Bicycling in Cold Weather - Page 16 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

12-17-2004, 07:05 AM

David Reuteler wrote:
> Zoot Katz <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> > I'll just add what I not yet seen mentioned: We use more calories
in
> > cold weather. We burn fuel just staying warm in addition to the
work
> > we're doing. You could almost double your regular food intake for a
> > ride of that duration if it stayed below freezing the whole day.
>
> <wag>
> the minnesotan in me questions esp. that last sentence. i believe
it's true
> that you burn more calories when it's cold but i don't think it's all
that
> much -- when you're exercising you're generating a lot of heat
anyway, you
> don't really need to generate any more to stay warm. i'd wager the
> difference in calorie expenditure is probably only around 10%.
perhaps
> more if you're slacking or standing around.
> </wag>
>
> my experience with long winter rides in minnesota tells me near 100%
is way
> off, tho. at least for my body.
> --
> david reuteler
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

I'm with Dave for the most part though I might go as high as 15%. My
last long ride in the cold (135 km over 12 hours in -5 C weather but
with a good 3 hour layover at midpoint)did not appear to make me much
hungerier than a similar ride in summer time would. My problem was
remembering to keep drinking lots of fluids. It is very easy to
dehydrate when riding in cold weather.

JOhn Kane
Kingston ON.

12-17-2004, 07:05 AM

David Reuteler wrote:
> Zoot Katz <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> > I'll just add what I not yet seen mentioned: We use more calories
in
> > cold weather. We burn fuel just staying warm in addition to the
work
> > we're doing. You could almost double your regular food intake for a
> > ride of that duration if it stayed below freezing the whole day.
>
> <wag>
> the minnesotan in me questions esp. that last sentence. i believe
it's true
> that you burn more calories when it's cold but i don't think it's all
that
> much -- when you're exercising you're generating a lot of heat
anyway, you
> don't really need to generate any more to stay warm. i'd wager the
> difference in calorie expenditure is probably only around 10%.
perhaps
> more if you're slacking or standing around.
> </wag>
>
> my experience with long winter rides in minnesota tells me near 100%
is way
> off, tho. at least for my body.
> --
> david reuteler
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

I'm with Dave for the most part though I might go as high as 15%. My
last long ride in the cold (135 km over 12 hours in -5 C weather but
with a good 3 hour layover at midpoint)did not appear to make me much
hungerier than a similar ride in summer time would. My problem was
remembering to keep drinking lots of fluids. It is very easy to
dehydrate when riding in cold weather.

JOhn Kane
Kingston ON.

12-17-2004, 07:05 AM

David Reuteler wrote:
> Zoot Katz <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> > I'll just add what I not yet seen mentioned: We use more calories
in
> > cold weather. We burn fuel just staying warm in addition to the
work
> > we're doing. You could almost double your regular food intake for a
> > ride of that duration if it stayed below freezing the whole day.
>
> <wag>
> the minnesotan in me questions esp. that last sentence. i believe
it's true
> that you burn more calories when it's cold but i don't think it's all
that
> much -- when you're exercising you're generating a lot of heat
anyway, you
> don't really need to generate any more to stay warm. i'd wager the
> difference in calorie expenditure is probably only around 10%.
perhaps
> more if you're slacking or standing around.
> </wag>
>
> my experience with long winter rides in minnesota tells me near 100%
is way
> off, tho. at least for my body.
> --
> david reuteler
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

I'm with Dave for the most part though I might go as high as 15%. My
last long ride in the cold (135 km over 12 hours in -5 C weather but
with a good 3 hour layover at midpoint)did not appear to make me much
hungerier than a similar ride in summer time would. My problem was
remembering to keep drinking lots of fluids. It is very easy to
dehydrate when riding in cold weather.

JOhn Kane
Kingston ON.