I find that it takes much longer to warm up. I don't feel cold but my legs can feel like lead for twice as long as a normal warm-up.
Printable View
I find that it takes much longer to warm up. I don't feel cold but my legs can feel like lead for twice as long as a normal warm-up.
I'm glad it's not just me. I think my perception of what is and isn't a windy day has really changed, too, this winter. In the summer, I'd think it was windy if there was even a slight breeze. What a laugh! I would pay top dollar for a day like that now when the wind nearly knocks me down most rides.
Of course, slow or not, I'm very grateful that the weather's been so nice and that I'm remained healthy this winter. There's only been one weekend that I couldn't ride at all and that was a bit by choice (I decided to beat myself up in a 2.5 hour yoga class instead). I might not get a ride in this weekend either with rain/snow predicted but I'm taking tomorrow off and the skies look clear. At the end of the day, I'd rather be slow than grounded.
At least where I live, there has been definitely more wind overall once Autumn kicked in. It IS harder to ride in the wind, and the cold can slow you down, not to mention the heavier layers of clothes.
I hate to say it, but speed is more dictated by strength and endurance than the clothes you wear, the equipment tacked on and all those precious grams. It's not until you're really racing, when strength and endurance match those of the competition and you need every edge that you can get, that these things are important. Until then, you're just buying excuses.
Kit... don't "hate to say it"
Its true... absolutely and comprehensively
Say it... say it loud - too many people I race with blame the bike, the shoes, the helmet, the gears, the cranks.... etc etc etc... Very few own up to their own performance!
(I race at entry level still... )
And I am going to borrow your phrase - "buying excuses" - its perfect.
Excellent word crafting.
Sorry, but I can't afford to buy excuses- spent all my spare money on winter biking clothes so I can KEEP RIDING! I rode almost 4 hours today in 31F and almost got frostbite. Didn't bother looking at my speed, the hell with THAT... I just wanted to make it home alive! :cool:
Lisa- I just think that riding in 31 degree weather is a feat in itself! Besides, I think temperatures that low do have an effect on your speed. As SK said, it takes longer for our bodies to warm up (if they ever do!!!).
31'F???
Isn't that about 0'celsius???
Congrats on making it home without frostbite!!!
Brrrr.... I have trouble with a few degrees above freezing - let alone on it or below!!!
You rock, Lisa... and all you other gals who bike in the Northern winter... (In the southern hemisphere we had a 26' day here and yesterday it was 31'C (thats about 75-85'F I think in your language?)
Thanks Nancy and Roadraven, you make me feel good!
Yes, 31F is just below 0C. I admit it WAS cold. It wasn't so much the temp as the fact that we were out there pumping up and down hills for almost 4 hours.
I started out feeling cold, then I felt "less cold", fairly comfortable for the middle third of the ride, then I guess I lost steam and hands and feet got really cold. Also the sun was lower in the sky and wasn't warming us anymore at the end because it was behind the trees or hill line most of the time. I had a red face in a perfect circle shape that coincided with the edges of my balaclava! :D And my eyeglasses got realy cold and were giving me an "ice cream headache". :p
DH didn't seem to think much about it- he's always so much warmer than me- (like sleeping with a 6 foot long hot water bottle!) :p
I know there are lots of women out there riding under WAY colder conditions, and in the ice and snow too, but I'm new to this and all my life I've avoided exercise and being outside in the cold, so I feel good about being able to do this at all. Thanks for your encouragement, it means so much to me. :)
Right there with ya.Quote:
I know there are lots of women out there riding under WAY colder conditions, and in the ice and snow too, but I'm new to this and all my life I've avoided exercise and being outside in the cold, so I feel good about being able to do this at all. Thanks for your encouragement, it means so much to me.
Everytime I ride when it's below 60F degrees... I feel accomplished. I absolutely HATE the cold and bundling up.
Coldest ride this year, 35F degrees. BBBUUURRRR. Yes, I'm a whimp... to all the ladies living where it's really cold.
But here in Texas, I'm use to riding in 100F degrees heat.
Honestly, I'd rather ride when it's cold (well, maybe not 30 degrees, but in the 40 range, perhaps) than in 100 degree heat. You can always dress for the weather, but it's hard to undress for the heat! I melt in the heat (could be that I'm so sweet and made of sugar! :D ).
But I don't agree that for a recreational cyclist who slows down in cold weather versus summer rides is "buying excuses" for poor performance. If you're riding consistently, your fitness shouldn't have changed that much. Sure, we all have off days and wonder why we left an anchor out to drag behind us some days - or gosh, I think I have a flat! - but it can be more difficult to ride in the cold. Not every body performs optimally in wide temperature ranges. Many things could slow a body down in the winter. No foul. No shame.
Its interesting, Regina, how we have both interpreted Kitsune's post differently.
I felt her "buying excuses" was more about riders who say "if I just had a better bike... different wheeels... a new set of cranks... a *brand-name* helmet" then they would be better/faster/stronger riders.
I certainly don't think recognising the weather and its effect on one's performance is "buying excuses". I didn't get that from Kit's post either.
Like you the heat really beggars my performance... and unlike many of the gals here, I don't ride outside in extreme cold because I know my muscles just wont do what I ask of them.
:rolleyes:
RR, Your interpretation was more on what I meant. It just irks me that people will need name brand this or special that. I'm all for brand loyalty, but to have to advertize is excessive, to feel like it'll make you better for having it is mislead and misplaced faith.
That said, I think I do better in cold weather than warm. Blame my Wisconsin girl roots, but 35-40 is a good range for me. My commuting gear consisted of two layers (three if it was really, really cold, like below 30)... insulating pants, then rain pants over the top, dri-fit (or similar) long sleeved top, a 'vest' (poly sweat shirt with the sleeves removed) and rain jacket. All vents open, etc. gloves were my usu. fingerless fare with $5 stretch-gloves underneath. I don't clip, so I just wore wool socks and my docs (or for rain, my gore-tex patrol boots) REI beanie under helmet. I think the whole outfit comes to $120 or so (allowing that the boots are about seven years old, the jacket is used for other stuff, etc etc...) wearing this I would *still* overheat. :eek:
My standpoint on all this comes from hearing of the death of cyclocross as a layman's sport. the days when cx was taking your everyday bike, slapping wider tires on it, wearing gear like the above and going anaerobic hardcore on it for fun's sake in the snow, slush and cr@p instead of having a superlight bike, with clips and special gear etc. While the people who can afford that stuff will likely win, I'm going to be the person who comes as close as I can given my physical endurance- to the point where my shortcomings in equipment make the difference- and have to accept it. Gracefully. And then go have a recovery beer after to chase off the chill. I just can't see pouring that much money into a hobby if you don't have to.
I see you are in Montgomery county MD. R there any sat-sun rides this summer I can look forward to. I will be in that area from end of may til Jul.
You mean it won't????? :eek: :D :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by RoadRaven
Well, guess I won't be getting those new Fulcrum Racing wheels if they won't get me up that hill faster! :rolleyes:
Okay. I'll buy that.
But....sometimes you want some bling on you bike just for bling's sake. It's like putting 22" spinners on your Escalade. What's the point of that? Well, if you have to ask...there is no point. It just *is*.
p.s. Logdiva32 - I sent you a PM re: riding in MoCo.
Well of course the idea that a certain brand of helmet is going to make you faster is kind of silly for nonprofessionals- but then again noboby here was claiming it would! ;)
I'm no racer (more like a snail) and I have not run into people who blame poor racing performance on their cranks.
All I know is that stuff like heavy winds and extreme cold will most certainly slow ME down. Winds can be good to push against though, for the extra workout.
It's probably just as challenging to ride in 100F temps as it is to ride at below 30F. Some people do better in one over the other. I'm not quite sure yet whether I do better in extreme heat or cold. I do pretty well in 35-45 degrees, and I enjoy it. However, if I'm going to ride in sub-freezing cold I have found I need some pretty heavy duty layering to keep from freezing especially if I am out for several hours. An hour is fairly easy to keep warm in though.