How cold does it have to be to stop you?

[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???

[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?

[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. 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]

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 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

[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?)
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!!!! 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.

[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?)
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.

[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."

[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!

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