How cold does it have to be to stop you?

[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.

[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.

[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.