Harambe wrote:
more in fo wrote:
Souplesse is not an old wives tale like some of the old school beliefs. It is the art of efficient pedalling. It is much harder to do in winter.
Maybe that's why it's a good idea to use much lower gears on cold days and you are finding it tough and slow going, but not when you are feeling good.
It is harder for me to ride hard when I'm cold. I just assumed this was because it's harder to get warm cycling than it is running.
What about cold weather makes for bio-mechanically inefficient pedaling?
We are less energy efficient when cycling in cold weather. On a long uphill it might be different. But I struggle on the short hills when the temperature is near freezing, despite wearing insulated clothes.
More blood goes to your skin to keep warm and less to your muscles. Total energy output per minute might be the same, but speed is lower. So the total time is longer and more energy is used for the same distance.
The worst is freezing rain. Pure misery on a bike. Some of the extremes that pro cyclists have to endure....well running is a much simpler and easier sport.