| Re: Beautiful ride but too tired.
Translating to mph, it looks like you average about 15, which strikes
me as pretty good for a winter century. What is your summer speed? If
it's no more than, say 18 mph on a century ride, you've done OK for a
winter ride. Your question isn't answerable without some basis for
comparison with your normal speed, which is apparently pretty good,
distinctly better than mine.
I averaged about 12.5 mph on my New Year's day century last Monday,
and typically average 14 - 15 on my long summer trips; my best day on
last summer's trip was 18 with an all day tailwind. I forced an 18 mph
pace for the first 125 miles of the 24 hour challenge in 2005, and paid
a big price in leg cramps that knocked me off the bike for 2 hours; I
backed off to 15 after that and was able to ride all night.
Anyway, speeds are never as good in the winter as in the summer. IMHO,
the single most important reason is that cold air is denser and takes
more energy to penetrate. There are also miscellaneous other issues.
Clothing is heavier and clumsier. You're using up some energy just to
stay warm. Very cold weather - probably not a factor on your trip - is
hard on the lungs and you dare not work as hard. If you have to use a
mask, you're getting some stale air. For most people conditioning isn't
quite as good. Another apparent non-factor in your case is that more
night riding is involved, which is slower.
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