Is it me or is riding harder in the winter?

[DaveGM]

At lunchtime today the weather looked promising for a modest bike ride. The sun was shining although it was cold and the breeze seemed to be fairly modest judging by the movement in the trees.

I decided on a very short ride of about 12 miles to the promenade, around the marine lack and back.

the wind was coming from the north east and my ride out was directly into this cold wind. According to the BBC the temperature was 4 deg C and wind speed 13 MPH.

I felt I really struggled riding into the wind with speed (according to the Garmin) of no more that 10 MPH and often less!

In the late summer when I first started I am sure this sort of riding felt a lot easier. I suppose the air is denser and you are using more energy. I am not fit and am in my 60's now and only been riding again for 6 months. after a 40 year break!

I felt a bit disheartened on my return with an average speed of 11.6 MPH, although I used the shared cycle track pedestrian route and there was quite a lot of slowing down required. I did record a speed of 23 MPH wind assisted on the return leg which I enjoyed!!

Perhaps i should ditch the Garmin and go out to enjoy at a level I feel comfortable with.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[vickster]

Yes it's harder, colder air and wind make it so. Yes, ditch the garmin or stick it in your pocket and just upload when home

And ignore average speeds, just get the miles in your legs. Winter miles worth double summer miles I reckon!

 

[Crackle]

I rode into the same wind at about the same speed along the front. In fact it took me a few miles of riding after that to get going again, so today was hard. Not the time of year to worry about speed. Work in km's in the winter!

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

It's harder

 

[steveindenmark]

Who cares how fast you are riding in Winter?

There is a reason all the Pro cyclists are in the middle East to race at the moment.....its warm.

Cycling is hard in Winter. Forget the speed and just ride.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Not just you. My ride today felt like a real slog on the sections into the wind and on the hills. Nice with the tailwind on the way back though.

Keep at it. It's all good training and as the saying goes "winter miles mean summer smiles"

 

[Racing roadkill]

Meh, summer winter, spring, whatever. If you live in a country with seasons, you have to MTFU, or GTFO.

 

[Jimidh]

It's definitely harder but these miles over the winter are what makes for a good summer's riding.

Says the man who has sat on his backside watching sport all weekend due to a severe life threatening bout of man flu

 

[Doobiesis]

It's the hardest time to get on your bike and cycle. If you went out with high winds and cold, you'll be home and dry now. Although, being caught in high winds and the rain isn't nice either.

We all have rides where we think we've done bad and don't feel you got out of it what you put in, and other times you're elated at how well you done.

If we all stuck to going out when conditions were perfect for cyclists, let's be honest, we'd never go out

Well done getting out in February, you got further than the people sat on their sofas!

 

[Kajjal]

You will benefit from building fitness now later in the year.

It is harder due to weighing more, body +clothing etc.
More restrictive clothing than just shorts and a top.
Colder, wetter and windier
Less aerodynamic to keep warm
The roads are covered in mud and other things.

Riding on a warm summers day is completely different and you will go alot faster with less effort. At the moment by us it is freezing, wet, dull with strong winds which is much harder going.

 

[raleighnut]

I seem to find that if you're 'working' at going as fast as you can that you'll end up going slower whereas if you're enjoying just being on the bike you can be amazed at the average speed you achieve.

 

[mjr]

Riding isn't harder because the snowdrops and daffodils you see while cycling but miss while motoring are beautiful... but you don't go so fast.

 

[cyberknight]

Yes
My average speed on a return commute in summer is around 16 mph for my route , last Monday with the cold and wind is was ............. 12 mph average with one section on the flat into the wind i was doing 6 mph .

 

[DaveGM]

Meh, summer winter, spring, whatever. If you live in a country with seasons, you have to MTFU, or GTFO.

Thanks. Very constructive comment! - unlike others!

 

[Brandane]

Meh, summer winter, spring, whatever. If you live in a country with seasons, you have to MTFU, or GTFO.

Or - you can just go out when you feel like it; when you know you are going to enjoy it rather than turn it into some sort of endurance test. We don't all feel the need to prove our manliness by cycling in wind/rain/cold.
Anyway, YOU live in the south where you don't have REAL seasons. Come up here for a winter or two and see if you still feel the same .