I won't ride my bike if it's going to be colder than......

[azfiddle]

... around 40 degrees F.

Just curious, because I live in Arizona and it's hardly ever too cold to ride (too hot is another matter, after early morning in the summer!). I have started rides in the very high 30's when I knew it would warm up to at least the mid-40's, and shorter rides that stay in the low- mid 40's.

We're in the middle of an unusual cold snap, and I rode 31 miles Saturday in 42-45 degrees, partly cloudy with some light wind and gusts to over 15 mph. I opted out of a century ride near Phoenix for today because the start was predicted to be between 27 and 30 degrees, with temps in the 30's until around noon. I just don't have the right gear for riding in the 20's and low 30's. Five of my more hardy team mates rode anyway, but said their feet were pretty cold.

So I'm curious about other people's bottom line for cold weather riding.

[Owlie]

Hah, I was in Mesa for a few days and managed to get a ride in. DBF said "Are you sure you want to ride? It's 40 degrees right now." I laughed at him.

32-35 is my bottom line, depending on the weather. Due to a muscle injury from 2011 that still gives me problems, I can't ride if it's windy, and I avoid riding if it's wet and close to freezing. I ride mostly on trails that don't get salted and are at least partly in shade, so ice is a concern. So that eliminates a lot of days.

I'm still working on the right gear for the low 30s. My core and legs are fine with what I have, but my hands and feet aren't. I just got some properly-sized shoe covers and lobster gloves, so there's hope, right? Now, if I can find a clear day try it out...

[lph]

I don't ride for pleasure if it's below 40 F. I'll commute down to 5 F, even though I start complaining around 12 F. But I've spent years amassing excellent winter gear At around 5 F my bike doesn't work very well, shifters and brakes are sluggish, and it's all just too much of a hassle.

Heat bothers me a lot more. I struggle above 80 and at 85 I'd rather not ride anywhere except straight to the beach. I just don't have many coping mechanisms for the heat.

[tealtreak]

This thread is timely, we have been joking about this very topic lately.....- since I grew up running/riding a bit south of Cleveland, my road riding limit is about 25. Now that I live in Richmond,VA that means I ride outside all year. This has caused varying degrees of amusement and horror among the cyclist/triathlete friends I have who all move to indoor trainers when it is below 45. Actually, the tri club rides on Saturday morning all moved inside in October (when it was sometimes 60....)

[Crankin]

My threshold for riding in the cold has moved down in recent years, but this year, it seems to have taken a momentary pause.
I'd say, realistically, I don't go out if it's below 35 and it's not going to get much warmer. However, 30 is my absolute limit, and I have started/ended many rides with temperatures between 30-35.
For me, limiting factors are wind and degree of cloudiness/dampness. Also, road conditions. For example, on election day, it was brilliantly sunny, but cold for early November, maybe 40 at the highest. I rode to vote, about 4 miles, then rode about 18 miles for fun, ending at my client's house for work. When I left to go home (5.5 miles), it was dark, extremely dry and about 32. I was cold the whole time, mostly because I needed my warmest gloves, and I had my mid level ones. It took me awhile to get warm after arriving home.
Yesterday, I chose not to ride outdoors, even with temperatures around 48-50. Why? It was cloudy, damp, and there still was wetness on the roads. That means I'm going to get sprayed and I don't like that. For me, dampness/clouds/wind combined with cooler temperatures really take the joy out of riding. I do it in the summer and fall, and a bit in the spring, but I found that after riding through the winter last year, I like a break in my activities, too, and that's part of it.
And like LPH, I have more trouble with heat.

[shootingstar]

I moved from Vancouver over 2 yrs. ago, where I did cycle year round, except maybe total of 1 month off bike with winters average at freezin' temperatures. Lowest would be -10 degrees C (14 degrees F).

Southern Alberta is drier air year round but much colder. So if I stuck to AZfiddle's rule, one wouldn't start cycling until June and end in Oct....
So if there is dry pavement with no/little ice/snow, in the winter I bike as low as -18 degrees C (-4 F) and I was doing this every day to work, grocery shopping whenever I had these conditions since this past November. (And winter 2012).

Have cycled as low as -24 C (-11 F) which is a short distance to work or shopping.

I am cycling each trip under 8 kms. when colder than -18. Then back home, same distance. I am cycling as much as possible on bike paths. Believe me, there isn't a ton of people walking on the paths. But our city has a winter policy that does keep our major bike-ped. paths ploughed and snow-free.

What makes it colder in our region of Canada...is wind chill and flat prairie only accentuates wind, cold temp.

Calgary is 2,000 metres above sea level. Vancouver of course is right ...at sea level (if you exclude the Coastal Mountains in the photos of Vancouver area). 3 mountain ranges that run north to south, separate between Vancouver and Calgary (yes there's a ton of mountains to explore or to avoid..)...it is over 1,000 km. east of Vancouver.

[thekarens]

Realistically 50, 40 if someone twisted my arm and it was sunny. I hate the cold.

[missjean]

I think the coldest temp I've ridden in was about 23*. That was 6 -7 years back when a local bike shop had rides all year 'round. I can remember shop rides where shocks would freeze, brakes would freeze, our water would freeze, pedals would get clogged with snow & we couldn't clip in, - but, we're all older now though and no more of that nonsense!
Last year, the coldest that I rode in was 30*.

[Elphaba]

Realistically 50, 40 if someone twisted my arm and it was sunny. I hate the cold.

I'm with you!!

[Catrin]

I am finding that I am wimpier where colder weather riding is concerned this year. 45 now seems to be my limit rather than the 37-38 of the last couple of winters. This could be related to having a wider range of fitness activities to choose from this year. Or I am just a cold-temp riding wimp