Folding Bikes - 50 miles out in the cold

I have recently cycled 50 miles (80km) through the Kent countryside (England) on my Downtube IX FS in sub zero temperature. I had all my extremities well covered apart from my knees which are now complaining.

I did this on my folder just for some perverse challenge to myself and the bike.
Does anyone else do daft things like this?

Well done mate ! ... I went for a ride at the w/e but gave up after 25 miles .. it was my fingers that gave way, even in best gloves .. and that was on a 700c !

I did this on my folder just for some perverse challenge to myself and the bike.
Does anyone else do daft things like this?

Ummm, short answer - NO :eek:!

Living in sunny California, we're not used to venturing out in the cold ...

It's winter in New Jersey and I have no car... So yeah, I do something daft like that pretty much every day. ;)

It's winter in Florida, and out there is freaking freeking at 58F. No way I am riding my bike!!

:)

Well I'm riding my Tikit pretty much everyday here in Canada - not 80kms mind you!

I have recently cycled 50 miles (80km) through the Kent countryside (England) on my Downtube IX FS in sub zero temperature. I had all my extremities well covered apart from my knees which are now complaining.

I did this on my folder just for some perverse challenge to myself and the bike.
Does anyone else do daft things like this?

I did 64 miles during 40 degree Farhenheit temperature the other day. A few weeks ago I did 50 miles during 50 degree drizzle conditions. The worse thing was cleaning the bike afterwards.

I did this on my folder just for some perverse challenge to myself and the bike.
Does anyone else do daft things like this?

I regularly do 25 miles at that temperature. I would think that 50 miles is more than twice as hard. At the end of 25 my hands and feet were very cold.

You violated the Warren Sass 50-50 rule. It has to be warmer than 50 degrees to ride 50 miles!

Speedo

The worse thing was cleaning the bike afterwards.

That is Sooo true !! ... and due to salt used on the roads if its not cleaned straight away its easy to get bad corrosion even on ali frames and wheels .... another reason to stay in and talk about bikes on forums :)

It's winter in Florida, and out there is freaking freeking at 58F. No way I am riding my bike!!

:)

:beer::beer:

Now, that's my kind of guy! :D

It's round zero in Holland now. Therefore I keep my rides as short as possible. Going to the shop, or out to take some photos in my neighborhood. But that's it for now...

Jos

I am planning a cycling tour for next summer, so the 80km trip was also to see if the Downtube IX FS is suitable for a long haul. The only major problem is limited rack/carrier options due to the front and rear suspension design. I use a seatpost rack, which is fine but I wouldn't trust it with even the suggested maximum weight of 10kg so I will need to look into this further.

That is Sooo true !! ... and due to salt used on the roads if its not cleaned straight away its easy to get bad corrosion even on ali frames and wheels .... another reason to stay in and talk about bikes on forums :)

Hah! I am going for the Century-A-Month Challenge this year. I just put fenders on a commuter. So I have been using that bike lately.

-G

Yup. It's not hard to brave the elements around here in San Diego ! :lol: