cold weather riding

Question
Hi
I've bin riding road bikes for over 20 years.
I ride allot every week day 50km. to 80 km. in the weekends I like to ride 100km. to 160km.
When it hot and sunny I can crank a big gear and leave everybody in the dust, maintain 40km per hour in a head wind with no problem. out sprint any rider that challenges me, and do that throughout the ride.
But if it is colder under 12 degrees c, my riding buddies drop me at the beginning of the ride,  I struggle up the smallest hill like if I was dragging a 200k weight behind me. My muscles are sore during and after the cold weather ride.
Please tell me what's up,   
Dom.

Answer
Hi Dominic,

This is an interesting phenomenon, which I am not sure exactly the answer. I will se if I can find anyone hat knows for you, but you may want to check with a physician and ask them.

One thing I would ask though is when you ride in winter or cold what are you wearing? Are you trying to keep warm completely by your activity, or are you bundling up? If you are bundling up, what type of clothing are your wearing? Are you using bicycle specific clothing or adding heavy street clothes?

Let me know about the clothing and I will check with other sources and see if they have encountered his particular problem in their practice.

After you have ridden for a while does the body start warming up and become more limber or does that problem stay with you through the ride?

Let me know about the clothes and whether or not that phenomenon stays with you through the entire ride, it may be important.

Have a great day

Jerry