathes.
and
Cold weather clothing is a bit heavier, and far more constricting than
typical summer wear.

Whether or not they have a discernable effect, all the bike's lubricants
will be more viscous.

Working outside in the winter has a similar effect; increasing fatigue,
appetite/ energy consumption, and rest requirements.

ED3
St.Paul

"Peter" wrote in message
...
| Tim McNamara wrote:
| (Mark Scardiglia) writes:
|
|
| I'm OK riding in the colder weather, but it never ceases to amaze me
| how much more work it seems to be to make the bike go once it gets
| below 40 degrees. Just don't tell me it's mostly got to do with the
| density of the air...
|
|
| I was wondering this today. When it's cold out, my average speed
| drops and my subjective effort increases. I think that it may have to
| do with the fact that cold weather tends to occur with short daylight
| hours and less riding, which in turn leads to less fitness and slower
| speeds and more subjective effort. In other words, I'm out of shape
| when it's cold out.
|
| If that were the main effect I'd expect to still feel slow on days in
| the winter that are exceptionally warm. But I've found that a bike ride
| feels particularly effortless on such days. Conversely an early cold
| snap has an immediate effect on perceived effort - long before any loss
| of fitness could occur. I'd attribute part of the effect to the need
| for more clothing and partly to physiological factors; e.g. your body
| needs to expend more energy on keeping warm and I'd expect some
| efficiency losses in the lungs as blood vessels contract in response to
| cold air.
|
| Despite that, I was lucky enough to be able to take advantage of
| unseasonably warm and clear November weather here in Minnesota to get
| in a 180 mile week. Usually by now we have had at least a 1" snow
| fall; instead it's been in the mid-40s F.
|
| That's better than I managed this week in the much warmer but wetter
| SF bay area. Born in Minn., grew up in ND, glad to have escaped.


I have attributed the 'more fatigue/ energy input req'd' cold weather
phenomena to two things, primarily:

It takes a fair bit of energy to warm the air one breathes.
and
Cold weather clothing is a bit heavier, and far more constricting than
typical summer wear.

Whether or not they have a discernable effect, all the bike's lubricants
will be more viscous.

Working outside in the winter has a similar effect; increasing fatigue,
appetite/ energy consumption, and rest requirements.

ED3
St.Paul

Cold air is also drier than warm air: better hydration needed.

But... How sure are we that it's harder? I see a lot of "seems like" and
"feels like" in this thread. Forgive me if I haven't read everything
carefully enough, but is anyone numerically confident that riding in the
cold is slower?

If so, I suspect the biggest difference is aerodynamic. Cold weather
clothing is bulkier with more folds & fibers to catch wind.

--
--
Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall
"We should not march into Baghdad. ... Assigning young soldiers to
a fruitless hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning
them to fight in what would be an unwinnable urban guerilla war, it
could only plunge that part of the world into ever greater
instability." George Bush Sr. in his 1998 book "A World Transformed"

Cold air is also drier than warm air: better hydration needed.

But... How sure are we that it's harder? I see a lot of "seems like" and
"feels like" in this thread. Forgive me if I haven't read everything
carefully enough, but is anyone numerically confident that riding in the
cold is slower?

If so, I suspect the biggest difference is aerodynamic. Cold weather
clothing is bulkier with more folds & fibers to catch wind.

--
--
Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall
"We should not march into Baghdad. ... Assigning young soldiers to
a fruitless hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning
them to fight in what would be an unwinnable urban guerilla war, it
could only plunge that part of the world into ever greater
instability." George Bush Sr. in his 1998 book "A World Transformed"

(Mark Scardiglia) wrote in message . com...
I'm OK riding in the colder weather, but it never ceases to amaze me
how much more work it seems to be to make the bike go once it gets
below 40 degrees. Just don't tell me it's mostly got to do with the
density of the air...

I am so glad to hear other people talking about this! I've noticed
the same thing over the years and I figured either (a) I was really
out of shape (depressing) or (b) I was just being a wimp that day. It
never occurred to me that the body might require more energy to warm
the cold air.

Off-hand, I'd guess the benefits of cold air a dense air = more O2
per breath; cold air may mean tires won't deform as much (?) --
anything else?? Doesn't sound like much.

The drawbacks a denser air = higher drag for any given KPH; more
clothing = constricted breathing, higher drag coefficient and heavier
load; cold lubricants = more effort; cold air = possibly more energy
spent keeping body warm.

Neither one sounds like much -- everything is probably on the order of
0-2% of total power/resistance, but the drawbacks do appear to
outweigh the benefits in terms of performance.

In any case, it makes me feel better to think the cold weather is just
a tougher environment for riding...

JR