Commuting - How wide a 1 day temp. range?

This morning when I left it was 5F/-15C, when I came home it was 33F/1C. That range seemed to have a greater effect on my riding than the same range does in spring or fall rides, but it started me thinking about rapid temperature changes. What is your most dramatic difference in 12 hours? (Either compare the trip home one night and the trip to work the next morning, or going to work and coming home on the same day.)

I think it was about 19 C at the start of a ride, to 47 C at one stage in 1999. At least, that was the "official" temperature range. It was also extremely humid, so even the 19 C in the morning felt like about 35.

Yesterday. Environment Canada issued an "instant freeze" warning. The temperature dropped from about +3C to -25C in a matter of a couple hours. Everything was melted and then frozen over. Everything was extremely trecherous. Now it is snowing to make things worse!

During the spring and early summer, the temperature in my area can go from the mid-30s in the morning to the mid-70s by afternoon. I'm kind of bullheaded in that I don't like to carry too many layers of clothing so I'll usually be heading out with just shorts and a short-sleeve jersey in the hopes that activity will be enough to keep me warm. Of course this is for all-day recreational rides. If I were commuting I'd be more inclined to carry more stuff. When the temperature starts dropping below 30F then I usually start out with warmer clothes.

Wasn't a bike ride, but widest change I've seen in 6 hours was in February of '94 in North Texas. At 8 AM there was an inch or more of solid ice on everything and temperature in the twenties. By noon all the ice was gone and by 2PM it was almost 70 degrees outside. Of course, they didn't get some roads unsnarled until late that evening because of all the wrecked and abandoned vehicles.

That was the day I decided I would never again venture out on icy roads in Texas. I didn't get hit, but came within inches of being nailed by idiots six separate times in a twenty mile drive from I30 and Rosedale in Ft. Worth to the vicinity of the Ballpark in Arlington. I was driving a Ford escort with an automatic and half-bald street tires and I had no problems controlling my vehicle but you should have seen all the other idiots clogging up the roads. It took me 4 hours, and several detours, to make the trip.

John

Originally posted by Spire
Yesterday. Environment Canada issued an "instant freeze" warning. The temperature dropped from about +3C to -25C in a matter of a couple hours. Everything was melted and then frozen over. Everything was extremely trecherous. Now it is snowing to make things worse! Spire,You got that right.I also share your weather it was a brutal change in temps.What a wake up call for my ride home.This was the most extreme temperature change that I can remember.

"You are a machine, I see you every day."--- motorist to me at an intersection.

Dang strate.

(Our temp variations are mild out here, Jean.)

Today was weird, mild morning, warming to sweating in the office, cooling suddenly as a front moved in; low of 34F/1C, high of 87F/30C. Glad my commute both ways missed the extremes!