rsbob 

My average usually dips about 1 to 1.5 MPH on 40+ mile rides. But then, I am well dressed when the temps are in the 40s. sound about average? (ZWIFT rides not withstanding)

Troul 

I know my mph suffers from being suffocated in trying to stay warm with more layers, but my suspect radar hasn't gone off to monitor just how much it has iced over the MPH in the colder cpnditions. I much prefer 50F or warmer, but as of late the temps have been mid to low teens.

What I have noticed year after year when the cold spell lingers around is that the distance suffers greatly while the effort level increases. Eventually those two factors will redirect me to riding indoors as the lack of enjoyment will overlap... while saving me from slipping outside & under a bus, I can just trip myself into the shower.

brian416

Anywhere from 1-3mph for same power for me. I’m guessing it’s due to higher air density in freezing conditions and drag from winter shoe covers, jacket, bibs, etc

CAT7RDR

Shouldn't peak athletic performance peak with colder air temperature?
That is, denser air means more O2 into the lungs.

MinnMan

More like 5 mph. In these parts, winter riding means totally different bike, tires, road conditions, not to mention kit. 14-15 mph is hauling a$$ on studded tires over snow.

bblair

For me, way harder to ride in the cold. Harder to breathe, muscles tight, not as fun.

Winter is just for riding around with friends and getting base miles.

jadmt

https://www.welovecycling.com/wide/2...onal-cyclists/

Sierra_rider

I'm the inverse...I'm generally riding at higher average speeds in the winter. For me, it has nothing to do with fitness, but rather the elevation/mileage ratio. It's because I usually get "snowed" out of the mountainous roads in winter and end up on warmer roads that are merely hilly.

ScottCommutes

I'm not a road biker, and I'm not fast. I'm a commuter. Guys with road bikes and spandex sometimes pass me like I'm standing still.

Cold and rain sometimes actually speed me up because I want to stay warm or get inside.

frdfandc

Late fall into winter until spring, the road bike goes on the trainer and I only mountain bike during this time frame. Rest of the year is mixed between road and mountain.

13ollocks

1-2 mph sounds about right - a few extra layers are likely to have a negative aero effect, and I’ll not out looking for PRs in any case - winter means not trying to work up a sweat, just taking it easy and staying warmish.

13ollocks

this might work for motors, but we’re far more complex, and there are many factors that influence performance than simply “oxygen in = energy out” - muscles take longer to warm up, we inhale cold air more shallowly, extra layers are less aero, cold air is also denser (ie more drag) etc etc.

Steve B.

No drop reallly, I'm just as slow in the winter as in the summer.

rsbob 

And the big PLUS, we use energy to stay warm.

MinnMan

Agreed, but prefer a different word order, "winter means trying not to work up a sweat"

The right balance in winter is putting out just enough watts to keep the body warm.

rsbob 

If you do, having a good base-layer, like Merino wool, certainly helps. Yesterday’s ride started in the 30s and ended at 49-50*. I had a cycling jacket with zip vents, a winter long sleeve jersey and Merino. When the temps warmed to the mid to high 40s and I was getting warm, the jersey was unzipped to mid-waist and the jacket vents were opened and its lower and upper zippers retracted. I was a bit sweaty but not drenched and freezing.

MinnMan

Around here, that's shoulder season conditions, which can be most annoying. The ride starts chilly and you're dressed for it. Then things warm up and you're overdressed.

This can be really annoying when the early morning "cold" is below 10 °F and the late morning "warm" is, say, in the high teens or low 20s. You don't want to be pouring sweat at 18 °F.

Of course, there is no law against stopping and removing a layer.

Oh yeah and +1 for Merino. Love it.

choddo

Those temps are nuts. It rarely gets below 0C here and that’s “can’t feel my toes after two hours” territory.

MinnMan

Lots of people ride in that kind of cold. Nobody in the Winter Cycling sub-forum would raise an eyebrow. And folks who ride in interior Canada go out in yet colder weather.

But this is why I was saying that the speed goes way down in the winter. For real winter, it's a very different kind of experience.

bblair

I suppose to make this at all meaningful, we'd need to know where you live. Winter in Arizona is better than winter in Wisconsin.

Sierra_rider

We don't have the extreme temps that you guys have back east, but riding apparel choice can be a struggle here. I live at 4000' and ride downhill almost to sea level on most of my winter rides. So not only am I leaving with cold morning temps, but I also have the windchill, from descending, to factor in. Then I'm coming back in the afternoon with 20° warmer temps and copious amounts of climbing to do. I dress to stay warm, but I don't go extreme...I'd rather be a little chilly on the descent than have to figure out how to carry a bunch of discarded clothing on the way back up.

eduskator

A lot. As soon as the temperature drops from 20 to 5 degrees (68F to 41F) during Fall, my body seem to want to stop performing. I do the same ride 2-3x per week and my average speed drops from 33kph to 30kph. I don't ride outside in winter because our weather doesn't allow for it.

Not sure if it's a physical and/or psychological thing.

CanNik

NO change I still do 8 mph LOL

phrantic09

3-4 here.

donhaller 

Oh, Man! So glad I'm not the only one!!