New Personal Temp Record

[Vision-]

I know a lot of people here have gone colder, but I felt proud of myself this morning. At 6:15 AM when I rode in to work it was -30C, with a wind chill of -39. My commute takes about 45 minutes each way.

To tell you the truth, it wasn't that bad. My toes started to get a bit cold near the end, and I had to take my glasses off about a km in though. Oh, and my right eye froze shut for a bit (may have to invest in some goggles).

[Archie]

Dear vision-, only residence of Mars do colder than -30C . . . That is something!

Stay safe.

[HereNT]

Wow - Minneapolis is on Mars! I'm a Martian!

Congrats on the record Vision - you shoud definatly invest in some goggles. I get contacts every winter because my eyesight is pretty bad, too. Keep riding!

[Vision-]

I get contacts every winter because my eyesight is pretty bad, too.

I hate contacts, but I think you're right. Contacts and goggles are the way to go. At these temps my glasses didn't just fog up, a layer of ice actually starting forming on them. :(

[HereNT]

I got home one day and had a three inch eyecycle hanging from one lens. I decided to get contacts after that. They didn't fog up (too cold for that) but I thought that a better soloution was needed. I've also found that it's a lot better with a face mask, even if you don't need goggles. Facemask+Glasses=Ice on glasses...

This is my first winter trying goggles, and I've actually had ice on them a couple of times. There are only a couple of days of trying them, though, and they aren't the nice ski/snowboard goggles with the double panes. I think I am going go look for something better soon... Hopefully chrome.

[skydive69]

I know a lot of people here have gone colder, but I felt proud of myself this morning. At 6:15 AM when I rode in to work it was -30C, with a wind chill of -39. My commute takes about 45 minutes each way.

To tell you the truth, it wasn't that bad. My toes started to get a bit cold near the end, and I had to take my glasses off about a km in though. Oh, and my right eye froze shut for a bit (may have to invest in some goggles).

And I thought I was a brave soul because I have ridden at around 50 (plus) C - Gee, I love Florida!

[tg1896]

This is my first winter commuting and I was going to ask how everyone commutes once it gets below 30 degrees. I guess I'll just tip my hat, keep my mouth shut and be glad that I live in Atlanta.

[catatonic]

Ive found that soft contacts become quite hard and uncomfortable in subzero weather unless you wear goggles, so keep that in mind.

[SaskCyclist]

I truly can appreciate what it means to say -30 with -39 windchill. I biked through that for roughly the same time on Thursday here. It was a personal record for me as well. Damn proud. I where contacts all the time and use glasses with interchangeable lenses that wrap around. The only difficulty I noticed was that the last km the glasses fogged even with anti fog treatment. I thought of getting goggles but I heard they fog as well and reduce your peripheral vision.

[srf]

Geez, how do you keep warm in those temperatures? For me 30 degree rides are torture. =)

[giant99]

-27 for me. Than I climbed snow drifts from the plows and sorted blue boxes ( recycling) all day. BRRR

[forensicchemist]

I know a lot of people here have gone colder, but I felt proud of myself this morning. At 6:15 AM when I rode in to work it was -30C, with a wind chill of -39. My commute takes about 45 minutes each way.

To tell you the truth, it wasn't that bad. My toes started to get a bit cold near the end, and I had to take my glasses off about a km in though. Oh, and my right eye froze shut for a bit (may have to invest in some goggles).



WOW....I'm impressed.....at -30C I'd be in front of the fireplace. Heck, at 0C I am in front of the fireplace........I'm such a wimp. :D

[catatonic]

Geez, how do you keep warm in those temperatures? For me 30 degree rides are torture. =)


Tip is heavy, heavy layering and to never stop moving.

[boyze]

Nice ride.

For face gear look at what skiers use ;)

[HereNT]

Tip is heavy, heavy layering and to never stop moving.

Yep. I was sweating just lying on my couch when I got partially suited up an hour ago. The problem with free heat is that you can't control the temp. And my windows are frozen shut and won't open.

How many layers are you wearing in St. Petersburg?

[Michel Gagnon]

So far, only -29 C for me; but a humid and windy -28 C a few times. Below -20 C, I tend to shorten my rides; I ride directly to and from work and try to postpone shopping trips to days when the temperature is above -15 or -20 C.

Riding in the cold per se is not a problem and is less messy than riding around freezing temperatures. But one needs proper equipment to keep the extremities warm, and my severe-weather mittens and boots don't work well when cycling.

[nitropowered]

I've done -3C. I thought about going out when it was -14C but whimpped out and didnt go

[KrisA]

It was -35C, with a -46C windchill, this morning. No problems, no complaints, other than having to de-ice the gogs a couple of times.

[Applehead57]

Man, no way. Anything below 40F is not fun for me. I have to wear so many clothes I don't feel comfortable.

I am in awe of you. I know Canada is a cold weather haven, but it takes alot of bike love to ride at those temperatures.

Keep it up and let us know how you're coping with the cold.

[clevernamehere]

It was -35C, with a -46C windchill, this morning. No problems, no complaints, other than having to de-ice the gogs a couple of times.
One degree warmer here this am (my record low)... my goggles iced up after about 30 minutes. I just gave up on them and rode the last 10 minutes without them. By "de-ice" do you mean that you actually have something specific to remove the ice/fog from your goggles, or do you just wipe it off with your glove?

[KrisA]

I just wipe it off with my fingers. Iced up after 30 min??? Wow on two accounts, first those must be some kick arse gogs to go that long before icing, mine ice within minutes, second that is a long commute when it's sub -25C. I can handle the elements because all of my commute routes have been short, longest being about 6.5 kms, much longer than that and I'd be wimping out when the mercury headed below -25.

Saskatoon seems to have a much more active bike culture than Regina, more commuters, more racers. Down here we just have a bunch of fat car driving slobs! ;)

[STEEKER]

I know a lot of people here have gone colder, but I felt proud of myself this morning. At 6:15 AM when I rode in to work it was -30C, with a wind chill of -39. My commute takes about 45 minutes each way.

To tell you the truth, it wasn't that bad. My toes started to get a bit cold near the end, and I had to take my glasses off about a km in though. Oh, and my right eye froze shut for a bit (may have to invest in some goggles).
BUT it was still fun to do EH I love haveing peeps look at me when I am stoped at a light with my face mask covered in ice >> Congrats on your Ride :D ...Steeker P.S. we are having a nice Mild winter so far :rolleyes:

[2manybikes]

The thermometer outside my window shows -30 c about the same as -22 f.

I'm impressed. It has never been that cold where I live that I know of.

I thought I was doing good at +15 f ( about -8 c)

I guess I live in a place where winter riding is pretty good. I will not take that for
granted any more.

[SaskCyclist]

KrisA/Clevernamehere, do you guys where ski goggles? Do they obstruct your peripheral vision? Are there any type of goggles that stay clear for your entire commute. I have just been using wrap around glasses with clear lenses and a balaclava; the skin gets pretty cold where it is exposed. I wussed out today and took the bone shaker. Tomorrow I bike. Good to see other crazy Saskatchewanians here.

[KrisA]

Ski gogs are the only way to go when it's around -30C. As I'm sure you know, you don't want any skin exposed to the air, ski gogs solve that problem for me.

Do they obstruct my vision? Sure, I have a harder time looking back at cars that may be about to nail me as I grab the lane. To me though, I'll take the risk vs the certain case of frostbite without them.

Are there kinds that stay clear? Mine are super cheap single pane gogs, I've heard that the double pane ones will stay clear longer. A bit of dish soap on the inside of the lense helps to keep things clear a bit. I think the best solution would be one of those high-end balaclavas with the plastic breather vent so your moist air gets expelled rather than traped next to your face.

[clevernamehere]

KrisA/Clevernamehere, do you guys where ski goggles? Do they obstruct your peripheral vision? Are there any type of goggles that stay clear for your entire commute.

I've been wearing a pair of clear-lens ski goggles. They have two "lenses" separated by an air space, as well as vents top & bottom covered with a very thin foam. I think they were about $30 at Canadian Tire. They seem ok. I find I have to watch how I exhale to be sure my breath is forced out of the balaclave & not up through the eye opening. I also try to make sure my helmet isn't sitting on the top vent openings.

I don't find them too bad for visibility. They do hinder my peripheral vision a little, but not dramatically... I do find myself turning my head back & forth a bit more often.

A co-worker has switched to smaller snowboarding goggles so they sit against his skin rather than the balaclava. They still fogged up, so he drilled vent holes around the preimeter which apparently helped.

[KrisA]

Tied my personal 'best' this morning: -38C with a -51C windchill. Not that the windchill matters when you have zero exposed skin.

[Hacklebarney]

When my eyelids start freezing shut, that's the point I ask myself, is it really worth it?

[Vision-]

BUT it was still fun to do EH I love haveing peeps look at me when I am stoped at a light with my face mask covered in ice:
You bet! If it's not fun, what's the point? And as my prairie brethren from Saskabush have pointed out, the last few days have been particularly nippy.

However, it's the kind of weather that has always endeared me to the Canadian prairies - Blue, blue sky, piercingly bright sun, and the temperature cold enough to liquefy nitrogen. As long as you're prepared, there's really nothing quite like it (I'm also on vacation this week, so I can actually ride in the sunlight during the week for a change....)

Oh, and way to go Canadian Juniors!! Way to shut those Russians up :D

[free_pizza]

Tied my personal 'best' this morning: -38C with a -51C windchill. Not that the windchill matters when you have zero exposed skin.


i dont think i even stepped outside that day!!

[Hhowdy]

Howdy,
OK so my 19f (-7.2c) seems warm to you northerners, but thats the best we've had here this year. Next month is our cold weather, 0 to -5 f (-17.7 to -20.5c) after a month of that we really appreciate March.
M.R.

[SaskCyclist]

When my eyelids start freezing shut, that's the point I ask myself, is it really worth it?

I must have a warped mind because when my eyelids freeze shut I just think how cool is that going to be to tell the crew at work later.

[skookum]

Well, guys its suposta get even colder this week.
It was only about -20 in the mornings last week in Calgary.