Commuting - 1 degree F

Yep, suppose to get to 3 above today. I already rode out there in this stuff, and froze my tooque-us. I had all the layers I needed but forgot that hunkered over the bars my butt is vulnerable as it stretches material, and I didn't get the under layers right, so my butt was really cold. Fun ride though. Love it when your breath builds up in your face and freezes your eyelashes together. And it is so cold that you can't wear glasses cause everything fogs up in this cold. The coldest spot in the state was Orr, MN. It is on the Canadian border, or close, and was -26F.

Ah the joys of it finally being winter in Minnesota. We even got a dusting of snow last night!

Yep, suppose to get to 3 above today. I already rode out there in this stuff, and froze my tooque-us. I had all the layers I needed but forgot that hunkered over the bars my butt is vulnerable as it stretches material, and I didn't get the under layers right, so my butt was really cold. Fun ride though. Love it when your breath builds up in your face and freezes your eyelashes together.
Who is this, really?

:D

I wimped out, and drove, and now I feel so dirty. Life was so much easier before I was married and didn't have access to a car.

I think that I'll try to make up for it tomarrow when its even colder. I'll check out Lake Hariet and see if it is good for riding( I never did get those godawfully expensive studded tires, so I have to be carful).

- 15 F in Spokane this morning. it may have made it up to 0 during the day, I don't know.

I pussed out and drove.

snowed in vitoria b.c. NEVER snows here..got to get some winter riding in-trails are nice, roads are icy hell- commuted home @ 3 am, CRAZY ice, didn't stick my shoes in the straps once- like feet on the ground, both brakes on-sliding downhill-home o.k. WHEW!

Not looking forward to the ride tomorrow, and at the same time I'm sort of psyched for it. I know it is like crazy to think of riding in near to sub zero temps, but I want to do it. I noticed this morning with the layers I was wearing on my torso I was most comfortable, but my thighs and butt need more protection, so I am going to work on adding long underwear tomorow to get to work. But tomorow night it is going to be below zero on the ride home, and that is rather sobering to think about riding in that sort of cold, and what might happen if something should happen. It's always in the back of the mind.

Looking forward to testing out toe warmers in my boots, hope they provide some warmth. If they do I'll invest in more than a few.

Hope the cold snap ends this weekend like they are predicting. I don't know if I can do a week of hardcore winter commuting. But, then I won't know until I've done it.

LBM: I don't understand the question.

LBM: I don't understand the question.
Just a flashback from Bill Cosby's, "Noah and the Ark."

God speaks to Noah and says, "Build an ark."

Noah says, "Right. What's an ark?"

God says, "It's a boat. I want you to build it 40 cubits by 80 cubits by 60 cubits. It's going to rain for 40 days and 40 nights. Then I'm going to wait for the sewers to back up."

Noah says, "Right. Who is this, really?"

God says, "I'm God."

Noah says, "Right. Am I on candid camera?"

:D

(Naisme, you and Mike are like two peas in a frozen, arctic tundra pod! You guys should be on Ripley's Believe it or Not. In fact, I hope you have a cell phone in case you have to call a sleigh to rescue you. One day, 10,000 years from now, someone will unearth you and your bike and say, "This is the best preserved frozen specimen from early man..." :D )

LBG is funny!

I, too, must applaud naisme. You make it clear that subzero riding is quite possible. And maybe enoyable, if it doesn't last for more than a week.

I ride after midnight as well, and avoiding frostbite is a big concern, when one can't duck into any old business that would be open during the day. Thats probably the biggest reason that I drove monday. Tuesday, I'll try doing my grocery shopping and check out the ice on the local lake. If I can keep the toes and fingers from getting cold, I'll bike to work in this stuff. My commute is only 7 miles each way. I usually like to stay on the least motored roads, but I could take bigger roads and pass two gas stations that are open late, just in case.

Yeah those SA stops are really nice just to knock off the ice and warm a little. I have a Holiday that I stop at about 3 miles from work, it's a nice break. On the way home I get to stop at an SA about 3 miles from home. Get all sorts of looks.

I was out there with you, Naisme. It was 8 degrees F here, but the WIND! Holy Moley. I was going down hill and the wind stopped me from coasting. I had to pedal downhill. I thought my brakes were hung up, so I got off the bike and spun the wheels with my hands just to make sure that they would spin freely.

Normally it takes me about 40 minutes to commute. Last night it took 1 hour 20 minutes. Add that to the 8 degree temperature and you can imagine how painful it was to thaw my frozen fingers when I got home.

I wimped out, and drove, and now I feel so dirty. Life was so much easier before I was married and didn't have access to a car.

I think that I'll try to make up for it tomarrow when its even colder. I'll check out Lake Hariet and see if it is good for riding( I never did get those godawfully expensive studded tires, so I have to be carful).

I know how you feel. Last year I married into two cars, which makes it very tempting to drive to work on cold days. This morning I resisted the urge and braved -25F windchills to walk the two miles to work. It's not real far, but walking along the unplowed shoulder of a highway is not the most enjoyable thing. But, it is better than driving.

I noticed last night on the way home that the area above my eyes hurt. Need to get some goggles i guess. Was -8 with the windchill and that was when it hurt going into the headwind.

This week will be my first in temps below freezing, highs tomorrow in the low 20's and mid 20's rest of the week, of course wind chill will drive it lower. I have had no problems in cold down to 30-32 f, but this will be a challenge. I should be able to pull it off especially since there is no call for precip, so no snow or ice to deal with this week. I have wussed out a few times this winter, but only when I was sick with a cold or flu, in which case I either drove or took the bus depending on my mood. I do miss walking though, as when I drive I park in a city lot that is a 20 minute walk still to my office and I really enjoy it, so since my total one-way is only just over 4 miles, there is no reason not to walk it sometimes too. I often see a runner going to and from work along my route during warmer months. By the way, get that eye protection kurremkarm, it helps tremendously. I use a pair of wrap around shop safety glasses with clear sides to not block peripheral vision. Good luck to all in the coming weeks.

Looking forward to testing out toe warmers in my boots, hope they provide some warmth. If they do I'll invest in more than a few.


Hey naisme, what toe warmers ?
It was 10 here this morning (a tie for my coldest ever commute) and I do fine except for my feet. I tried those chemical things this morning underneath the sole pads of my shoes, but I think they need to be exposed to air in order to work. I bought some ‘electric’ sox, but haven’t tried those yet.

Naisme-

Is that a picture of you in today's Star Trib? I'd attach a link but the Strib requires a subscription. Bundled up guy riding a fixed gear Surly on Summit Avenue in Saint Paul...seemed to fit the description...

-Schiek

Here's the Strib pic...

Great pic! I'm just coming off the flu so I drove today, if I'm up to it I might ride tomorrow... I sure do miss it (not the cold particularly). This flu thing sucks, I've been off my bike for a week now.

Nope, but it fooled me for a second. I don't have the Surly with fenders, I have a Schwinn with a rack. The colors, the helmet, run close though. Sure glad I'm not the only one out there with the bug to do this sort of riding.

Hey guys... good discussion...

I did my normal commute this morning in Madison WI. It was about -3/-5 with wind chill in the -20 range. WAY TOO MUCH FUN!!!!


My personal low is -17 air, -40 wind... I would love to beat that!

My personal best is -24F/-31C with windchill at around -55F. I've done it a few times but we haven't seen temps like that in a while.

Man that would be "cool"

-clint



My personal best is -24F/-31C with windchill at around -55F. I've done it a few times but we haven't seen temps like that in a while.

Yesterday was -34.6C, with a -45C windchill. Contrary to what all of my coworkers thought I was very warm when I got to work. Rather than wearing my usual variety of cycling gear I bundled up in all of my 'exteme cold' gear.

Still a few degrees off of last winters record of -38C. Note that my commute is only about 6km's, if it was longer than that I'd take the bus when it got that cold.

I was out there with you, Naisme. It was 8 degrees F here, but the WIND! Holy Moley. I was going down hill and the wind stopped me from coasting. I had to pedal downhill. I thought my brakes were hung up, so I got off the bike and spun the wheels with my hands just to make sure that they would spin freely.

Normally it takes me about 40 minutes to commute. Last night it took 1 hour 20 minutes. Add that to the 8 degree temperature and you can imagine how painful it was to thaw my frozen fingers when I got home.
I can imagine explaining that to my wife:

"Honey, I nearly froze to death on my commute! Normally, it would have taken me 40 minutes. But tonight, I took 1 hour 20 minutes! I was going downhill and the wind stopped me from coasting! I had to pedal downhill."

Wife: "Where have you been, Mike?"

:mad:

Yesterday was -34.6C, with a -45C windchill. Contrary to what all of my coworkers thought I was very warm when I got to work. Rather than wearing my usual variety of cycling gear I bundled up in all of my 'exteme cold' gear.

Still a few degrees off of last winters record of -38C. Note that my commute is only about 6km's, if it was longer than that I'd take the bus when it got that cold.

Dude, you are a STUD!

I can imagine explaining that to my wife:

"Honey, I nearly froze to death on my commute! Normally, it would have taken me 40 minutes. But tonight, I took 1 hour 20 minutes! I was going downhill and the wind stopped me from coasting! I had to pedal downhill."

Wife: "Where have you been, Mike?"

:mad:

Heh heh, ya you're right, Pete. That would normally be the case in most households, but my wife just watched me wince and cumble in pain while I ran my frozen fingers in water to thaw them. Then she asked me if I was ready for dinner.

Heh heh, ya you're right, Pete. That would normally be the case in most households, but my wife just watched me wince and cumble in pain while I ran my frozen fingers in water to thaw them. Then she asked me if I was ready for dinner.
Women can be so fantastic.

I just love all these cold winter riding threads. They give me that much needed inspiration to keep riding in sub zero temps. :)

Kris, Youre bent, I admire you, but you're bent...
Not that those temps or worse would keep me off the skis, but I aint got the cajones to cycle in those temps.

Scoob

...I aint got the cajones to cycle in those temps.
I'd be afraid to freeze them off...

Seriously, if ever it got sub-zero in Atlanta (it has gotten close,) I would consider it an honor to show my fellow Atlantans just how big my cajones are...

...then I'd get back into my warm house and drink hot coffee while my wife hovers over my stiff corpse.

Just a flashback from Bill Cosby's, "Noah and the Ark."

God speaks to Noah and says, "Build an ark."

Noah says, "Right. What's an ark?"

God says, "It's a boat. I want you to build it 40 cubits by 80 cubits by 60 cubits. It's going to rain for 40 days and 40 nights. Then I'm going to wait for the sewers to back up."

Noah says, "Right. Who is this, really?"

God says, "I'm God."

Noah says, "Right. Am I on candid camera?"

:D

(Naisme, you and Mike are like two peas in a frozen, arctic tundra pod! You guys should be on Ripley's Believe it or Not. In fact, I hope you have a cell phone in case you have to call a sleigh to rescue you. One day, 10,000 years from now, someone will unearth you and your bike and say, "This is the best preserved frozen specimen from early man..." :D )


Are you sure cell phones will work when it's that cold? Don't the batteries freeze?

Heh heh, ya you're right, Pete. That would normally be the case in most households, but my wife just watched me wince and cumble in pain while I ran my frozen fingers in water to thaw them. Then she asked me if I was ready for dinner.

When women give birth they pass something about half the size of a bowling ball. I don't think they have much sympathy for us.

Are you sure cell phones will work when it's that cold? Don't the batteries freeze?
Does anything work when it's that cold?

:eek:

I went out riding today when the air temp was about 6F. With a headwind of 20mph and a hood on along with a ski mask, I couldn't wear glasses since they kept fogging up. Couldn't take the ski mask off since my face and lungs were freezing.
But overall the ride was pretty good, the only hairy part was going down brooklyn bridge at 30mph, I had my eyes closed half and half due to the wind.
Kept my cellphone close to my skin, usually it dies when it goes below 20. Had a bottle of boiling hot water in my pack to keep the batteries to my headlight warm and the water was still warm 3 hours into the ride.
My cajones did feel unusually cold though...

I have absolutely no idea how I would cope with that kind of cold.

I met this morning at 06:30, 1/2 an hour earlier than normal for my Sunday ride to avoid the heat. It got to 40C today and we were really keen to get some hills done and back home before we sweltered.

It is a crazy world that we live in !