Why do I feel less strong in cold weather?

[PamNY]

I'm biking through the winter just fine, but over the last 6 weeks or so I've found I just can't make myself work very hard. This could just be a normal variation in my energy level, I guess, but I wonder if the cold has anything to do with it.

My cycling goals are modest, but normally I do have them firmly in mind and I do challenge myself at least a couple of times a week. Lately I've felt that just getting outside is such a huge hurdle that it's all I can do.

Anyone else felt this way in winter?

Pam

[rubywagon]

Yes! While on a club ride yesterday (the ride I normally LEAD), I was trailing behind everyone, and I am normally near the front of the pack. I feel like a total slug in the cold weather.

[Maxxxie]

My theory is that your body is spending so much energy trying to keep itself warm that it keeps your legs from turning. Also, for me there is definitely a mental barrier. You know, that inner voice that says "It's cold, take me home, it'd be so much nicer just sitting on the couch with a nice cuppa tea!". :rolleyes:

Max

[Ritamarie]

Yes, different attitude for winter riding. I think it has to do with all of the clothes. It's like the kid dressed by his mother in the snowsuit, that says to his mother, "Go run and play?! I can't even move!"

[shootingstar]

I always tell myself for winter cycling, not to beat myself up for cycling less. That my body does require more energy to keep warmer.

As long as I cycle several times per week and if possible for myself, add in 1-2hills on some of those rides, to get my heart working harder. That type of psychology works for me.

For certain, I feel "heavier" when winter cycling under colder temperatures and with more layers.

There is a great article in Impact magazine, on body's use of energy for cold weather sports but unfortunately not online.

[moderncyclista]

Well your blood is thicker in cold weather, muscles are tense and you (and everyone else) is generally uncomfortable in cold weather.

Some of it is physiological and some is psychological. I think everyone is more sluggish in cold weather. I add at least an extra 5 -10 minutes to any journey in the cold. :o

[redrhodie]

Plus, you're wearing more clothes, which is more to bear.

[smurfalicious]

Ooooh! I figured this out the other day. I thought I had turned into the little pokey pony too. I've still been riding a fair bit, unemployed and all, so I couldn't figure out why I was sooooo slow. Then on a ride the other day I figured it out. Usually about 15 minutes into a ride my legs/brain get together and say "Ouch, this is HARD!" Normally, I push past that and get the sludge out of my legs. Somehow though, my brain "winterized" and I've listened to that voice. Once I ignored it the other day I found I was pretty much where I'd been all summer. Frustrating though, for sure.

[lph]

I honestly think that it's physically harder to push a bike through colder air. I mean, I do wear more clothes in winter, but once I'm wearing a winter jacket and tights, it shouldn't make much of a difference if I'm wearing one thin layer or two underneath. But I bike consistently in all temperatures and it is significantly more work to ride fast as it gets colder. There was a thread about this on bikejournal once, where there was a kind of agreement that it was a combination of a lot of things: bulkier clothes, less aerodynamic posture and clothing, more energy used to keep warm, less motivation to work hard in cold air, worse road conditions, a sluggish bike with poor shifting and more friction, but also more cold wind and "thick air", all combining to make you give up and just slug along slowly. It was interesting that everybody riding in winter had noticed the same thing.

[Selkie]

I've noticed the same thing and this year, have decided spend time on the trainer instead of torturing myself (we've had a snowy, colder than usual winter, regardless). All that time w/Coach Troy is paying off

Colder air and "winter" sunlight, or lack thereof, take the zoom out of me.

[skhill]

Maybe it's just me, but I attribute part of the winter slow-down to the changes in what I'm eating. In the warmer months I eat a lot from my garden, the farmer's market, eggs often from a neighbor's chickens, etc. Now that it's winter, I'm eating a lot of dried beans, frozen veg, potatoes, etc. And it's soups, not salads... My weight hasn't changed, but I *feel* heavier.... Anyone else notice something similar?

[arielmoon]

Yes, I feel that way too. It's usually more windy here when it's cold and I have to think that figures in there. I have more clothing on and therefore more wind resistance too. I try not to pay too much attention to it though!

[Geonz]

I figured out that a 20 mile ride in the winter feels like a 50 mile ride. So. I give myself mental credit for 50 when I get out for 20. Yes, it takes longer (but I ride slower bikes, and riding through snow *is* slower).

Next Saturday we've got the Illini Chill which is a 20 or 40 miler... but a 12 mile trip to get there and 12 more back. I'll be tired ;)

[PinkBike]

I still think it's just the extra clothes - same bike, same me, but now I'm hauling around an extra 10 pounds of clothes with each pedal stroke. I always feel it instantly.

[kenyonchris]

I hate the cold. I work in the cold, bike in the cold, stand around in the cold, dark rainy night and am totally miserable. I feel slower just WALKING. The guys were needling at me last night (at 3 AM)...they like to challenge me to physical things (which I always lose) so last night it was wall sits (4 minutes for me), incline push ups (15 for me), pull ups (3...I hate that), and the plank (2 min 20 seconds for me). It is a LOT less than I normally do in the gym, my theory is that when you add two pairs of long underwear, tights, thermal top, heavy jacket, muffler, kevlar vest, and the 30 lbs of stuff on my belt it decreases my productivity. The guys didn't buy that, but I'm sticking to it.

[PamNY]

It is a LOT less than I normally do in the gym, my theory is that when you add two pairs of long underwear, tights, thermal top, heavy jacket, muffler, kevlar vest, and the 30 lbs of stuff on my belt it decreases my productivity. The guys didn't buy that, but I'm sticking to it.

Ha. Your theory makes sense to me. I think standing around (or walking slowly) in the cold would be very trying indeed.

The replies to this thread are reassuring. I did bike last winter, but didn't have enough experience to detect the slowing I'm finding this year.

Skhill, your food theory is interesting. I'm as locavore as possible, so winter food is very different. And of course the extra clothes are a factor.

I'm taking a week off to avoid burnout. I plowed through a 32 mph wind last week which just about finished me mentally (and damn near knocked me off the bike, too).

Now that I know this happens to everybody and it's not just me being a wimp, I hope to regain my usual cheery attitude.

[shootingstar]

Gosh, after a 47 kms. ride in 4-9 degree C sunny weather today, I'm ready to fall asleep. It's only 6:30 pm.

'Course that included standing around outside for nearly 2 hrs. in total for various reasons before and after Dutch bike mass ride.

Ride wasn't an unfamilar ride in terms of my capacity, but maybe I didn't eat enough before, during this ride. Maybe cold temperatures requires more body fuel anyway.

Or maybe it's the warm shower afterwards, that nearly lulled me to sleep before supper. :rolleyes:

Amazing what cold temperature riding can do to body. And there wasn't even any snow the ground today. How easy can winter riding be?
I better shape up this spring. :) Oh well, it was all good. There will be a blog story shortly, provided I don't fall asleep in front of computer.

[Owlie]

I think it's a combination of more clothes, the fact that I'm breathing cold air and expending more energy to keep warm.

[TrekTheKaty]

There's something to be said about periodic training (I think that's the correct term). The midwest weather doesn't allow us to ride in the winter. We take 2-3 days of spinning (down from riding 5-6 days a week during the summer) to keep up our fitness and then cross train: yoga, weight training, treadmill. Maybe your body is just ready for a break and a change of activities.

[Dianyla]

All of the above, and also investigate Vitamin D deficiency which can impact athletic performance (http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/phys-ed-can-vitamin-d-improve-your-athletic-performance/).

[PamNY]

Interesting that Vitamin D should be mentioned. I've become very curious about that.

So, I took a week off and now I'm back to feeling like Wonder Woman. I am burning myself out a bit, and I probably need to rotate activities as was suggested.

However, I think my main problem was in my head -- I just wasn't allowing for the difference cold weather makes and I was getting negative about it. Once I got reassurance here, I was okay. We all know there's a mind/body connection, but this was a good chance to see how powerful that really is.

[TrekTheKaty]

My sister was just diagnosed with dangerously low Vit D levels. Dr. gave her prescription strength vit D, but it made her sick. I told her to ask about light therapy and the Dr. said, "Those lamps are expensive. Try going to the hardware store and buy "grow" lights for plants." She has the lamp next to her stationary bike in front of the TV. Can't hurt!

[malkin]

I think it might be because it is so much work to put on all those layers of clothes, and then squirm and struggle to smooth them all out.

Then I wrastle with those silly shoe covers.