Do you ride slower in the winter?

[johnnyb47]

Hi and Happy New Year :-) :-)
The last few rides I've ventured out on, I've noticed my average speed on set rides has dropped away with each ride. I get home feeling completely knackered ( which I always do lol) and my ride outs never deviates from my set route of 15 odd miles.
As a relative newbie to cycling it's got me wondering what's going on. Is it my general fitness level that has taken a nose dive or do I have an underlying health problem I'm not aware of.
Could it be the fact that cyclists by nature don't cycle as fast in cooler wetter conditions, and there is a scientific reasons for finding it hard to maintain a steady average.
My average speed ride at the moment has never been so low.
It would be interesting to know what you think on this.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still enjoying cycling and appreciate average speeds are not what its all about, but I am curious just to know why its taken a nose dive.
All the very best,
Johnny :-)

 

[vickster]

Yes. More clothing, heavier air, usually windy, wet mucky roads, maybe fatter tyres. Maybe fatigue due to the shorter days, lack of vitamin d etc

Gets asked plenty if you have a search

 

[biggs682]

Not so much slower just more careful

 

[screenman]

16 mph October till April 18 mph for the rest of the year, used to be quicker but always a difference.

 

[hoopdriver]

Not so much slower just more careful

Same here. Same speed but more aware of the state of the road surface and more likely to call off the ride if the temperature is much below 2C and, knowing the local frost hollows, I think a hard frost is likely to make the road surface slippery. I used to love riding in winter, even on bitterly cold frosty mornings, before sunrise, and rode for years quite happily at my usual speeds - until hitting a frost slickened patch if bitumen on a roundabout five years ago and damaging the ligaments in my shoulder. Been much more cautious about frost and potential black ice ever since. If the temperature is 3-4C or better though, I ride the same speed as I would any other time.

 

[biggs682]

it's another reason why i use an old scruffy bike as my winter road bike

 

[kingrollo]

Yeah - think of winter miles as just keeping the legs turning. Reasons can be:-

• ..Its cold - some of your energy is spent keeping warm
• You generally have more kit on
• If you're new to cycling it can be tempting to not take on as much water - its cold - the thought of a cold drink sloshing down your throat isn't so appealing as in mid July !
• It might be just me - but I find it hard to get winter kit right. I often find I am overheating about 90 minutes in - but even though I know this I like to be toasty starting out !

As an aside - and I hope you take this in the way its intended - but you need to look at doubling those 15 mile rides ! - Make that you're winter target if you like - notching up to 20 shouldn't be a problem then build from there....

 

[vickster]

Yeah - think of winter miles as just keeping the legs turning. Reasons can be:-

• ..Its cold - some of your energy is spent keeping warm
• You generally have more kit on
• If you're new to cycling it can be tempting to not take on as much water - its cold - the thought of a cold drink sloshing down your throat isn't so appealing as in mid July !
• It might be just me - but I find it hard to get winter kit right. I often find I am overheating about 90 minutes in - but even though I know this I like to be toasty starting out !

As an aside - and I hope you take this in the way its intended - but you need to look at doubling those 15 mile rides ! - Make that you're winter target if you like - notching up to 20 shouldn't be a problem then build from there....

You need panniers to put spare kit in

 

[kingrollo]

You need panniers to put spare kit in

Yeah - but even though I am in my mid 50's and fart along at 12 mph - I still think Im Peter Sagan - and he doesn't do panniers !

 

[vickster]

Yeah - but even though I am in my mid 50's and fart along at 12 mph - I still think Im Peter Sagan - and he doesn't do panniers !

How do you know on his winter training rides?

And you can’t be him until you learn to ride no handed

 

[kingrollo]

How do you know on his winter training rides?

And you can’t be him until you learn to ride no handed

I know - but when no ones around I just pretend !

 

[johnnyb47]

Thanks for the advice and views.
Always appreciated :-)

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The roads are full of skog. So take is easier on hills and bends.

 

[davidphilips]

Sometimes if i get really cold i find i have to cycle a lot faster to avoid an accident and i dont mean falling off the bike?

 

[Ian H]

These things go in cycles.

(see what I did there?)