banerjek

Just wondering how common this is.

I find that while I'm perfectly comfortable while I'm riding in cold temps, I feel like I'm freezing well after I stop riding even though I'm indoors where it's considerably warmer and I'm wearing more than I was wearing while riding. The same thing happens to me when skiing.

This is not a medical concern and I have no intention of trying to do anything about it. I'm just trying to wrap my mind around how it's even possible to feel colder 20 minutes after entering a warm building when I can feel comfortable for hours wearing less outdoors.

Camilo

Do you bundle up after you go inside? Do you put on dry clothes?

Change your clothes, don't bundle up too much, drink some hot tea.

Machka 

For me ... it is very common. And it doesn't even have to be particularly cold on the ride. It can be just slightly on the cooler side (10C/50F), and I will feel like I'm freezing starting about 10 or 15 minutes after I get in.

A hot shower and a change of clothes can help ... although not always. Sometimes I'll get all nicely warmed up in the hot shower, and then step out and start freezing again. Eating or drinking doesn't always either, and I think that's because the blood flows to the stomach to aide in digestion rather than flowing out to the extremities.

I suspect it is because we get chilled while on the bicycle, and perhaps the blood flows to our core to protect it. Sacrifice the extremities to protect the core?


I went through this on the weekend ... we did a fairly long and intense climb, and it started to rain about 4 km from the top. I should have changed clothes entirely but instead I just put a couple layers on overtop for the cool, wet descent. I started feeling chilly on the way down, but about 15 minutes after I reached the bottom, I went into the freezing feeling and couldn't shake it for quite a while after.

Rowan

Maybe your core temp has also dropped and your body is concentrating on bringing that up to the right level before concentrating on the skin. The warm drink scenario should contribute to heating the core more rapidly. The drop in core temp has probably been hidden by the heat generated by your muscles while riding, and as soon as you stop, the heat stops, and your true core temp manifests itself.

And yes, I often have felt cold well after a ride in low temperatures. I can stop riding, change into dry, warm clothes, bundle a sleeping bag or duvet around me and shiver away for an hour or so before feeling comfortable. Then the capillaries in my skin let rip with blood flow, and I start overheating!

Probably my worst ride was a century in Alberta in temps between -5 to -10 deg C. I was not adequately dress on that occasion, and paid for it. But still finished the century...

The one major danger, in my opinion, is riding in wet clothing (from sweat or rain) without adequate wind protection and a wicking base layer. I am a big fan of polypropylene as a base layer, better even than merino wool for wicking away moisture. But there has to be another layer over the top t sop up the wicked sweat (and for me, often that layer is wool). Then there is a jacket over the top for the wind protection.

And finally, the amount of fuel the body has left to burn to get the heat back into its core also may influence how you feel after a cold ride. If you are depleted, there is a good chance you will feel colder.

datlas 

It's normal.

Related to the fact that once you stop exercising your internal heat production drops significantly.

If it bothers you, take a hot shower like Machka said, or bundle up inside until you feel warm.

Thulsadoom

I'd put it down to just being tired. Once you stop exercising your body is going to be temporarily drained, almost like you're recovering from a flu bug.

I got soaked on a 40 degree rainy ride yesterday and felt cold for hours afterwards.

Machka 

Try this ... open Google and type the words:

feeling cold after exercise

or

chilled after exercise


You'll see all sorts of questions about feeling cold after various types of exercise ... running, body building, etc. So it appears to be quite common among all sorts of sports.

idc

The worst is when you get a flat and it's 40F or less. Getting back on the bike hurts.

LowCel 

Happens to me. I'm a big believer in my hot tub after cold rides.

FactVord

^_^ Sometimes I wish I was still enrolled in a gym for it's steam room amenity.

LowCel 

I've done that as well. Very nice after a long bike ride in the single digits / teens.

hyhuu

It's not the worst unless it's also raining at the time and you still got a way to go before home.

FactVord

I consider 40 too cold to be outside cycling bc I'd be shooting snot rockets every 10 seconds. Balaclava doesn't help matters at all.

Seattle Forrest

I think it's just the body's ability to feel change more strongly than we can feel absolutes. I mean, it's cold outside, you're making your own heat, all is well, and then you come inside where you rely on the heaters for warmth, and it's pretty good, but it isn't perfect.

Anyway, I take a hot shower after a ride. It's good to have the hot water on my shoulders, which can get sore after a while, but it also brings my core temp up above where it needs to be, and pretty soon I need to dump some excess warmth. Drinking something hot/warm would do the trick, too, but even my coffee has ice in it.

LowCel 

I can't hardly ride with a balaclava, feel like I'm suffocating when trying to climb. I still ride in the single digits though.

FactVord

How do you still have appendages? I feel like my fingers/toes are in frostbite, especially with descent wind chills.

DavidOglesbee

Have you tried taking a very quick cold shower? You may feel warm when you step out but the application maybe a bit painful.

gregf83 

It's to be expected given that when you're riding your body is generating 500-1000W of excess heat to keep you warm. That's like stuffing 5-10 100W light bulbs in your shirt.

Seattle Forrest

Once you put in a mile or two, you warm up, and it takes about five minutes of being stopped and sedentary before you radiate all your heat away. A 45 second descent is fine, even when your water bottle has frozen.

banerjek

How is this possible, unless you wear one that covers your face?

I keep my face open at all times when cycling/skiing. If you're dressed warmly, that shouldn't be a problem in single digits.

banerjek

This explains my miserable riding speeds as well as why I feel fine while riding...

back4more

I ride into the teens and single digits at times and find that the secret to staying warm is finding the right equipment - I have gloves for all occassions and do light layers for the rest of me. I'm not a fan of covering my face as it seems to make my glasses fog easier. That bing said I heard that the runny nose comes from your body taking dry cold air and attempting to add moisture to it so it doesn't dry out your lungs so covering yur nose and warming up the air should reduce the moisture production.

black_box 

I take a hot shower right after the ride and put on some warm fleece sweatpants, wool socks, and a sweatshirt with the hood up. When actually riding, I'll adjust the face covering as needed for air vs. warmth and I try not to get too far away from home in case I'm underdressed.

Machka 

A balaclava at +40F??

I'd melt!!

I don't break out the balaclava until the temperatures are down around minus 20C. Any warmer than that and I use a headband and neck gaiter.

SVThis

Even when it's warm out I get a chill after after the cool down period.