How cold does it have to be to stop you?

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.