Zan

I read somewhere here before about how you shouldn't go out ridin' below a certain temperature with exposed knees, 'cause the cold causes the fluids to become thicker and it can really ruin your knees (so you should wear knee warmers or pants or something).

What was that temperature? Are we talking 5C - 10C, 0C - 5C, 0C - -5C?

Thanks in advance.

AEO

well, that sounds like the biggest load of crap that I've ever heard...
when it's colder your muscles need to be warmed up and kept warm otherwise you can suffer muscle injuries. anything above 8c you don't really need leg warmers unless you're by the lake or ocean.
Knee injury can occur as a result of stiff muscles if your legs aren't spinning the cranks fast enough.

-5 and below exposed skin can get frostbite if you're going fast enough to feel wind chill.

ghettocruiser

I much prefer knee warmers anywhere below say 12C.

I will not ascribe any quasi-medical rational to this, other than it's more comfortable and I feel like I can ride faster.

Creakyknees

I cover my knees below 70F, no matter what. I have no idea if it's medically sound or not, but I know my knees get "twinge-y" after a hard ride if I don't. I was taught this as a junior, handed down as gospel from the keepers of the old school flame.

Years later, when I broke my kneecap, the doc told me knees are slow healers because they don't have good blood flow. Combine that with the fact that the body preserves core heat by reducing capillary flow to the skin, and the very low amount of fat / tissue protecting the knees, and you have a recipe for cold and therefore injury-susceptible joints.

Nobody questions the logic of a good warmup before a hard effort... isn't knee protection the same thing?

.

Chris L

Yeah, my temperature threshhold for this is around 10C (and it's rare for temperatures to drop that low in these parts, even during "winter" nights). That said, if I start in a temperature warmer than that and have time to warm up a little before it drops, I can go as low as 3-4 C without leg warmers.

ericgu

I've always heard 60F as the transition temperature.

dekindy

I have heard 65F. I developed knee problems last year because I was riding in cold temperatures without knee protection. I started following the 65F rule and wearing knee warmers at a minimum and leg warmers when it got colder. The symptoms gradually went away and are completely gone now. I am glad I took action immediately and apparently avoided permanent problems.

Applehead57

Keeping them warm is critical to me. Below 70 degrees, my knees complain, due to the wind chill at the extreme speeds I travel (does anyone believe me?).

Cyclist01012

If I recall Edward Borysewicz (1980.84 U.S. Olympic Cycling Coach) Said something in his book about keeping your kness covered below 60 degress.

chucko58

I'll put on knee warmers below 55 F (about 13 C), and sometimes above that. But then I'm a California creature, and somewhat spoiled.

caloso

I wear knee warmers or knicks whenever it's below 60F/16C.

bac

The number I read (for ROAD cycling) is 65F. Trust me, if you have knee issues (or don't want to!) - KEEPING THEM WARM IS YOUR BEST FRIEND! If my knees are exposed to the cold, I have tendon issues that keep me off the bike for too long. Cover below 65F and forget about it!

... Brad

chiefhoser

I agree whole heartedly with this number. I've been doing it for awhile and so do most people I know who bike. I'm of the mind set that it is much harder to bike with busted up knees, so I might as well err on the side of caution.

RonH

The general rule among cycling gurus is cover the knees when the temperature is below 60-65F (15-18C).
I usually wear knee warmers when the temperature is below 55F (12C).