Winter Training: Calculate Your Jens Factor
Jan 4th 2010Fun Stuff & Infographic & News
No one disputes the importance of base training, and the truly serious make careful note of time, distance, and wattage in their pre-season rides. But when it comes to outdoor training—at least at my latitude—that doesn’t really capture the whole story.
[click-through for larger sizes]
Jens Factor, as defined by this chart, is just that—an integer value you can factor into your training data to properly reflect the increased benefits of staring down winter weather. Jens Voigt, a veteran roleur known to take particular glee in miserable conditions, is its obvious namesake.
It’s worth noting that Jens Factor makes no provision for precipitation, because the various types present such wide-ranging levels of difficulty depending on other conditions. It’s also worth noting that the Creative Commons license under which I released this image contains provisions for free re-use…
Oh, also—you can now buy the design on a wall poster or some t-shirts.
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Frances on 04 Jan 2010 at 11:56 am #
This is awesome.
kidpurple on 04 Jan 2010 at 1:14 pm #
-22F in Minnesota this weekend – I guess I was at Jens Factor HC.
Mike on 04 Jan 2010 at 2:16 pm #
Nice! Version 2.0 should incorporate precipitation. Driving rain is known to increase Jens Factor.
Scott on 04 Jan 2010 at 3:38 pm #
I think we need a new scale. Several in Omaha are biking the daily commute with temps as low as -16F.
And I think we’re in for a cold snap coming up this week. ;-)
Chris on 04 Jan 2010 at 5:38 pm #
No fair! It’s not my fault that the temps in Seattle don’t get beyond Jens Factor 1.
Richard on 04 Jan 2010 at 6:58 pm #
number of offspring should also be added as a variable. I think Jens has 16 children.
Anonymous on 04 Jan 2010 at 7:50 pm #
Jens factor 3 here in ontario
Debamundo on 04 Jan 2010 at 9:12 pm #
This is the coolest thing I have ever seen!
James Jordan on 04 Jan 2010 at 9:34 pm #
I think we need to not only add precipitation but also temperature on the opposite end of the scale. Having ridden in Adelaide during January at the Tour Down Under where the daily max can reach the 40C level (with overnight minimums still in the 30C’s) you need to have some ‘Jen’s Factor’ in you as well.
spice on 05 Jan 2010 at 8:18 am #
the ironic thing is, Jens probably goes south for the winter
Andromeda on 05 Jan 2010 at 9:13 am #
I sent this to my friend Mike — the only guy I know who loves Jens as much as I do — and he thought it was cool, and then I get an IM saying hey, had I seen the little photo credit at the bottom…?
Even cooler now.
mrcranky on 05 Jan 2010 at 11:41 am #
I gave up work commuting in Edmonton when it exceeded Jens factor 4 on November 18. Definitely not up for factor HC.
jeff on 05 Jan 2010 at 12:11 pm #
Jens Factor HC made me laugh so hard I spew java through my nostrils onto my keyboard. This is one of the most killer charts I’ve ever seen. Chapeau, Cosmo.
al b on 05 Jan 2010 at 5:40 pm #
wow. when i went out on sunday, i was pretty smug… come to find out it was only a JF3. guess there is only one Jens.
Jens Voigt faktor « dio porko on 05 Jan 2010 at 6:44 pm #
[...] Jens Voigt är tuff. Så tuff att han fått namnge en ny skala inom cykelsporten som Cyclocosm tagit fram.. Klicka för en större och tydligare [...]
Mike on 06 Jan 2010 at 7:45 am #
Hey, thanks for the image credit! Much appreciated.
You’re neglecting the other scale of weather-hardiness, though – the Hushovd Index, used to tally which nationalities of rider are going to be wrapped in leg-warmers, jackets and long gloves while others ride along cheerfully in shorts:
HI1: Only the Spanish are in legwarmers
HI2: Italians are starting to look a bit chilly
HI3: French riders start to wrap up
HI4: The Belgians and Germans start to feel the cold
HI5: Even the Danes and Norwegians are starting to suffer a bit
HI6: Thor Hushovd puts on a light jacket.
Dave on 06 Jan 2010 at 12:02 pm #
Great job, but you forget that a Jens factor 5 is the equivalent of a Boasson Hagen factor 2.
rainbow on 07 Jan 2010 at 7:14 pm #
You guys need to harden the …. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY3TfjOeuhM …….up. Our domestic racing season is in our winter! I was 40 before I realized that Cyclocross photos in foreign media publications was as a separate class of cycle sport. It just looked like ‘racing’ here in New Zealand, only shorter, “why only an hour long? Why aren’t you doing the full 100 km standard club race?”
Jens is not a fair control, we have already read on this blog that he is not human, any self flagellation in comparison is shallow braggadocio, I’m a Jens .01 pass me another beer its 20 C and the racing season is 5 still months away, thought’s of tapering for the TDF on TV haven’t even entered into the training plan yet.
Joe Steele on 08 Jan 2010 at 12:50 pm #
Jens Voigt once challenged Lance Armstrong to a “Who has the most testicles” contest. Jens won, by FIVE! And, whenever you have a problem in life, just ask yourself, WWJD? “What would Jens do”? Jens ROCKS!
Wielertaal » Wintertraining – Jens Factor on 21 Jan 2010 at 9:06 am #
[...] It’s worth noting that Jens Factor makes no provision for precipitation, because the various types present such wide-ranging levels of difficulty depending on other conditions. (bron: cyclocosm.com). [...]
Periodic table of cycling - London Fixed-gear and Single-speed on 28 Jan 2010 at 10:24 am #
[...] This is by the same people and awesome: http://cyclocosm.com/2010/01/calcula…r-jens-factor/ [...]
Looking back: The good, the bad and the pretty | Browne Eye Cycling Blog on 01 Feb 2010 at 11:28 pm #
[...] Apparently there was a very strong chance of snow, ice and rain putting the race into the Jens Factor 5 zone. So for safety’s sake the time trial was postponed till March. I had been planning for weeks [...]
The Sufferfest Fight Club | Browne Eye Cycling Blog on 12 Feb 2010 at 8:25 pm #
[...] have been mistaken for the Michelin Man. Unfortunately, there have been times when it has reached Jens Factor HC and I have had to bring my training indoors. I have a trainer, but as every cyclist knows, doing [...]
Ugg factor 4 | velocorapture.net on 12 Feb 2010 at 10:31 pm #
[...] was 11 degrees before windchill when we started out, and so I thought our Jens Factor might finally rise above a 4. However, it was sunny and gorgeous [...]