My Morning Commute

[vern]

@bentbike33 130945 wrote:

Dammit Jim, I’m a Doctor of Economics, not a physician!

But, I would guess that vasoconstriction in the lungs and their resulting decreased efficiency due to low air temperature completely overwhelms any gains from the increase in available oxygen molecules from the higher air density. That and hauling all the heavy winter clothing up the hills. Two days of strong morning tailwinds that in warmer months would get me to work in about 43 minutes ride time did not help me break 46 minutes this week.

I remember reading somewhere last year (but I can’t remember the name of the article or publication) that respiration is about 10% less efficient in cold temperatures.

[Greenbelt]

Old muscles are like old batteries, definitely underpowered in the cold.

[Bruno Moore]

I think there was an article in Bicycling about this (dangit, why can I never find these things when I need them), something about “why do runners get slow when it’s hot, cyclists when it’s cold? Basically, when you generate your own breeze, the heat doesn’t nail you quite as badly (which was the side point), but, for all the reasons mentioned above and more (tire compound gets less supple in the cold, joints get stiff and creaky, and I know I don’t push as hard when my feet are going numb, my hands can’t feel the brifters when I try to shift or stop, my glasses are fogged over and frozen, and I’m making a snack out of the frozensnot-stiffened merino wool supposedly shielding my face but really getting sucked in when I breathe), cold slows ya down.

It’s totally a thing. Totally. Not just me. Nothing wrong with me at all.

[dplasters]

I was excited for this morning. Yesterday I saw the high was going to be in the 40s. I hadn’t looked at the 6am temperature. Hello 14 degrees.

Again.

[vern]

It was 12 degrees at my house when I left this morning and started my slow, sluggish roll into work. I noticed as I got east of Columbia Pike that my legs really loosened up and I felt much more efficient and normal. When I got to work I looked at the temp – it was 22 at National (across the GWP from my office). That 10 degrees made a big difference in how my muscles worked.

[huskerdont]

For me it just feels like the tires are sticking to the road fighting me, and somewhat that the crank is resisting more. I also feel it going uphill when there’s not much wind resistance anyway. That’s why I’ve felt it was a friction thing more than the heavier air. After this morning, I almost feel like putting the summer tires back on (though it’s probably not worth having to fix a flat at 15 degrees) and maybe removing and relubing my crank.

[mstone]

At these temperatures your lubricants are also starting to get more viscous.

[TwoWheelsDC]

I rode the moto today. Was a very pleasant ride in my heated gear, and I kept thinking the temps must’ve been well above the forecast…but then I got to work and took off my gear and my hands and head were painfully cold just walking from the parking garage to the entrance to my building.

[worktheweb]

This morning felt really good, definitely an improvement compared to yesterday. Not having a blasting headwind really makes a huge difference. After the first 15 minutes things got pretty comfortable. Two days in a row of beardsicles, always fun.

[Tania]

Holy cannoli I love this weather. Planned to get up at 5 to bike in early (so I can leave early and be out of DC before twilight) but multiple fire alarms over night meant I slept in. Decided to metro but they were having issues so biked in late. Glorious and a fair amount of fellow bikers out there today. Met a nice gentleman on his first ride back after being posted overseas for the past few years on his ride from Falls Church to the IMF. Nice chatting with you if you’re on the forums! Flyby of Dickie and consularrider on his fat bike (seriously, HOW did I not recognize you?!?) and strava tells me I passed Rockford too.

Most of my clothes are hanging up to dry because I over-layered. Gloves are on the heating vent (they’re soaked).

First ride in the Alpineduro’s – they kept my feet warm up until about 50 minutes into the ride when I could just start to feel the cold. I suspect that’s because my feet were sweaty (along with the rest of me).

[Boomer Cycles]

I quickly forgot how cold it was this morning when I stopped to make a call at TR Island on the MVT, and was treated to this artwork. [ATTACH]10358[/ATTACH]

[Powerful Pete]

Damp and foggy this morning, felt colder than it was… now I have to clean my bike…

[consularrider]

@Powerful Pete 131394 wrote:

Damp and foggy this morning, felt colder than it was… now I have to clean my bike…

But, did you feel a need to hydrate?

[bobco85]

Stuff to brighten one’s day on a morning commute: this morning, less than a quarter mile from my apartment, I found the sunglasses that I had dropped from my pocket while riding home yesterday evening. I figured looking in the dark would be useless, so I made sure to backtrack my route, and luckily I was able to find them in a spot that I wouldn’t have been able to see in the dark.

[Tania]

Clothing: nailed it.

Although, really, I need to dress with fewer layers to make me push it a little more. I’d call my pace this am “sightseeing” (easier than conversational) and I’m supposed to start racing this year…

But still, it was lovely. #14 on monolith and a cheery hello from a fellow commuter in Georgetown just past the Key Bridge

[Author]

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