Winter Cycling - record lows, what to do

foretasted temperatures Tuesday are -30'f before the windchill. its estimated at around -40 to -50 degrees Fahrenheit with the wind. we're talking literally (probably not) record temperatures since the frickin' ice age.

i really wanna brave the commute, but how serious is this? i've faired well in -20 WITH the windchill. but -50 just seems insurmountable and unsurvivable. my commute is only 2 miles.

im gonna wear:

head:
hat
neoprene balaclava
ski goggles

chest:
long sleeved work clothes
winter coat
wind breaker

legs:
under wear
long thermal under wear
(thick) work pants

feet:
winter boots
socks of course

hands:
layer 1- super thin cheap gloves
layer 2- dual layer insulated closed cell neoprene gloves
layer 3- leather ski gloves


im kinda stressing about this. does anyone who has actually encountered these gnarly temperatures have any advice? because i sure haven't.

in a 15 minute commute will my face fall off?

2 miles. You're good.

What's the worse that can happen?

foretasted temperatures Tuesday are -30'f before the windchill. its estimated at around -40 to -50 degrees Fahrenheit with the wind. we're talking literally (probably not) record temperatures since the frickin' ice age.

i really wanna brave the commute, but how serious is this? i've faired well in -20 WITH the windchill. but -50 just seems insurmountable and unsurvivable. my commute is only 2 miles.

<snip>

Calm down and check the forecast again (http://www.accuweather.com/us/wi/sheboygan/53081/forecast.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=1&zipChg=1&metric=0). ;)

I completely ignore forecast windchills.

I make my own windchill, and what I wear for a given temp already has that factored in.

Likewise, I make my own heat. Thus, I wear considerably less than if I was just sitting around doing nothing--like in a car or waiting for a bus.

All due respect and not to diminish at all what you do, but for a 2 mile commute with the equipment you plan on wearing, you'll do fine. And yeah, the forecast isn't as bad as you think. The media weather folks love to hype this stuff, it helps the ratings.

Your biggest risk is frost bite on ski. This is espcially the case for anything on your head as your feet and hands will be covered with shoes/gloves. When the temps get close to zero I start to pay very close attention that all my skin is fully covered. For my head that means wearing a face mask in addition to a hat, and also wearing ski goggles to cover all the areas around my eyes. The rest of your body should be fine, especially since you are only commuting 2 miles. Even if you are riding slowly that should not take more than about 10 minutes. Even if your hands and feet were were not in ideal protection they should be perfectly fine for that period of time.

So far our forcase is for a high of 8F and a low of 0F... that should not be bad. I did fine with 2F last year.

Happy riding, and stay warm!
André

NO bare skin!!!
It'll hurt in seconds and possibly get 'burned' enough to hurt all day.
Full ski mask with only eye openings over the regular balaclava would be best.

Another slightly disgusting but beneficial trick is heavy chapstick around the lips and vaseline on any other exposed patches of skin.

One syracuse winter I was obsessive enough about my exercise walks to keep going for a week of well below zero morning temps. I would finish 3 miles(2 on the -15 day) with a layer of ice on the outside of my ski mask but a warm face.

If I had a 2 mile commute, I'd just throw on my boots, windpants, parka, headband, and mitts ... and walk.

Oh wait. I did that all last week! :D

Well ... my commute was actually only 2 km each way (30 minutes), but I'd do the same if it were 2 miles.

thats the last time i ever listen to the news.

i knew the national and foreign policy news was void of credibility, today i learned the local weather forecast is as well.

it didnt even hit 20 below with the windchill

Just HTFU and ride, it had to be said.......................

thats the last time i ever listen to the news.

i knew the national and foreign policy news was void of credibility, today i learned the local weather forecast is as well.

it didnt even hit 20 below with the windchill

My wife left for work at 6:30AM worried about me riding to an 8:30AM meeting. I thought about taking the car but ended up riding the bike. It was great. The snow plows had been out and the conditions were better than at 2:00PM yesterday.

Yes, the weather people have got to stop hyping. Or, when there is serious s*** out there, people will be hurt.

Its 44 below up there right now close to you ... not somthing to get stuck out in even if you are dressed well for it IMHO thats just plain DANGEROUS anyone says otherwise is nuts . Even in Alaska there careful in that kina cold . You can get serious frostbite in short order in those temps be careful . Just my 2 cents .......

i knew the national and foreign policy news was void of credibility, today i learned the local weather forecast is as well.

That's why I call it The Hyperbole Channel.

OMG! A snowflake! We're all gonna die!

For 2 miles you could ride shirtless and you'll live. It'd be awful and you'd never do such a thing again, but it's only a 15 minute commute.

I'm going tommorow and it's going to be incredibly cold, but as long as you cover up exposed skin you'll start producing your own heat and be nice and comfortable within 10 minutes provided you've had proper winter clothing all along (ie, proper layering).

it was even colder today than yesterday, still shy of the hype but everyone else is still in a frenzy

today i walked into the locker room at work all sweaty. everyone called me crazy and asked me if i was cold.

i felt like telling my shivering coworkers that if they spent more than 4 seconds at a time out side, scurrying from one warm place to another they'd get used to it. i just ended up being nice and told them i enjoyed my ride today and wouldn't ride if i didn't enjoy every minute of it.

i enjoy the age-old man versus nature conflict. it spices up my otherwise dull life.

For 2 miles you could ride shirtless and you'll live. It'd be awful and you'd never do such a thing again, but it's only a 15 minute commute.

I'm going tommorow and it's going to be incredibly cold, but as long as you cover up exposed skin you'll start producing your own heat and be nice and comfortable within 10 minutes provided you've had proper winter clothing all along (ie, proper layering).

ugggh, tell me about it.

Back in university, I took a dare to run out of a hot tub and down the street to the local Safeway (about 1 km).... in -29c. I made it and came back fine, but ended up with bronchitis. It goes without saying that I was was wasted when I took the dare.