How cold does it have to be to stop you?

[PamNY]

I'm curious about cold-weather bike riding. Obviously, I'll figure out my personal tolerance on my own by experience. But since this is my first winter as a bike owner, I am wondering.

Tonight I did ten miles and felt great at about 49 degrees (no wind). There were lots of runners but few bikers on the path, though -- which I found surprising.

Pam

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I can bike ok for an hour or two down to about 25F degrees if it's sunny.....35 if it's windy with no sun. All I need is dry clear roads and good clothing.
Below 25 is really just too cold for me- my face starts hurting despite my balaclava and I can't keep my fingers from freezing even with 4 pairs of gloves (!)- I suppose 30 minutes might be ok though.

very few people around here too seem to ride when it's cold. A local bike club cuts off its rides when it's below 50- my husband and I were amazed! They must have awfully wimpy clothes. :rolleyes:

[Biciclista]

I don't like riding below 38 degrees. It's damp here and there's black ice.
Not to mention, you get hot and sweaty from exertion, even wearing lots of wool,it gets old to be damp with foggy glasses when it's cold out.

[Geonz]

Haven't found it yet.

Coldest commute was four below zero, but it's only 7 miles.

45 degrees is about my favorite temperature - makes me giddy and exhilarated.

Heat stops me... or at least slows me 'way down.

[buddha_bellies]

Here in Vancouver, it's not the cold that stops me. It's the wet snow that gets stuck to your tire and that just becomes dangerous. Also, because we don't get a lot of snow here, when we do, the drivers are crazy! Our side streets don't get snow removal from the city, just the major roads. And since a lot of bike paths are along side streets, it's nearly impossible to ride unless you have studded tires.

I've felled over the handlebars twice in the last 12 years biking to work because of black ice. I was lucky because there was no traffic. But I am getting old and I don't know if I'm that in/sane anymore. But at the same time, our transit sucks too... :( decisions, decisions. I try not to think about it until the day comes.

[Eden]

I have yet to have cold do me in.... like Buddha says, its the ice that's the show stopper. When I lived in Rochester (flat as a pancake...) not even ice was a bother.

[redrhodie]

When my eyeballs freeze, it's too cold.

[Biciclista]

When my eyeballs freeze, it's too cold.
and when do your eyeballs freeze, if I might ask???

[bikerHen]

I've had a couple of 22 degree commutes this month. It will get colder. I think the coldest I did last year was in the single digits. I do have studded tires and they do help with the black ice. I really don't like ice. My bike handling skills aren't that good. :( My most memorable ride last winter was a PM commute. It was about 10 degrees, crystal clear, dark and totally exhilarated. Roads were mostly dry so there were few icy patches to worry about. I LOVE rides like that! :D

The only draw back to really cold weather riding is that you can't stop for very long or you get very cold. bikerHen

[bikerHen]

When my eyeballs freeze, it's too cold.

My eyes water alot when I ride. I have had tears freeze to my cheeks and glasses. :eek: bikerHen

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I wear eyeglasses, and had a lot of trouble the first winter with them feeling too cold on my face and fogging up, eyes tearing, etc. Then I got some fit-over plastic sunglasses that are rather goggle like, and that kept my glasses clear and warm and stopped the tearing. :)

[redrhodie]

and when do your eyeballs freeze, if I might ask???

Going down the hill by the beach, right at the start of many of my longer rides. It's a pretty steep hill with lots of traffic, and a big pot hole that I have to watch out for. My eyes tear up, and well, it gets hard to find the hole. I "should" know exactly where it is, but every ride, I just see it in time.

I wear glasses (transition prescriptions) and I wonder if there's anything I can do. Anyone have any ideas?

[redrhodie]

I wear eyeglasses, and had a lot of trouble the first winter with them feeling too cold on my face and fogging up, eyes tearing, etc. Then I got some fit-over plastic sunglasses that are rather goggle like, and that kept my glasses clear and warm and stopped the tearing. :)

They fit over your glasses? Are they comfortable?

[pardes]

I wear glasses too and use the over-the-glasses goggle (http://vwrlabshop.com/visorgogs-safety-goggles-jones-co/p/0012235/) kind of thing in the laboratory. No, they aren't particularly comfortable but you get used to it. I'll be using them for winter biking as well since the cold air really REALLY bothers my eyes.

[lph]

My commute is 40-60 min depending on the route I choose, and I pack it in at about -13 C/ 8 F. At that point my feet are in winter shoes with neoprene booties, and starting to feel the cold. I'd need chemical warmers, thermal booties (looking into PI's) or switch to platform pedals and hiking boots to be warm below that. Oslo rarely gets temps that low for more than a few days, though, so it's not worth the hassle.

At that point my bike is usually protesting too, all the lube is pretty stiff and half the gears are "gone"... so I put on a down jacket and go sit on the metro with a book instead :p

[SheFly]

I'm with Geonz - I haven't found it yet. Coldest ride so far for me has been about 5F with a windchill. I have studded tires for winter riding - riding on frozen ponds is a hoot, and you get some very strange looks from the ice skaters ;) .

SheFly

[Tater]

I have ridden with temps in the low single digits, so I don't think I have found my limit yet. As long as I am layered up good, I don't have many problems when it gets cold. I don't ride as long as I do when it is warmer, but I still get out and that keeps me happy.

[Aggie_Ama]

I was born in Texas and have never left maybe that says something about my tolerance. I can do around 40 if it is low wind and sunny. I prefer never to go out below 50 and luckily I don't have to very often. When it is chilly I would rather run, I am just not much on cold cycling. We cut off at 40 in our house although DH stays warmer easier and will go out in the 30's without me.

[Geonz]

Ski goggles keep the eyeballs from freezing - but I do think that at 15 below or thereabouts I might take the bus, remembering what that felt like.

I carry chemical handwarmers in case I break down, because when I'm moving my hands are warm, but if I stopped it would be another story - then the cold would be dangerous. (I stick to the cross-town commute when it's that hairy, though, so it's not too far to shelter from anywhere.)

[Velobambina]

Cold temps have not kept me from riding. Only unsafe riding surfaces---snow & ice.

Once I acclimate to the cold (takes several weeks of riding in colder temps), I'm ok and actually enjoy the winter scenery, peacefulness. With the leaves off the trees, it's like riding in a new place.

[kfergos]

I don't ride if it's below about 10F, if I can help it. I hate that feeling of your eyes starting to freeze shut and your nostril hairs freezing together, but really the show stopper is that I can't keep my feet warm even in 3 pairs of socks + booties. Also as somebody else said, your bike doesn't actually work that well in super-cold temps unless you switch to special lube, etc., so you end up with about 2 functional gears and pedaling is really hard.

Speaking of cold feet, does anybody have good women's winter cycling shoes to recommend? The Sidi Diablos (http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodSD_207260.html) look good, but they only go down to 40, and I'm a 37. I'd rather not switch to platform pedals and boots (though boots could be useful when trudging through icy snow pushing my bike when I wimp out), but last winter was SO COLD, I think I lucked out in not getting frostbite on my toes. This winter I've vowed to find footgear that works in all conditions.

[Crankin]

My limit for road rides is around 40. Yea, I'm a wimp. Last year I did ride in the 30s a couple of times, but it was on my Jamis, going about 12 mph. One of those times there were so many pot holes/water, etc. from the melting that I almost lost it on Rt. 62 (She Fly, why does one side of that road have all of the pot holes?).
I have been mountain biking in the very low 30s, possibly 28. I use chemical toe warmers/hand warmers when it's that cold, but I would rather switch to winter sports or hike, realistically.

[newfsmith]

My coldest commute was 1/14/2004, -4F/-20C. That was a 8.5 mi/13.6km each-way ride. I wore a LS Coolmax tee, a thin microfleece, wool jersey, wind vest and cape-vented Jackson-Gibbens jacket on top; tights and windpants on the bottom; wool liner socks & regular socks under ordinary winter walking boots on my feet; heavy wool mitts with leather "chopper" mitts over them on my hands; and a polypro balaclava under my helmet and ski goggles. According to my notes, I should have left the wind vest off, I was sweating too much. When it is cold enough that you have to completely cover your face, you will find your body is much warmer. To prevent chilling you never want to be dressed so warmly that you start to feel sweat rolling on your skin. One thing about riding at those temperatures, I've had 18 wheelers block intersections to let me through and one driver stopped, got out and was yelling "Bravo, Bravo" as I crept by at 10mph/16 km/h.

Yes, global warming is real, those are the last sub-zero (F) commutes I record.

[TrekTheKaty]

WOW! Last year it was 45 degrees on the trails (I mastered layers, but my hands got cold). This year, I'm rockin' some new gloves, but I'm curious how the roads will be. We're hoping for a mild winter after a rough winter last year (lots of ice, remember the week-long power outages?)--however, the wooly worms are undecided (half brown, half black--1 albino!).

Guess I'll dig out those all-terrain 32" tires from my hybrid!

[Velobambina]

KF---The Lake winter shoes are better - w/out "accessories" -- than the Diablos. I have both. With the Sidis, I have to use toe covers, shoe covers, and the heated insoles. I posted more, comparing the shoes, on another thread (possibly the winter gear one). A few weeks ago, I bought a new pair of the Lakes directly from Lake---they make a women's version, so they MIGHT have smaller sizes. I go up one size for my winter shoes so there's more room for layering socks, chemical toe warmers, and air circulation. My original pair of Lakes got much abuse and wear, so it was time for new ones. BTW, SheFly, aka Winter Riding Goddess, originally recommended the Lakes to me. ;)

[ACG]

Here in sunny SoCal it doesn't really get cold. However 2 years ago it was 29 degrees and I rode with a group. We layered and did about 25 miles.

It is the dark mornings that make me stop riding. I'll be glad when it is light in the mornings again.

[obie]

Like someone said upthread, it's not the cold but the conditions - I've ridden in 1 and 2 degrees F numerous times. But then again I'm a commuter first and foremost - so any time I need to get to work or somewhere else, I'll usually ride because it's easier.

Riding for fun - I'm not sure we do a huge amount of this in anything below 25 or so, although there was one weekend where we spent a lot of time riding around in the snow! Really, I guess we're such winter sports fans that if it's that cold, we're probably out somewhere skating or xc-skiing!

I'm lucky in that my extremities tend to stay quite warm, and I don't need too much on them. The downside is that I did permanent (or at least long-term) damage to my quads a few years ago, skating in subzero (F) conditions with a wind, and not enough on my legs. So, I have wimpy quads and they need to be kept WARM once it's below 40 or 50! It's a little embarrassing, but they literally just.stop.working!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

They fit over your glasses? Are they comfortable?

Yes they are VERY comfortable. So comfy that I'm not usually even noticing that I'm wearing two sets of glasses! Most people are amazed too, when I take off my sunglasses and have eyeglasses on underneath. Like that funny scene in the movie Airport where he's so 'cool' in his sunglasses, and then he whips them off to reveal another pair of sunglasses underneath...and another! (anyone remember that?) :D
They are all plastic so they don't get so cold on my face. they eliminate glare from the sun while riding, and many is the time when pebbles and bees have bounced off them at 35mph- I cringe to think what that might have done to my expensive graduated prescription lenses! They totally stop the wind because they even wrap to your face at the top. They look like typical 'movie stat' glasses.
I recently bought a second pair just in case I lose my first pair.
here is what I get, one size fits all, I like the tortoiseshell:
http://www.eagleeyes.com/products/staclips/fitons.lasso
Here is a photo of me wearing them:
http://harmonias.com/L_riding1DSC02460.jpg
(that's a little helmet mirror sticking out front by the way)

As to cold feet, my choice of using PowerGrip straps instead of being clipless really is an advantage in winter, since I get to wear my heavy warm insulated hiking boots and several yummy pairs of wool socks. :)

[tulip]

Used to be about 20F when I was commuting, and I liked the challenge. These days, however, without the need to get on my bike in order to make a living, I find it hard to get out when it's below 50F. It hasn't gotten below that here yet during daylight hours (and I don't ride at night).

One of my favorite commuting memories was the day after a big snow. I had studded tires on my mountain bike and the bike path was empty while the road was jam packed with people in their cars. It took a long time because the MUP wasn't plowed and it had gotten icy and rutted, but it was so much fun! If you live with snow and ice, studded tires are a must if you want to ride all winter. Oddly, I think I would ride more if I lived in a place that has regular snow.

But I'm gonna try, really try, to ride every day that I can as long as it's no raining (I wear glasses). It's hard to find motivation sometimes, but I...can...do...it, I think.

[7rider]

Yes they are VERY comfortable.
I recently bought a second pair just in case I lose my first pair.
here is what I get, one size fits all, I like the tortoiseshell:
http://www.eagleeyes.com/products/staclips/fitons.lasso
Here is a photo of me wearing them:
http://harmonias.com/L_riding1DSC02460.jpg
(that's a little helmet mirror sticking out front by the way)


Arrrrgghhhh!!!! :eek: Geezer Googles!!! Nooooooooooo!!!!! Say it ain't so! ;)

Normally, 25 degree F, and/or snow/ice keep me off my bike. The past few mornings, it's been in the mid- to low-30's however, and I just haven't been motivated to ride. So, I take metro. :rolleyes:

[Nokomis]

I'm still working on getting the right gear for really cold riding.

Last winter I showed up for the ride, as bundled up as I could be. I don't remember the exact temperature when we rolled out. I made it to the first intersection, and proceeded to turn right, circle the block, and end my ride straight away. The cold on the bridge of my nose, between my eyes was so intense I was getting an instant headache - that was too cold for me.

Fortunately, a few of my friends in the club opted for breakfast instead of a ride, so we hung out at the coffee shop for a couple hours.

[redrhodie]

Thanks BSG! I just ordered a pair, toroiseshell for me, too! I bet these will help. Even today, when it was a balmy 48º, my eyes watered on that hill.


Yes they are VERY comfortable. So comfy that I'm not usually even noticing that I'm wearing two sets of glasses! Most people are amazed too, when I take off my sunglasses and have eyeglasses on underneath. Like that funny scene in the movie Airport where he's so 'cool' in his sunglasses, and then he whips them off to reveal another pair of sunglasses underneath...and another! (anyone remember that?) :D
They are all plastic so they don't get so cold on my face. they eliminate glare from the sun while riding, and many is the time when pebbles and bees have bounced off them at 35mph- I cringe to think what that might have done to my expensive graduated prescription lenses! They totally stop the wind because they even wrap to your face at the top. They look like typical 'movie stat' glasses.
I recently bought a second pair just in case I lose my first pair.
here is what I get, one size fits all, I like the tortoiseshell:
http://www.eagleeyes.com/products/staclips/fitons.lasso
Here is a photo of me wearing them:
http://harmonias.com/L_riding1DSC02460.jpg
(that's a little helmet mirror sticking out front by the way)

As to cold feet, my choice of using PowerGrip straps instead of being clipless really is an advantage in winter, since I get to wear my heavy warm insulated hiking boots and several yummy pairs of wool socks. :)

[denda]

Ok, go ahead, I'm ready for it. Call me a wimp!
I don't ride if it is below 70.
I prefer the 90's.

[Aggie_Ama]

Ok, go ahead, I'm ready for it. Call me a wimp!
I don't ride if it is below 70.
I prefer the 90's.

Wimp! :p Just kidding, I whine if it is below 60 and usually try to make up excuses why I don't want to go. I would much rather run if it gets below 60, warm up in a hurry and done with a hard workout quicker and straight to a hot shower. You get real cold in your part of our lovely state, how long to you garage the bike? At least I have plenty of trees to break up the wind. :p

[redrhodie]

Ok, go ahead, I'm ready for it. Call me a wimp!
I don't ride if it is below 70.
I prefer the 90's.

70 :eek:??! C'mon! You're kidding, right?

Well, I know you're not. I guess we're even. I don't like 90. I've done it, but it doesn't make me happy.

[denda]

We rode the Hotter N Hell Hundred on Aug. 23rd. I have been on my bike once since then:(.
Unless we have a warm winter, we will not ride again until March or April, depending on the Spring winds.:mad:
I also prefer to jog when it is cold, not ride.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Arrrrgghhhh!!!! :eek: Geezer Googles!!! Nooooooooooo!!!!! Say it ain't so! ;)



Funny, I don't feel much like a geezer when I'm riding my bike. :rolleyes: ;)

[redrhodie]

Funny, I don't feel much like a geezer when I'm riding my bike. :rolleyes: ;)

I think they're cool, and I'm no geezer. Jackie O would have loved them. I think they're the ultimate. I hope they look as good on me!

[Brandi]

I am a total california wimp!. If it is in the 40's I don't like to ride. I know that is terrible. I haven't ridden in over a month right now because of being out of town for work so at this moment I would take and temp to ride! Only two more days and I am back for a few months!

[wackyjacky1]

I rode to work this morning -- it was about 44 degrees. I, too, am a South Texas cold-weather wimp, so I was a little hesitant to venture out, but it turned out to be no problem at all. Based on my experience this morning, I think I'd be good down to about 35 degrees, but I don't know if I could handle it if it got much lower than that. :o Better cold-weather clothes would be a must for that 35-40 degree range. Fortunately it rarely gets much colder than that down here!

(Today I wore the shorts and t-shirt that I wear at work, plus a long-sleeved t-shirt, half-finger gloves, and my new-to-me, lightweight-but-stinky illumilite* jacket. I was very comfortable.)



*see my thread in the apparel forum :D

[pardes]

Here is a photo of me wearing them:
http://harmonias.com/L_riding1DSC02460.jpg
(that's a little helmet mirror sticking out front by the way)


Awwww. That's exactly what I thought you would look like....cute as a button!

Good gawd, I just turned into my grandmother saying, "cute as a button."

[7rider]

Funny, I don't feel much like a geezer when I'm riding my bike. :rolleyes: ;)

Nor do you look like one....
it's just.......well........

[Jenerator]

On my coldest commute, I left the house at -9F, not too bad so long as I didn't go much faster than 15mph, then the tops of my legs started to notice the added wind chill. Neoprene face mask & goggles kept my face happy. The ride home was brutal though. Winds came in, which warmed things up, but the headwind made for a much longer ride!

As a friend once said "There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices" If I layer correctly, I can be pretty happy for a while down to about 0F, below that, I don't have good enough boots or gloves to be happy for long.

[PamNY]

What an interesting discussion. I enjoyed the replies and the detailed information about clothing and other gear will be helpful. I have the world's worst watery eyes in cold weather -- I live close to the World Trade Center and that's the only post-9/11 symptom I still have. I signed up for the health surveys but they haven't asked about watery eyes yet.

I don't think I will tackle ice or snow yet. I've come close to wiping out on a Xootr from black ice and don't want to do that on a bike. Although biking on a frozen pond would be fun. I wonder if they'd let me on the ice rinks with a bike?

The length of time it takes to warm up on a bike may be a factor for me. I already envy the runners who can get moving right away.

Anyway, thanks for the info. Those of you who bike in serious cold and ice are inspiring -- whether I will follow your example or simply admire you from indoors remains to be seen.

Pam

[TrekTheKaty]

After this morning, the question is how windy? It was 50 degrees and and we rolled out with 2 light layers for a short, hilly ride. However, the wind kicked up and then my nose starting running. SO next time, I'll remember the kleenex. (weather was reporting "gusting to 18" when we got back to the house--no wonder I was having trouble holding my line).

[Flur]

It's 36 degrees with wind gusts up to 37mph and snowing. Right now. That's more than enough to stop me :) I'll be setting up the trainer this week.

[redrhodie]

Arrrrgghhhh!!!! :eek: Geezer Googles!!! Nooooooooooo!!!!! Say it ain't so! ;)

Normally, 25 degree F, and/or snow/ice keep me off my bike. The past few mornings, it's been in the mid- to low-30's however, and I just haven't been motivated to ride. So, I take metro. :rolleyes:

So, they're FINALLY here! I ordered them way back when this thread was fresh, and they just got here today. I think it took a month! Anyhoo, I like them. I may look like a geezer, but they are very comfortable, at least walking around my house. I'm not sure I'll get used to the yellow tint to everything. I'm more of a rose colored glasses-type :)

[lph]

Cool :)

But you look even cooler with pigtails and a monkey on your shoulder :D

[Aggie_Ama]

Nice specs Red!

It was 35 degrees this morning. I whined about walking to the car in the garage. I would really whine if my little car didn't fit in the garage and had been in the cold all night. :p

[ASammy1]

red- You look great in your new shades!

I have discovered that 30 F with a wind chill of 24 F is too cold for me. I probably would be ok with 30 if there wasn't any wind. I prefer to ride in 40 F or up.

Andrea

[redrhodie]

But you look even cooler with pigtails and a monkey on your shoulder :D

Thanks! The pigtails get in the way of the helmet. Safety first!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

So, they're FINALLY here! I ordered them way back when this thread was fresh, and they just got here today. I think it took a month! Anyhoo, I like them. I may look like a geezer, but they are very comfortable, at least walking around my house. I'm not sure I'll get used to the yellow tint to everything. I'm more of a rose colored glasses-type :)

Geezer?? :confused: ....You look totally UBER COOL in my opinion! :cool: :D

[redrhodie]

Geezer?? :confused: ....You look totally UBER COOL in my opinion! :cool: :D

Why, thank you! Right back atcha ;)

[cycling_sarah]

So, they're FINALLY here! I ordered them way back when this thread was fresh, and they just got here today. I think it took a month! Anyhoo, I like them. I may look like a geezer, but they are very comfortable, at least walking around my house. I'm not sure I'll get used to the yellow tint to everything. I'm more of a rose colored glasses-type :)

I think they look cool! When can you test them out on the bike? Looks like they will be very good protection from the wind. :cool:

[redrhodie]

I think they look cool! When can you test them out on the bike? Looks like they will be very good protection from the wind. :cool:

I can make it out for a short tide tomorrow, like just Ocean without Sachuest. That good for you?

[PamNY]

So, they're FINALLY here! I ordered them way back when this thread was fresh, and they just got here today. I think it took a month! Anyhoo, I like them. I may look like a geezer, but they are very comfortable, at least walking around my house. I'm not sure I'll get used to the yellow tint to everything. I'm more of a rose colored glasses-type :)

I think they look quite cool. Let us know how you like them while riding.

Pam

[redrhodie]

They're awesome. I've worn them twice, today in the rain. I'm so glad I had them for that!

[sundial]

I may borrow hubby's mini goggles that he received with his Lasik surgery. :cool:

I've cycled in single digits. Hot chocolate is my reward. :D

[Miranda]

One of the gym buddies just commenting while we were inside at spin class that about 40F is his max with a cooler wind chill... when the water bottle froze on the ride, it was a sign to come in.