I confess - I am a fair weather cyclist

[makbike]

[QUOTE=mimitabby]but Makbike when you ride don't you GET wet from sweating there where you live?QUOTE]

Mimitabby, it is a different kind of wet and one I don't mind. I can take the hot, humid conditions any day (I'm very cold natured most likely due to my thyroid issues). However, I hate to feel my socks swimming in pools of rain water in my shoes, not to mention how hard it is to see when my glasses are covered in rain. I don't mind the sweat, in reality it keeps me cool as I buzz around the back roads here.

[hirakukibou]

I agree makbike. I hate riding when there are puddles in my shoes. Although I am getting more tolerant of cold and want to be able to ride in all weather. Hmmm. I guess I need to go shopping too.

[makbike]

I've got the wind tights, the wool tights, the winter jersey, jacket, hat, gloves, shoe covers, etc and I still get cold. To be more specific my hands and feet are the problem. I had a minor case of frost bite on my hands and feet in college and since that stupid mistake my hands and feet get cold quickly, go numb and then start to ache severly. So though I have all the cold weather "stuff" I hate to ride when it is cold, typically won't go out if it is below 50F - not much of a threshold I agree but it beats soaking my appendages in bowls/sinks of warm water in an attempt to restore circulation.

[Dianyla]

To be more specific my hands and feet are the problem. I had a minor case of frost bite on my hands and feet in college and since that stupid mistake my hands and feet get cold quickly, go numb and then start to ache severly.

What you're describing sounds a lot like Raynaud's disease, which can be caused by frostbite damage.

[pyxichick]

Brina,

Sorry to hear that you missed your first group ride because of the weather. I went on my first group ride on Tuesday and it was wonderful! All women from a local team/club and they took us on some really hilly roads that challenged me in a way I would've never challenged myself if I was alone.

It's worth making it to the group ride next time. And the right clothing makes any weather tolerable.

[salsabike]

I don't have Reynaud's but have always had trouble keeping hands and feet warm. I went to REI this winter and said, "Show me your warmest stuff for feet and hands", and left with great Sugoi Resistor Bike Booties and very warm ski gloves. I do ride year-round here no matter what the weather is doing (unless there's lots of snow or ice). Having the gear that keeps you warm and dry is the key. That includes a good, ventilated rain jacket, helmet cover, rain pants. Sometimes I wear two pairs of gloves, one thin, one very warm. I can ride in temperatures in the low 30s, and in even heavy rain, with no problem, as long as I wear the booties, smartwool socks, and the ski gloves.

[Selkie]

Unless it's icy/snowy or pouring rain, I ride. I'm with Nanci--riding in the rain can be peaceful, so long as you're extra mindful about your reduced stopping ability and the potential to hit slippery spots. Yesterday, I got caught in the rain. Had the trail pretty much to myself, which was wonderful. The worst ride ever was last winter---11 degrees---my gatorade froze.

[margo49]

When I was "young" (or on my Big OE for the kiwi's on the forum) I messenger-ed for 2 years in Central London on a beat up blue Raleigh.
As I said... London; i.e. cloud every day (well 362/year), rain about 1/2 the time and snow in the winter when all the other companies were off the roads and ours made a mint .
That cured me of all-weather riding for *life*

However I do occasionally go out in the rain (which is even more occasional in this part of the world) just for the sheer joy of it

[Kitsune06]

Hear, hear.

Living in Eugene, we went about a year without a vehicle at all. That winter cured me of fairweatheritis for good. That and a good set of rain gear. =) With all that, I really actually enjoy biking in rain- the harder the better as long as my eyes are protected (Hate, Hate, Hate rain melting my hair gel and making my eyes sting!)

...and afterwords, my bike gets well-dried and re-lubed with love.

[KnottedYet]

didn't UK post something about "there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing"?

I like riding in light rain, if I'm on a bike path. Being on the road isn't much fun, because I assume cars can't see me at all and I get nervous. The rain itself isn't the issue for me, it's the traffic IN the rain with me!

[Geonz]

Our bike paths cross too many driveways and roads - talk about being INVISIBLE! - so I set all my lights a-blinkin' and have my brights on. Can't remember the last time it rained when I was doing a non-commute ride.

[Nanci]

I've had some _really_ exciting MTB rides in rain- downpours where the trail is six inches under water! I _do_ worry about falling trees, though. But it's really fun, in the summer.

Nanci

[mimitabby]

So though I have all the cold weather "stuff" I hate to ride when it is cold, typically won't go out if it is below 50F - not much of a threshold I agree but it beats soaking my appendages in bowls/sinks of warm water in an attempt to restore circulation.

I hate to go out when it's below about 44 degrees. And I have all the gear too.
There has been more than one ride that I boycotted, to my husband's great disappointment. I have no desire to have ice crystals form on my body!

An older male rider talked me into getting these big fat fluffy gloves to go OVER my bike gloves on cold mornings. They are great. I got them at REI and they resist rain as well. I wore them for a 3 hour walk in the rain once, and it was only the last 30 minutes that i started feeling the damp and cold.

[DebW]

I can ride comfortably down to about 30F, but I try to avoid ice. That means that if the overnight temperature has been at or near freezing and there has been recent rain, I won't ride in the morning. If there is snow on the sides of the road and the temperature has been above freezing during the day and below freezing at night, I won't ride in the morning. Doing the morning commute to work in the spring is often not doable because of icy roads, or those occassional ice patches. But sometimes I get lucky and the roads are dry, so below freezing is OK then.

[Brandi]

Hmmm, I kind of like riding in rain. I love riding in rain in the summer on a paved trail. Having nice rain clothes helped me be ok with riding in cold rain. I am looking forward to testing my sandals on a nice rainy day! I think living in a warm climate influences this.

I hate cold, and especially hate wind.

Nanci

Nanci! You keep changing your pic's! i am reading down and I was all "who is this Nanci?" Then I saw your bird! And realized there can't be two with a pigeon? You look so different in every photo!