[capkos]

I haven't done any winter riding. Is there a temperature below which it is not good to ride? I'm concerned with breathing hard in cold temps. :confused:

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[velocipedio]

I've skied [cross country] in temperatures down to -25C with no ill effects aside from some temporary hoarseness.

[mike]

Like a lot of bicycle enthusiasts who live in cold temps, I ride regularly in feezing temperatures.

Temperatures down to 20 F (-6 C) can be done without a great deal of grief. Below that and you will start to think about taking the car.

Below 10 F (-12 C), and you have to be extremely careful with your clothing. Any mistakes could cost you skin from frostbite - quick.

My personal opinion is that temperatures below about -10 F (-23 C) is pretty punishing and dangerous. Some guys do it, and I have also bicycled in temps below -10 F (-23 C), but I question the wisdom of it.

At cold temperatures, though, you need to cover your skin. For breathing, use a balaklava to cover your nose and mouth. You can damage your throat and lungs by gulping freezing air.

[ljbike]

For cold temperatures I would recommend layered clothing -not too bulky- Thermo gloves and warm boots with toe-clip pedals, a good knitted hat under your helmet and a long thick scarf to wrap around your neck and face several times. (Tuck the ends into your jacket. It will help protect your chest.) The thick scarf will heat the air before it reaches your lungs and prevent damage. (As an athmatic, this was of special benefit to me.)

I rode, dressed this way, through many Maine winters, regardless of temperature, with no illeffects. Good luck.

[velo]

Originally posted by capkos
I'm concerned with breathing hard in cold temps.

No, the cold air won't hurt your breathing as long as you don't go to too extreme temps. as the other posters have stated. Get out and ride! ...it was 20 degrees this morning & a great ride!

velo

[mike]

Originally posted by velo
No, the cold air won't hurt your breathing as long as you don't go to too extreme temps. as the other posters have stated. Get out and ride! ...it was 20 degrees this morning & a great ride!
velo

Actually, Velo, breathing can hurt and it can do damage in really cold temperatures. At around 20 F like you mentioned, it won't be too bad, but at temperatures in the teens and below, it can be really bad.

If you don't pre-heat the air with a scarf or face-mask in temperatures below 0 F, you can really be hurting if you are gulping in freezing air when running, biking, cross-country skiiing, etcetera.

It happens to me once in a foolish while. When it happens, your lungs just scream with pain - a freezing cold pain from the very center of your body which is difficult to describe with words.

[velocipedio]

Tru... wear a balaclava... but if you AREN'T wearing a face covering at extremely cold temps, breathing cold air will be the least of your worries. You like you nose, don't you?

[mike]

Originally posted by velocipedio
Tru... wear a balaclava... but if you AREN'T wearing a face covering at extremely cold temps, breathing cold air will be the least of your worries. You like you nose, don't you?

Indeed! Well put, Velo.

[capkos]

Thank you Mike and the rest of you but when the temp gets down to 0' F I'll be inside ob bike forums or some other worthwhile endeavor.

[fubar5]

One thing I found with cold weather, that all you guys probably already know, is that it is harder to breathe in cold weather. Kind of like the people floating around in the cold water when the Titanic sank, they probably suffocated from the effects of the freezing cold before they drowned. :D