"Ideal" cycling temp
04-15-22, 07:42 AM
#27
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It's 28C here now and I really enjoyed my ride this morning.
Anything less than 15C and I'm in serious Winter kit! I can handle heat better than cold when out cycling.
Anything less than 15C and I'm in serious Winter kit! I can handle heat better than cold when out cycling.
04-15-22, 08:14 AM
#28
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Anywhere from about 35F/0C to 85F/30C. I'm more concerned about fog and rain, can't stand riding in either one.
04-15-22, 08:38 AM
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I would not be surprised if comfort and performance peak at different temperatures. A non competitive cyclist might be inclined to ride harder when comfortable, but that's not the same as saying performance is maximized when comfortable. I tend to believe peak performance occurs at a lower temperature than peak comfort for most of us. I think the energy cost of heat rejection and the negative impact of to much heat are both high, and occur below most peoples' comfort level.
The article mentioned clothing changes, which to me is an uncontrolled variable in the experiment. I don't think their data is valid.
The article mentioned clothing changes, which to me is an uncontrolled variable in the experiment. I don't think their data is valid.
04-15-22, 09:09 AM
#30
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Once there's enough snow to ride off road I reluctantly switch to flat pedals and boots. At this point I, also begrudgingly, wear long pants which I hate even more than socks, heat and riding into the wind going up hill.
28* makes me cringe, likely as much as the thought of riding - intentionally! - during a snow storm does you
04-15-22, 09:18 AM
#31
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I ride mostly in Nashbar sandals with eggbeater pedals: I am barefoot in them down to about 10*C, I wear socks in them until I can't stand it, break down and either wear covers or switch to shoes.
Once there's enough snow to ride off road I reluctantly switch to flat pedals and boots. At this point I, also begrudgingly, wear long pants which I hate even more than socks, heat and riding into the wind going up hill.
28* makes me cringe, likely as much as the thought of riding - intentionally! - during a snow storm does you
Once there's enough snow to ride off road I reluctantly switch to flat pedals and boots. At this point I, also begrudgingly, wear long pants which I hate even more than socks, heat and riding into the wind going up hill.
28* makes me cringe, likely as much as the thought of riding - intentionally! - during a snow storm does you
Funny how we acclimatise to a place though. I grew up in South Africa where the climate is typically warm. When I moved to the UK, in my first 2 weeks I wanted to return to SA; it was 5-10C or thereabouts. Years later, I was out and about in sub-zero temps for a short time without screaming 'it's cold'.
Now, after a few years living in a warmer climate again, anything less than 10C is officially cold again for me.
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04-15-22, 04:45 PM
#32
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If I'm riding hard, then I prefer it around 15C to prevent sweating like a pig. If I'm cruising, then around 20-25C is very pleasant. I don't like riding below 10C if I can help it. I'm not a big fan of it being over 30C either.
04-15-22, 05:56 PM
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Warmer and more humid reduces aerodynamic drag and tire rolling resistance but destroys power output. If I am going to do a 10 mile time trial, I want it 85-90 F as, humid as possible, and low atmospheric pressure like right after a T-storm. By the end of the race, my power is still good but starting to fade. On long rides, I prefer colder temperatures, certainly below 70F. 60-70F is a nice range.
i guess this is why...
https://science.howstuffworks.com/na...an-dry-air.htm
Last edited by spelger; 04-15-22 at 05:57 PM. Reason: taught myself something.
04-15-22, 06:02 PM
#34
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It's amazing to me how people are still insisting warmer temps around 80F is better. It's proven time and time again for running it's ideal around 40F-45F dry and cycling around 50F-55F no wind in various studies. Temps above 65 is your enemy either running or cycling.
04-15-22, 06:46 PM
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It's amazing to me how people are still insisting warmer temps around 80F is better. It's proven time and time again for running it's ideal around 40F-45F dry and cycling around 50F-55F no wind in various studies. Temps above 65 is your enemy either running or cycling.
04-15-22, 07:08 PM
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It's amazing to me how people are still insisting warmer temps around 80F is better. It's proven time and time again for running it's ideal around 40F-45F dry and cycling around 50F-55F no wind in various studies. Temps above 65 is your enemy either running or cycling.
04-15-22, 07:30 PM
#38
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For me, it's true that I've not experienced an upper temp. limit (for just a ride, not talking about performance here), and I agree that when it's warmer you just sweat more and experience more cooling thereby, even when it's humid. However, though my body is not unbearably uncomfortable, I have had trouble with (a) my feet, closer to the even hotter pavement, can get painful; and (b) my head, with the sun beating down, the part of my head under the helmet, can feel like it's being hammered by the sun.
04-17-22, 08:29 AM
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My preferred cycling temp has definitely changed with age. Used to mtn bike with snow on the ground and was fine down to about 25F. Now I mostly road ride and prefer low humidity with 65-75 F temps. I do ride cooler and warmer temps, but those are the preferred.
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04-17-22, 08:34 PM
#40
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This should have been a poll.
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04-18-22, 02:33 AM
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https://pezcyclingnews.com/toolbox/i...-for-exercise/
Really? Neither 10°C (50°F) nor -4°C (25°F) sound right to me.
My experience is that I am "faster" when it is quite warm. I've not done any controlled tests, but I feel fastest somewhere in the range 78°F (25.5°C) to 84°F (29°C).
Although the article is in Pez, I don't think the study really applies to cycling. I think the following factors (in order of effect from low to high) make the "ideal" temperature for cycling quite different (higher).
1. Cold air is denser, at cycling speeds there is a perceptible difference between air resistance of cold and warm air, though the difference is small.
2. Increased air resistance due to extra clothing being worn, means that cycling at 25°F, or even 50°F, is less "ideal". Also there is a small amount of effort that goes into deforming tights or knee/leg warmers when those are worn. This is not noticeable for light tights/knee/leg warmers, but for thicker wind-front tights you can feel the resistance to your pedaling motion.
3. Better muscle contraction at warmer temperatures means you can apply more force to the pedals in warmer conditions (up to a point, of course).
4. Increased efficiency of evaporative cooling due to the increased airflow over one's body at cycling speeds means that cycling in colder temps cools your muscles too much. It is more "ideal" to cycle at warmer temps when evaporative cooling balances the heat generated by cycling so that muscles are warm-but-not-too-warm.
Eventually the deleterious effects of higher temperatures negate the positive effects of cycling at warmer temperatures, of course, but IMO the "ideal" cycling temperature is a lot higher than is suggested in the article.
Really? Neither 10°C (50°F) nor -4°C (25°F) sound right to me.
My experience is that I am "faster" when it is quite warm. I've not done any controlled tests, but I feel fastest somewhere in the range 78°F (25.5°C) to 84°F (29°C).
Although the article is in Pez, I don't think the study really applies to cycling. I think the following factors (in order of effect from low to high) make the "ideal" temperature for cycling quite different (higher).
1. Cold air is denser, at cycling speeds there is a perceptible difference between air resistance of cold and warm air, though the difference is small.
2. Increased air resistance due to extra clothing being worn, means that cycling at 25°F, or even 50°F, is less "ideal". Also there is a small amount of effort that goes into deforming tights or knee/leg warmers when those are worn. This is not noticeable for light tights/knee/leg warmers, but for thicker wind-front tights you can feel the resistance to your pedaling motion.
3. Better muscle contraction at warmer temperatures means you can apply more force to the pedals in warmer conditions (up to a point, of course).
4. Increased efficiency of evaporative cooling due to the increased airflow over one's body at cycling speeds means that cycling in colder temps cools your muscles too much. It is more "ideal" to cycle at warmer temps when evaporative cooling balances the heat generated by cycling so that muscles are warm-but-not-too-warm.
Eventually the deleterious effects of higher temperatures negate the positive effects of cycling at warmer temperatures, of course, but IMO the "ideal" cycling temperature is a lot higher than is suggested in the article.
Personally, maybe something nice like 25 without too much wind but a little for cooling is nice for cycling.
04-30-22, 01:31 PM
#42
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67.75 F
Tim
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04-30-22, 02:54 PM
#43
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Ideal cycling temperature does not exist. There is no such thing as an ideal cycling temperature....Just go ride your damn bike and enjoy your ride, regardless of the weather.
04-30-22, 05:26 PM
#44
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I think the tweener temps can be irritating. Those times when it needs to be a little hotter or colder. Or the sun needs to come out. Or not. You take off a layer, you get cold. Put it back on, you get hot. You can't seem to get to that 3rd bowl of porridge.
Last edited by seypat; 04-30-22 at 07:49 PM.
04-30-22, 07:29 PM
#46
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60 degrees F has a lot to recommend it. Warm enough not to need extra layers but cool enough to dissipate a lot of heat. That’s what it was today and it was a great day for working hard into the headwinds. 
Otto
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05-01-22, 01:29 PM
#47
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When it is colder I wear long bike pants and take it slow the first 10-15 minutes to allow my muscles to warm up. Riding a bike I always have a 15 degree wind chill and that is not great when it is below 50F degrees. Above 90 degrees cycling is much more impacted as the asphalt absorbs the sun's rays and by midday it is throwing that heat back up at the rider.
When in a car it is easy to see the heated air rising above the surface and distorting the view ahead but on a bike one getting a heat wave effect that can quickly heat the core temperature of a rider. I can run cross country in the desert when it is 110 degrees outside with no issues but riding on pavement in the same conditions and I would quickly suffer heat stroke (been there and done that).
Humidity is another factor as it affects how effectively the body can use perspiration from sweat glands to dissipate heat. In California riding around with tempertures in the 90's has never been a problem but I lived for two long years in Dallas and the humidity would be at 80% by 8 AM and on rides I would have to slow down as I could tell my core temperature was getting too high. At one Olympic marathon trial in Dallas a local runner died during the race from heat stroke. He pushed through to get a spot on the U.S. team but ended up dead as a result.
When in a car it is easy to see the heated air rising above the surface and distorting the view ahead but on a bike one getting a heat wave effect that can quickly heat the core temperature of a rider. I can run cross country in the desert when it is 110 degrees outside with no issues but riding on pavement in the same conditions and I would quickly suffer heat stroke (been there and done that).
Humidity is another factor as it affects how effectively the body can use perspiration from sweat glands to dissipate heat. In California riding around with tempertures in the 90's has never been a problem but I lived for two long years in Dallas and the humidity would be at 80% by 8 AM and on rides I would have to slow down as I could tell my core temperature was getting too high. At one Olympic marathon trial in Dallas a local runner died during the race from heat stroke. He pushed through to get a spot on the U.S. team but ended up dead as a result.
05-01-22, 11:15 PM
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05-03-22, 12:17 PM
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56f
