What happened to the 60 degree "rule"?
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What happened to the 60 degree "rule"?
When I first started visiting here about 2007 or so the advice of covering your knees if the temperature was below 60 degrees used to be pretty common. That's 15.6 for you Celsius fans, eh? Bad things would happen to your knees if you didn't do this according to the those that believed this even though there wasn't anything in the way of proof offered beyond a lot of grizzled old riders who just knew it was true after years of riding. But lately it seems like there aren't many that give or follow this advice anymore, what happened?
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Maybe those guys had knee surgery and quit riding?
Hey, you are coming up on 10 years. That's a long time on an Internet forum.
Hey, you are coming up on 10 years. That's a long time on an Internet forum.
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They would not have quit permanently after knee surgery - cycling is very good PT after knee surgery.
The 60°F (15°C) "rule" came from south Florida riders. Those of us who lived many years in the upper Mid-West subscribe to a 40°F (4.5°C) short "rule" in the fall, and a 32°F (0°C) "rule" in the spring.
The 60°F (15°C) "rule" came from south Florida riders. Those of us who lived many years in the upper Mid-West subscribe to a 40°F (4.5°C) short "rule" in the fall, and a 32°F (0°C) "rule" in the spring.
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This is the first I ever heard of this rule. It's been below 60 every morning this week when I've ridden to work, wearing shorts every time.
Will let y'all know if my knees go bad because of this.
Will let y'all know if my knees go bad because of this.
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My knees do ache some in cooler weather, but the coolness doesn't cause it, a lifetime of abuse did.
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45-60 I'll use embro or knickers, depending on how the weather feels (sunny and 50 is different than 55 and cloudy) ...
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When I first started visiting here about 2007 or so the advice of covering your knees if the temperature was below 60 degrees used to be pretty common. That's 15.6 for you Celsius fans, eh? Bad things would happen to your knees if you didn't do this according to the those that believed this even though there wasn't anything in the way of proof offered beyond a lot of grizzled old riders who just knew it was true after years of riding. But lately it seems like there aren't many that give or follow this advice anymore, what happened?
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First I've heard of such a "rule" also. I use just shorts down into the lower 50's, but below 60 I usually add arm warmers.
As for forum membership I've been on Honda-Tech.com since January 2002, nearly 14 years now.
As for forum membership I've been on Honda-Tech.com since January 2002, nearly 14 years now.
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I still follow it.
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I rode an early season ride almost 40 years ago as a racer, doing ~100 miles in Massachusetts early March wearing one layer of thermals under unlined tights. For that indiscretion, I paid with knee issues in both knees that are lifetime or until I replace the OEMS with 3rd party. Chrondomalcia patella. A fairly high penalty for breaking that "rule" that is being discredited here.
Ben
Ben
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It's one of those conventional wisdom rules that wasn't supported by medical investigations. I think that it may serve to reduce pain and discomfort, although I don't follow that rule.
Last edited by wphamilton; 10-08-15 at 12:45 PM.
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At 10C (50F): I've got fleece lined long bike pants. They breathe well enough once I get moving that I don't get too hot.
At 15C (60F): I'll use long bicycle pants (unlined)
#15
~>~
Worked for me for the last 40 years so I'll keep dressing as always, to not cold stress the knees or overheat in cool/cold weather when it's Base Miles time with a light pair of tights/leg warmers.
When/if it warms up stash the warmers in a jersey pocket, no great burden. When it starts to rain out come the warmers......
For 'cross the lower speed, running/dismounting/carrying efforts and far less wind chill make for shorts wear down to freezing for me.
On cool evenings at the track we'd cover our legs between events and pull on a top.
Old School, common sense or whatever: As always, suit yourself.
-Bandera
Last edited by Bandera; 10-08-15 at 06:12 PM.
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@no motor? I wonder if you'd get better answers in the Traning forum
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#17
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i've heard of this "rule" before; i've never bothered following it.
i suspect the rule only applies to normal people. i'm not normal.
i think my mother must have been impregnated by a polar bear.
life can be challenging when anything above 50 degrees feels hot.
i've spent all 4 decades of my life in this world trying to get cold.
i suspect the rule only applies to normal people. i'm not normal.
i think my mother must have been impregnated by a polar bear.
life can be challenging when anything above 50 degrees feels hot.
i've spent all 4 decades of my life in this world trying to get cold.
Last edited by Steely Dan; 10-08-15 at 02:44 PM.
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Sometimes I wonder about that when riding my fixed-gear in shorts, at around that temperature.
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I rode an early season ride almost 40 years ago as a racer, doing ~100 miles in Massachusetts early March wearing one layer of thermals under unlined tights. For that indiscretion, I paid with knee issues in both knees that are lifetime or until I replace the OEMS with 3rd party. Chrondomalcia patella. A fairly high penalty for breaking that "rule" that is being discredited here.
Ben
Ben
#22
~>~
Also, there is no need for the freedom of movement that shorts provide in field sports since we are sitting/standing in fixed positions not dodging and weaving (hopefully) with our knees in the airflow.
PS: Rules? No such thing just tradition, experience & common sense.
-Bandera
Last edited by Bandera; 10-08-15 at 04:27 PM.
#23
~>~
A brisk day, a head wind, wet roads and a few hours out on the FG, might as well dress for the occasion.......
-Bandera
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Skin is a covering, right?
I've never heard of this rule, but I haven't been in the community long enough, I guess. But as a Northerner, at 15* I'd instinctively cover up, either with 3/4 or full tights under shorts.
Maybe it's just common sense. If it's cold, cover up.
I've never heard of this rule, but I haven't been in the community long enough, I guess. But as a Northerner, at 15* I'd instinctively cover up, either with 3/4 or full tights under shorts.
Maybe it's just common sense. If it's cold, cover up.
#25
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I'm from Massachusetts, a fair ways north of NJ if I recall correctly, and I follow it more or less.
I follow the 60 degree rule partly because I find it more comfortable and partly because it's good common sense. The knee isn't very well-supplied with blood flow under the best of circumstances. Whether your knee really will be more readily injured when cold, I'm not sure, but why take the chance? There's a tendency on the part of some people to underdress for the sake of seeming harder or something, I don't know. If leaving your knees bare at 50 degrees really is more comfortable, go for it I guess, but it doesn't make much sense to me.
I follow the 60 degree rule partly because I find it more comfortable and partly because it's good common sense. The knee isn't very well-supplied with blood flow under the best of circumstances. Whether your knee really will be more readily injured when cold, I'm not sure, but why take the chance? There's a tendency on the part of some people to underdress for the sake of seeming harder or something, I don't know. If leaving your knees bare at 50 degrees really is more comfortable, go for it I guess, but it doesn't make much sense to me.