cold weather garage lifting

[sandbagger]

Does cold weather (I live in Jersey) have a significant effect on heavy lifting performance? If so, would a proper warm-up be enough to counter any negative effects?

Is hot weather/humidity more of a detrimant?

Thanks!

[Mark Rippetoe]

Lots of people have trained in the cold for a very long time. Clothes and warmup are a very effective solution to this problem. Heat is much less fun, because you can't take off enough clothes to make a 107-degree weight room comfortable. The heat is friendlier to joints, connective tissue, and muscle bellies, while the cold is friendlier to sweat glands and my general demeanor. Given the choice, I suppose I'd rather not get hurt as easily, so I'd take the heat, as much as I hate it.

[Scott Mahn]

FWIW, I've been working out in my northeast garage this winter.

The main factor for me to overcome is the coldness of the bar and the weights. I wrap the bar in an electric blanket for an hour or so before lifting, but damn, the steel plates are still cold and with changing the plates so much for all the warmup sets...man, next year I'm either splurging for more bumper plates or I'm lifting in mittens ;-)

[Kiknskreem]

Warm clothes and extensive warmup.

I would take too hot over too cold anyday. I once trained in an outdoor garage in New Mexico, 9000 feet elevation, 5 in the morning, no electricity, wearin' a headlamp until the sun came up.

Wore long jons, sweats, and pants over the sweats.

[sandbagger]

FWIW, I've been working out in my northeast garage this winter.

The main factor for me to overcome is the coldness of the bar and the weights. I wrap the bar in an electric blanket for an hour or so before lifting, but damn, the steel plates are still cold and with changing the plates so much for all the warmup sets...man, next year I'm either splurging for more bumper plates or I'm lifting in mittens ;-)

I sometimes wear a pair of Under Armour running gloves on those really cold days, though I'm otherwise toally against gloves. No time to wait for the bar to heat up in the morning.