Bytager the publication "70 watts lost at 0°C: what winter does to your watts"
What winter really does to your productivity (and why it's not your fault). Every winter, the same observation is made by cyclists. "I'm not making any progress." "I have to push myself to maintain my pace." "I've lost some power." And almost always, the conclusion is the same: I'm not in as good shape. It's wrong. Not entirely wrong… But that's largely false.
By Jeff Tatard – Photos: DR
The figures are clear: At 0°C, you can lose up to 70 watts, without your physical condition having changed one millimeter.
It's not a feeling. It's not a drop in motivation. It's not a placebo effect. It's pure physics.
And it was while reading a Facebook post from The Bicycle Expert that the idea came to us to delve deeper into the subject, then to watch the full video and the test detailed.
Because what is explained there is probably one of the most underestimated realities of winter cycling performance.
Cold air: your first invisible enemy
The colder the air, the more it is dense. At 0°C, the air is approximately 10% denser than at 20°C. And by bicycle, above 25 km/h, The number one enemy is air.. This additional density means one very simple thing: At the same speed, you need to produce much more power.
Without knowing it. Without feeling it. Without your heart rate really changing. You just have the impression of pull an invisible parachute.
Clothing: the aerodynamic item that no one looks at in winter
In winter, we drive with:
- thermal jacket
- undercoats
- overshoes
- thick gloves
- collar size
Everything that is catastrophic In terms of aerodynamics, every fold of fabric, every thick layer of material, every extra thickness creates micro-turbulence. Add that to the denser air… and the costs quickly add up.
The real, underestimated culprit: low-temperature tires
This is where the subject becomes fascinating. A tire's performance depends on its ability to deform then to regain its shape. At low temperatures, the rubber stiffens. The casing becomes less flexible. Deformation releases less energy. Result: The rolling resistance coefficient explodes. And no power meter can explain that to you.
This is precisely the playing field of Manuel Sola Arjona, creator ofAeroScale, which works on optimizing tire performance based on temperature, pressure, and surface.
| If you want to delve deeper into this topic, we've already explored AeroScale's approach in detail in our article “Gaining watts without pedaling harder” a real goldmine of information on how save energy without changing your muscle effort. |
His approach reveals something fundamental: In winter, the choice of tire and pressure can save... or lose a lot of energy. Much more than you might imagine.
Mechanical friction: the transmission also suffers
More viscous chain. Thicker grease. Less free-running bearings. Everything becomes slightly less fluid. Nothing spectacular on its own. But added to everything else… the watts skyrocket.
What you need to understand (and what changes everything)
In winter: A large portion of the watts are lost do not come from the cyclist.
They come from:
- the air
- clothes
- tires
- the mecanic
That's why you sometimes feel like you're "terrible" in January... and "miraculous" in April. Your level hasn't changed that much. The environment, yes.
Drive harder? No. Drive smarter.
The goal is not to pursue performance at all costs in winter. But to understand: where the watts are actually wasted & how to preserve them without forcing themtage This is exactly what is detailed in the video and the article by The Bicycle Expert which sparked this reflection.
Explore more!=> Take a few minutes to watch the full video of The Cycling Expert You'll never look at your winter outings the same way again. And most importantly, you'll stop thinking that the problem... is you. |
