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Energy requirements in cold and warm weather
Hi
Does riding in warm weather require more energy to do the same work as riding in the cold or vice-versa? I have back-of-a-fag-packet and likely incorrect theories for both: in cold weather, muscles need more energy to stay warm; in warm weather, the body cannot dissipate heat as efficiently and must work harder. What's the real answer? Am I getting more bang for my training buck in the winter or summer? Mark |
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#2
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Energy requirements in cold and warm weather
Mark wrote:
Does riding in warm weather require more energy to do the same work as riding in the cold or vice-versa? I have back-of-a-fag-packet and likely incorrect theories for both: in cold weather, muscles need more energy to stay warm If you're doing enough to sweat then you don't need any extra! ; in warm weather, the body cannot dissipate heat as efficiently and must work harder. Why? Dissipating heat doesn't cost you much in the way of energy. What's the real answer? Am I getting more bang for my training buck in the winter or summer? I doubt it really matters much, and what is "bang for your training buck", exactly? Are you training to maximise energy use, or be a faster cyclist? Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
#3
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Energy requirements in cold and warm weather
On Feb 6, 4:11 pm, "Mark" wrote:
Am I getting more bang for my training buck in the winter or summer? I guess the air is slightly denser, so due to viscosity it might be a little harder to propel yourself through it. On the other hand denser air contains a dozen or so more oxygen molecules per litre of air you breathe in which could make quite a difference g peter |
#4
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Energy requirements in cold and warm weather
On Feb 6, 4:11 pm, "Mark" wrote:
Does riding in warm weather require more energy to do the same work as riding in the cold or vice-versa? No figures to back it up, but from personal experience I always feel more tired and hungrier after a cold weather ride. When riding in very cold conditions, I quite often feel like it takes ages for my muscles to warm up and not feel so tight. I guess that since you are likely to expend more energy on a cold ride (since your body must use up more energy staying warm??) you are likely to burn fat reserves faster. However, I emphasise the word "guess". Whether this offers "better training" depends on what you are trying to achieve. |
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Energy requirements in cold and warm weather
Without a fag packet but with loads of experience, I reckon the
differences are trivial and probably do not reach a measuable size. You will need more water cycling when it's warmer, but you knew that anyway. If you chill 5 litres of by body water 5°C, you will need 25kcal to warm them back to body temperature. This is more heat loss than you would tolerate but represents little more than a teaspoonful of sugar... -- Helen D. Vecht: Edgware. |
#6
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Energy requirements in cold and warm weather
Mark wrote:
Hi Does riding in warm weather require more energy to do the same work as riding in the cold or vice-versa? I have back-of-a-fag-packet and likely incorrect theories for both: in cold weather, muscles need more energy to stay warm; in warm weather, the body cannot dissipate heat as efficiently and must work harder. What's the real answer? Am I getting more bang for my training buck in the winter or summer? Mark in terms of fat burning cold will do very cold weather will make you burn fat, but it also is the time of year for hearty meals.... roger -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com |
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Energy requirements in cold and warm weather
On Feb 6, 12:11 pm, "Mark" wrote:
Hi Does riding in warm weather require more energy to do the same work as riding in the cold or vice-versa? I have back-of-a-fag-packet and likely incorrect theories for both: in cold weather, muscles need more energy to stay warm; in warm weather, the body cannot dissipate heat as efficiently and must work harder. What's the real answer? Am I getting more bang for my training buck in the winter or summer? Mark I don't remember experiencing much of a difference between winter riding and summer riding in the UK. From mild cold to mild warm isn't a big change, very similiar distances achieved in very similiar times thoughout the year. Moving to Texas and o'boy, winter can be around freezing and summers near 40c, my performance just drops in that summer heat. My ride times for 50 miles used to increase by 25% and I would feel exhausted once I got home. So if your 'buck' is time and calories burnt, then I'd say you'd get a harder work out in hot (28c) weather than cold. But if it's to ride further and faster, cooler weather may suit you best. If you really want the weather to help with training, ride out into a 40mph head wind for about 2hours, great strength training, then turn around and spin (115rpm) home, great leg speed and V02 max training (just kidding). |
#8
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Energy requirements in cold and warm weather
On 6 Feb 2007 08:11:34 -0800, Mark wrote:
What's the real answer? Am I getting more bang for my training buck in the winter or summer? No figures again, but I think I'm faster in summer. I expect this is just because I tend to wear less and take less stuff with me, though (lower weight). -- Alex Pounds (Creature) .~. http://www.alexpounds.com/ /V\ http://www.ethicsgirls.com/ // \\ "Variables won't; Constants aren't" /( )\ ^`~'^ |
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Energy requirements in cold and warm weather
On Feb 6, 4:32 pm, Peter Clinch wrote:
Mark wrote: Does riding in warm weather require more energy to do the same work as riding in the cold or vice-versa? I have back-of-a-fag-packet and likely incorrect theories for both: in cold weather, muscles need more energy to stay warm If you're doing enough to sweat then you don't need any extra! ; in warm weather, the body cannot dissipate heat as efficiently and must work harder. Why? Dissipating heat doesn't cost you much in the way of energy. I was thinking more along the lines of the extra heat had some kind of negative impact on performance and as as result you'd have to work harder to offset that impact. But as I said, I was expecting my theories to be incorrect what with basing them on light-hearted musing. What's the real answer? Am I getting more bang for my training buck in the winter or summer? I doubt it really matters much, and what is "bang for your training buck", exactly? Are you training to maximise energy use, or be a faster cyclist? To be faster, but I wasn't thinking that I'd get an edge by moving to Mongolia or Africa. I'm not training particularly heavily or seriously but my time in the first 10 of the year was much slower, as were the times of the rest of the field. I wondered if cold weather was partially to blame (the bigger part being a lack of form, obviously) and that led to my OP. By "training buck" I meant that for a workout at a given intensity (say 155bpm for an hour) would I be training "harder" in cold or warm weather. And I think I've just spotted the flaw in my logic :~) Perhaps it would make more sense in terms of winter/summer energy usage to ride 20 miles in an hour. That's what I get for idle afternoon posting. Mark |
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Energy requirements in cold and warm weather
"Mark" wrote in message
oups.com... I'm not training particularly heavily or seriously but my time in the first 10 of the year was much slower, as were the times of the rest of the field. I wondered if cold weather was partially to blame (the bigger part being a lack of form, obviously) and that led to my OP. I reckon my muscles don't work nearly so well in cold weather. They seem best in what passes for hot here in the dales. cheers, clive |
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