How cold is too cold?

[sundial]

So, when you look at the thermometer and it's just too cold to bike....it may not be too cold at all to do a brisk walk or jog and be able to keep perfectly comfy.

Brrrr, self-made wind chill.

I found it helps to head for the woods on my mtb on really cold days. It seems to be warmer there.

[Dogmama]

My toes freeze at 40 degrees. I've been known to put sandwich baggies on my toes before putting them in my shoes. Along with wool socks, it works pretty well. Just don't let the edges of the baggies poke out of your shoes...very tacky.

[Geonz]

LIkewise newspapers work as extra layers. Some of our local rags, they're better at that than news

[Dogmama]

LIkewise newspapers work as extra layers. Some of our local rags, they're better at that than news

Thus the term "street pajamas."

Yes, there are days that I wish I had a bird so that I could make good use out of the newspaper.

[indysteel]

Here's an interesting NYT article on exercising in the cold:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/he...tml?ref=health

Interestingly, I just had a conversation with a friend who said that her doctor has advised her against exercising in less than 50 degree weather because she apparently has allergy-induced (not exercise-induced) asthma. I'd never heard her complain of having asthma before but whatever.....The point I took from the article is that that if dry weather, not cold weather, restricts airways, then people with asthma should presumably be able to exercise in cold, damp weather. Is that true?

Temps are supposed to be below zero on Sunday and I have to admit that I intend to forego running outside.

[weathergal]

.....The point I took from the article is that that if dry weather, not cold weather, restricts airways, then people with asthma should presumably be able to exercise in cold, damp weather. Is that true?

I'm not sure about asthma, but humidity can be deceiving when it's cold. When temperatures are colder the air is able to "hold" less water vapor. Even when it's damp out, the dewpoint (one way to measure water vapor content) is low in the winter time, often in the 20s and 30s or even lower. The temperature is also lower, and thus the relative humidity is high and we can get snow, freezing drizzle, whatever. But during a sunny day in the summer, the air can "hold" more water vapor and the dewpoint and temperature will be much higher, even though the relative humidity is lower and there is no precipitation.

I've probably really mucked up that explanation, but the point is it can be deceptively dry during the winter. So maybe that's what's irritating to people who have asthma.

[kat_h]

I find dry air is easier on my asthma. Last week I had the bike out for two days and both days I needed a cup of tea for my throat afterwards, but I didn't have an asthma attack. By contrast when I was living in England or Germany, or when I've visited Vancouver in the winter, I have a lot of trouble with asthma.