Southern California - How cold can you take it?

Question of the Day (Monday)
OK, we've had the coldest spell that January/February threw at us. So the question is,

"What's the coldest temperature you will ride in?"

Assuming, of course, that you had proper clothing and there were no weather hazards.
Note: This is a poll for SoCalers only!
We have the utmost respect for you Northerners who ride in snowstorms, but we have thin blood and don't play it that way. ;)

Well, I'm not sure if I count or not. I did this when I was living in So Cal. About 12 years ago, we had a really cold winter storm, and it covered Baldy with snow, just like how it is now. We had a club ride that went to Baldy Village (not to the ski lift). Snow was on the shoulder everywhere ... I think it was sub-freezing, like 28 degrees when we started (who knows what the temp was like when we started hitting GRR). I thought my toes were going to fall off.

BTW, I don't ride in snowstorms. :D

Especially if if I have the right clothes... I would ride 'til about 20 degrees.

Of course, I'm in SoCal now for 5 years, but prior, I was in upstate New York. Do I still count?

I did ride in sub-20 degree temps last year, but I won't do it again voluntarily. Even that ride was cut short, courtesy of Metrolink.

Have lived here for 16 years now, but can still go back east and do rides in 20 degree temperatures ... and during a couple of the cold spells here last winter I did have a couple of days where I was riding to work in the high 20s.

I've commuted to work once when it was 33 degrees... Didn't even realize it until i got to the metrolink station and checked the thermometer on my cyclometer ("So that's why it felt so f***in' cold!") :lol:

I'd rather not ride when it's that cold though if i can help it. If i'm going for a rec ride i'd probably go for mid 40s to be comfortable.

I can ride in 20 degree weather or less in proper clothing and no weather conditions, but I wouldn't like it, so I chose 50 or more assuming that the entire ride would be at that temperature. Otherwise, riding for six hours in anything less would seem like so much torture to me, why do it?

32 degrees. Once it's literally freezing, so am I.

Been on the road with temps under 40 but hated it. I figure once it's getting to about 45, it's not fun anymore for me, honestly. Have to wear big huge gloves, face coverings, etc.....naw...I'd rather ride the trainer at that point!

Sheldon

Sub 20 last winter. At that temp the relative humidity goes to zero so it's hard on the lungs.
One winter in Oregon, I rode several days at 10 degrees or less, ski mask and all.

Been on the road with temps under 40 but hated it. I figure once it's getting to about 45, it's not fun anymore for me, honestly. Have to wear big huge gloves, face coverings, etc.....naw...I'd rather ride the trainer at that point!

Sheldon

My only problem with that is that a trainer isn't going to get me to work. :(

I've ridden with it down into the 20s and it's not too bad except during descents, then it's hell.

I've ridden with it down into the 20s and it's not too bad except during descents, then it's hell.




I like it hot. ;)

what else can I say. born in Cali...fornia

Sub 20 last winter. At that temp the relative humidity goes to zero so it's hard on the lungs.
One winter in Oregon, I rode several days at 10 degrees or less, ski mask and all.

I'm disappointed in you, Clint. I would have expected tougher. A ski mask?

:p

I'm diappointed in you, Clint. I would have expected tougher. A ski mask?

:p

Generally required kit for sub-teens cold snaps and bank robberies.

Generally required kit for sub-teens cold snaps and bank robberies.

Oh...got it. Okay, you're redeemed. ;)

My only problem with that is that a trainer isn't going to get me to work. :(
+1

I voted 60 because when I have a choice, that's my lower limit. However, as a year-round commuter, I don't always have a choice. My Winter morning commutes drop to the low 30s quite often. That's not fun for me, but it sure inspires a faster ride.

On the other side of the spectrum, there's almost nothing too hot to ride in. Though when it starts to tickle 110, I think twice.

We have the utmost respect for you Northerners who ride in snowstorms, but we have thin blood and don't play it that way. ;)

I'm a SoCaler now, so I normally don't ride if it looks like it might be cloudy at some point during the ride.

I used to routinely ride in -35 to -40 temperatures (not including windchill, which could take it to effectively -70 on exposed skin, but at those temps you don't expose *any* skin).

Come to the Mid-West, 20's is given, sub-20 if sunny. But we have, oh wait, not much...

Come to the Mid-West, 20's is given, sub-20 if sunny. But we have, oh wait, not much...

You have balls, that's what! Cause that is what it takes to ride in that weather. I told my Dad that recently. He rides in temperatures I'd be shaking in my SIDIs in and he doesn't complain one bit. We So-calers are weak. :p

I've ridden in the low 30s. Haven't really had any opportunity to ride colder than that, and don't have the clothing for it anyway. If I lived somewhere else, where it actually got colder, I would reevaluate...

I was actually honest on this.
55 deg.,
And this is a start temp, and that's if it's going to warm up!

I don't do cold...

If it makes anyone feel any better, I don't do 75F+. The average high for Vancouver BC in August is 66F.

You can always put on more clothes, but you can only take so much off.

[QUOTE=Happytime;6143960]Question of the Day (Monday)
OK, we've had the coldest spell that January/February threw at us. So the question is,

"What's the coldest temperature you will ride in?"

I ride during the winter in Chicago. Try to only go when it is 25 or above, but I went a couple of times last year when it was below zero, just to try it out. I wore ski goggles, face mask, etc. Dressing for winter is not that hard, I usually wear a base layer, thermal jersey, and a wind proof outer layer. You generate a lot of heat cycling. Good gloves are a must. I've had better luck with ski gloves. The cold doesn't bother me, but I stay away from icy roads. I went down hard last year and learned that lesson.

I was actually honest on this.

Are you implying that others were less than honest?

I voted 60 because when I have a choice, that's my lower limit.
If I have a choice, I choose 70 as my lower limit - but also 75 as my upper limit. :D

Current SoCalers who answered 30°F or colder are lying sacks. Your past life experiences in freezerland doen't count because once you live in SoCal for a while you become a temperature wussy. I know. I used to think 40°F in a cheap Performance summer jersey was just fine when I was in Virginia. No more.

Current SoCalers who answered 30°F or colder are lying sacks. Your past life experiences in freezerland doen't count because once you live in SoCal for a while you become a temperature wussy. I know. I used to think 40°F in a cheap Performance summer jersey was just fine when I was in Virginia. No more.

Wanna join me on a night ride in the San Gabriel mountains next cold snap?

Current SoCalers who answered 30°F or colder are lying sacks.

Please Mr. Ambiguous, tell us how you really feel. ;)

Wanna join me on a night ride in the San Gabriel mountains next cold snap?

No.

No.

It's not that cold, except on the descents when it hits 20 degree wind chills and you can't feel your fingers or toes or nose.

It's not that cold, except on the descents when it hits 20 degree wind chills and you can't feel your fingers or toes or nose.

I don't believe I've seen you on a night ride in the San Gabriels this winter, either... :p

I don't believe I've seen you on a night ride in the San Gabriels this winter, either... :p

I get around.

It's not that cold, except on the descents when it hits 20 degree wind chills and you can't feel your fingers or toes or nose.

Wind chill doesn't count.

Um...when you can feel the freezing wind though your jersey and sports bra, it counts!

You know, Assos makes great Winter stuff too. At least we get to enjoy that.

I put 35, but only because that is the coldest I have ever ridden in. I guess if I had the right gear I would ride in colder temps, though. Its the riding in rain/snow/ice that makes me nervous.

I tend to agree with Indolent. There's a distinction --

"What is the coldest you've ridden?" in vs. "What's the coldest you would ride in on a regular basis without coming up with some excuse to skip the ride most of the time?"

Last year I did the Solvang Double and the starting temp was 37 with the humidity it felt like 32. Descending Happy Canyon the wind chill factor was below 20 in fact the first 20 miles the wind chill was below 20. I was wearing short finger gloves, shorts, not bibs, jersey and a cheap vest. No arm warmers, No knee warmers.

I tend to agree with Indolent. There's a distinction --

"What is the coldest you've ridden?" in vs. "What's the coldest you would ride in on a regular basis without coming up with some excuse to skip the ride most of the time?"

Me too, and I've ridden in that horrid $#$^@

If I'm actually in a cold unpleasant place I'll ride in any weather.

If I'm in SoCal I don't like to ride if it's cloudy or chilly.

Are you implying that others were less than honest?

No, just that the last two polls I did not answer correctly.
Such as, I've never ridden 300 miles in a day, nor would I try.
Now in a month total, thats possible.

EDIT: Check the plethora of RED STARS in the poll results!!

Now you folks that are on here and don't have 'em, time to pony up some dough and
support the Forum!

45° is as low as I can take it right now - but only because I don't have the gear for temperature less than 50°. If I the year held a colder temperature for longer, I'd invest in the gear for lower temperatures and then it wouldn't be so much of a problem.

Last year I did the Solvang Double and the starting temp was 37 with the humidity it felt like 32. Descending Happy Canyon the wind chill factor was below 20 in fact the first 20 miles the wind chill was below 20. I was wearing short finger gloves, shorts, not bibs, jersey and a cheap vest. No arm warmers, No knee warmers.+1, although I had arm warmers, thank god.

That was when I learned my lesson about putting too much faith in weather.com (which forecast 47 at the starting time) -- always over-prepare.

I'm happy it's gonna be ~51 degrees tomorrow morning at 4:00am. :D

I tend to agree with Indolent. There's a distinction --

"What is the coldest you've ridden?" in vs. "What's the coldest you would ride in on a regular basis without coming up with some excuse to skip the ride most of the time?"

I would regularly ride down to 30 as long as it's not likely that I'd hit ice.

I would regularly ride down to 30 as long as it's not likely that I'd hit ice.Sure, but you crazy, mon.

Sure, but you crazy, mon.

Yeah, but it's not like I'm out there in a short sleeve jersey and bibs, I'm dressed for the Arctic!

I tend to agree with Indolent.

Indeed. How could anyone not agree with Indolent?