How cold is too cold?

[sundial]

Whew! For a minute I thought I lost you.

[Brandi]

Nawww I am still here.
I still can't believe you ride in such cold weather. But then i am a born and raised California girl. I am not of hardy stock!

[sheracr]

You all are a hardy and apparently cold-impervious group. I recently set myself a 48 degree minimum, given low wind and sun required. Then again had I not moved to CA, I'm willing to bet I would be able to tough it out (I think!)

[crazycanuck]

Wayyyy back in Edmonton, i believe i cycled until it was -10C & that's not cold. Well, unless there's a windchill. If you're dressed the right way & your bike's set up properly, i think it's still ok to get out there and bike.

Here in Perth, i cycle in our "winter" when temps only drop to 3 or 5C. That's not cold!!!

I remember cycling home last Jan 25th when it was 39C & no wind Oh boy, was i ever glad to get home!!! I decided then that if it's over 36C and no wind, i may just take the train home.

YOu guys are getting me excited about all the weather i get to experience when i get back on my bike

[Popoki_Nui]

Here in Perth, i cycle in our "winter" when temps only drop to 3 or 5C. That's not cold!!!

It gets down to 3-5C in Perth? I didn't realize the temps went that low there; that isn't much different than here.

Around here, for me it isn't "how cold is too cold" so much as it is "how wet is too wet". Cold (winter daytime high temps around 5-8C) is quite ok, but the rain kills any enthusiasm I have to ride outdoors. Occasional showers? Fine. Light on-and-off drizzle? Acceptable. Torrential downpour (like from November to February)? Forget it.

[Aggie_Ama]

Low to Mid 40's for me. In Texas it is hard to justify owning clothes for much colder than that. Plus we get so little cold weather it is hard to get acclimated. Now I will ride in a heat index of 100 no problem.

[Brandi]

It gets down to 3-5C in Perth? I didn't realize the temps went that low there; that isn't much different than here.

Around here, for me it isn't "how cold is too cold" so much as it is "how wet is too wet". Cold (winter daytime high temps around 5-8C) is quite ok, but the rain kills any enthusiasm I have to ride outdoors. Occasional showers? Fine. Light on-and-off drizzle? Acceptable. Torrential downpour (like from November to February)? Forget it.

I have to agree with the wet factor as well. if I know it is going to rain I try and Get out as soon as I can and ride my butt off in case I can't for a few days!

[lph]

I agree that a lot of rain or snow is a lot worse than cold. A downpour will get me racing home soaked, and much more than a light flurry of snow in the air will have me checking the metro timetable. More than an inch or so of new snow on the ground is a real hassle to ride through, and can be really dangerous in traffic.

Cold is more about having the right gear. At -12 C (10F) I have trouble keeping my feet warm even in winter shoes, but that's with clipless pedals. If I changed to platform pedals and hiking boots, or invested in thermal booties rather than the neoprene ones I wear I'd probably be fine. The rest of me is fine, and the road conditions are usually great when it's that cold, not slippery or soft at all. But my bike usually starts protesting before that, around -10C I have trouble shifting and the brakes are slow. If I were more diligent about lubing everything with a thin lube they'd be better. But we rarely have temps that low for more than a few days, so I can't be bothered :-)

PS. My best new "fixit" this winter was cutting a hole in a Buff for my nose and mouth! The skin under my eyes gets really cold, and the hole for breathing through means I can keep the whole shebang up over my cheeks all the time rather than pull it up and down all the time. Keeps the Buff from getting soaked from moisture from my breath as well.

[SheFly]

All kidding aside, it really is hard to keep warm even with all the right gear once the temps get really cold. I have ridden in 3-5 F temps and keeping feet warm is really hard - those rides usually involve some running just to get the circulation going in the feet.

I'll ride in pretty much anything - usually due to peer pressure and for the sake of a good story . New Year's Day, a group of us went out in the snrain here in the burbs of Boston - raining closer into the city, and snowing pretty hard out in the burbs. Temps weren't TOO bad - about 25 or so. Unfortunately, we got really wet coming home, and that made for a pretty miserable end to our ride.

Too cold? Naw!

SheFly