Winter Cycling - 20 degrees & no wind or 90 degrees

As I was riding today, I got to thinking. Would I rather ride at 20 F with no wind or at 90 F with possible humidity? I know this is the Winter Riding forum and we are all getting in "cold mode", but I figure most of us ride in hot and cold weather throughout the seasons.

I don't know how many of you have that sort of temp range where you live, but for those of you that do, what is your preference: 20 F with no wind or 90 F with humidity?

DP

90 with humidity. Don't like wearing layers of clothing.

Cheers and Happy Miles,
BLake

No question, 90 degrees. We do have a few 20 or < days a year in Oklahoma but that is COLD. We have 90+ April to Oct. so you get used to it.

SS

20 degrees in a heartbeat. No question at all.

Paul

90 degrees, even in the hottest of the most humid days is preferable.

Koffee

I hate heat but i am gonna say 90 F. 20 F is fairly cold and requires a lot of prep. It takes me 15 minutes to get ready for a ride. In 90 F i just throw on some shorts, a jersey and away i go. I would rather ride in 40-50 F over 90 F however.

20 degrees and no wind is not very cold if proper clothing is worn. Most people (drivers) consider a sweatshirt and tennis shoes as winter gear, so they do not understand the comforts of layering. While I would not say 20 degrees is the optimal temp for cycling, one participating in such a cardio-activity is not going to get cold.

90 degrees. Working out in the heat makes me feel like my body is getting stronger.

The cold just hurts, with no benefits. And it makes me sick.

20 Degrees. It doesn't often get that cold here so it feels like a blessing. 90 is MILD for a Tennessee summer, and I hate to sweat and sweat and sweat, which you pretty much do all summer long!

20 degrees and no wind is not very cold if proper clothing is worn. Most people (drivers) consider a sweatshirt and tennis shoes as winter gear, so they do not understand the comforts of layering. While I would not say 20 degrees is the optimal temp for cycling, one participating in such a cardio-activity is not going to get cold.

Steele-Bike,

I agree that 20 degrees with no wind is not very cold by Iowa standards and that if you dress for it you'll be fine, but I was just trying to consider a reasonable parallel. Originally, I had 10 degrees with no wind vs. 90, but I figured everyone would go with the 90. Therefore, I adjusted it to 20.

Thanks for your input.

DP

20 without question.

2 :D degrees!!

i'd rather go warm than cold. however, if it's going to be 90F, i'd perfer it to be raining. 90F with just high humidity is killer.

20 degrees above or below? If above, no question that's better (less road rash when wearing layers). Below... toss up.

Optimum for me is about 40 above F. I feel naked not having the arms and legs covered when riding...

I don't know how many of you have that sort of temp range where you live, but for those of you that do, what is your preference: 20 F with no wind or 90 F with humidity?

DP

In Southern AZ we really don't get much of the "humidity" in your 90 degree choice. Wind can be a factor in any weather and I hate the wind.

My choice is 90-115 degrees without humidity.

now try 33 degrees with 90% or more humidity. now that feels far colder then 20 degrees and dry.

I HATE THE COLD!!!

I'd take 90-100 F and 100% humidity over 20F and dry anyday! I don't think it ever gets into the 20's here...if it did I'd have to move. Did I mention I hate the cold, I don't ride when it's below 60

30- below is the way to go.






For real I like about 50F degrees. Thats a perfect riding temp for me.

Were I come from 20F would be a nice spring or fall day. In the winter your bike would freeze. But down here 20f is damp but my choice. Ill never get use to the humitity in the summer.

You can go 100 miles in the 90s.

I can't go that far in 20s without eventually getting cold no matter how I dress. Adding layers just seems to tire me more.

Other than distance, a ride in the 20s is as great as a ride in the 90s.

90, hands down. My brain shuts down in the heat but I can still breathe.

At 20, I develop some serious coughing making the outdoor -> indoor transition. Otherwise it'd be 20 for me.

I was training this summer in some 95+ heat and it got kind of surreal at points.

First, I hate winter. there, that's better. 90f with 99% humidity would be preferable to anything under 60f, wind or not. I prefer it to be hot, and like to sweat. Sweating in cold temps is not a problem. Until you stop. And go again.

That said, I wouldn't mind 20 degrees so much with NO wind, but that's as much a pipedream as 90f in December ;)

90 is much better than 20. I don't like all the clothing and I can ride earlier in the day to get most of the ride over before it gets too hot. I ride in temps up to 110, but usually around 95-100. You also don't have to worry about the wet slick roads in the warmer weather.

Id have to say 20 becuase when you start riding you get warm and once you get warm it feels nice to have the cool breeze, but when its 90 you feel like your going to pass out form the heat, and sweating too much sucks.

I don't ride when the temp is below 30. That's insane. Keeping your digits from frostbite, let alone comfortable, must be an artform at those temps. My hats off to those who do that regularly.

90 degrees is no problem for me. I love hot weather.

I hate... wearing so much freakin clothes.

90 because it's easier to breathe. Less snot.

However, one thing I love about 20 degree rides...the quiet and solitude. People are less active, less likely to be rushing about, less likely to be on the road. I also love how a good snow (6"+) tends to dampen noise around me.

I love winter! I would take 20 over 90 any day!!! Better yet throw a little snow into the mix and I can't think of any better way to look at the Christmas lights around town this time of year!

Easy choice, but you do need to be properly dressed. Fortunately, it doesn't take much to dress for 20F--UnderArmour ColdGear shirt, nylon shell, AmFib tights, AmFib gloves, booties, wool socks, balaclava.

90F is just plain miserable.

Now, for the true winter cyclists, lets up the ante. How low do you need to go (assuming no wind) to be less comfortable than at 90F/32C? The break even point for me is probably 5 to 10F/-15C to -12C.

..what is your preference: 20 F with no wind or 90 F with humidity?
That's a no-brainer. I'll take 90F any day.
When it's warm/hot I'm always out riding. When the temps are cold/cool I have to talk myself into going out for a ride.

Now, for the true winter cyclists, lets up the ante. How low do you need to go (assuming no wind) to be less comfortable than at 90F/32C? The break even point for me is probably 5 to 10F/-15C to -12C.

I'd say -20 F / -29 C.

Paul

90! Try 105. But really, really dry.

What's with the extra digit? I'll take 2 and no wind. ;)

Seriously, heat sucks. This morning is was a balmy 9 degrees. I love this weather.

20 degrees F is like... what... -6C? That's not too cold, I would choose that. I don't have much experience of riding in temperatures >30C but those times I did it I certainly was not enjoying the ride.

-30C and no wind can be quite comfortable. Below that would probably be a break even point for me. Bike mech tends to become really sluggish in such cold temperatures.

--J

Bike mech tends to become really sluggish in such cold temperatures.

--J
I've done -37F with 25 to 35mph head winds. Nothing compares to having your rear der. shifting 5 seconds after you have made the shift. :eek: Or even if it shifts at all!

I'll take the heat over cold any day. I'll ride in the cold, but it just makes me feel so slow. As long as I have plenty of water, heat's really no problem. Besides, it's not the heat so much as the humidity :D

Heck! I don't care what the temperature is! Its the NO WIND thing that would have me jumping! It is normal for me to ride in gusty winds in excess of 30MPH!

Any CALM conditions, regardless of temperature sounds good to me!~ :D


Johnny, you beat my record cold ride! Mine was -33F last winter! What a fun ride!

Johnny, you beat my record cold ride! Mine was -33F last winter! What a fun ride!

please put fun in quotes (e.g. "fun") if you are referring to things that are not actually fun. :p

please put fun in quotes (e.g. "fun") if you are referring to things that are not actually fun. :p

LOL... It was a blast, actually! 6" of fresh powder and sweet single track! Ahhhhh....

Ouch. Montana winters. I would say that I would have to take a 20 degree night ride over any 90 degree weather. I hate being hot, absolutely loath it, I hate sweating uncontrollably, I hate not being able to cool down after a ride. I went out last night in 24f, 15 mph wind, 25 gusts, and sideways snow for the fun of it! I climbed the only "hill" we have around here, which is on a golf course with a cart track going up it, and just sat at the top and looked at the snow falling. My bike was a tragedy, and I would have to say the #1 winter riding tip is CLEAN UP your bike. Also, single speed is your friend. I just worked into a ramble, so my choice is 20f any day.

I'll take the heat!!!

It's a toss up for me with a slight edge towards the colder side. 20-90 is about as extreme as I can comfortably cycle in.
In northern Virginia, it can get down to a dryish -5 and up to a very humid 105, too much of a range for me. -5 is hard on my lungs and sinuses and that 105 can sometimes be so humid that, for a few minutes until you acclimate, if you go out in it from air conditioning, you can taste the water in the air and feel the moisture condensing in your lungs. I tend to hide indoors at both of those extreme temps.

I'm an island boy...I'll take the heat and humidity any day. Every time I ride out in frigid conditions, I end up being on the brink of catching a cold the following days...

tough choice, but I lean towards the cold. 90, where I'm from, =monster humidity.

90! Try 105. But really, really dry.

Try 100 with near 100% humidity :D

After working through 2 summers as a carpenters helper- which meant 11 hour days of busting my butt in full sun, little ventilation, 90-100*F temps, near 100 percent humidity.... I don't care about heat anymore. For biking, as long as I have my camelback I'm hunkie dorie. 90 really feels pretty cool going 20mph- even in full humidity.

This is my first winter of constant commuting, so I'm not too familiar with below freezing yet. From what I've done it could be lots of fun.

I say bring 'em both on!