QROLL

Hello - my first post. I discovered road biking this fall and was immediately hooked. This being my first winter with a road bike, my question is how cold is too cold to ride?

For instance, its about 10 degrees in Denver today, but its sunny, there is no wind, and roads are dry. Trying to draw the line between hearty and crazy. I'd be interested to know the temperature threshhold of other BF members.

Thanks!

feltdude

Depends on the person and how good your cold weather gear is.

CdCf

My coldest so far is -7°C/20°F. Hasn't been colder yet. Not a problem that time, but the winds were very low.

timmhaan

personally, i only have the clothing to ride when it's above 20f. however, riding in colder weather is certainly feasible - it's really a matter of having the right gear.

Tequila Joe

My coldest ride tis winter is -10C / 14F. With the winter gear I have, any colder and it isn't fun anymore.

T.J.

curt in denver

Too cold for fun, at least thats how I see it. I have great cold weather gear but the enjoyment factor is just not there. Maybe tomorrow when temps reach 20.

thewalrus

Merino Woll Balaclava?

cuda2k

I'm a thin blooded Texan with no real winter gear to speak of. Thus - I call it quits around 50. Hopefully with more cycling and more gear I can survive and hopefully enjoy the 40's, it doesn't get much worse than that here in Texas anyways.

BillyD

Allow an extreme opposing view to chime in here.

As a card-carrying member of the WCC (Winter Chicken Club), I'm not interested in, and will not venture out riding in temperatures below 50 F. But that's just me.

You see, to me riding is about the enjoyment, and if I have to battle Old Man Winter, who is a fierce warrior between Jan 1 and Feb 28 arounf these parts, then that takes all the enjoyment out of it.

I simply don't love to bicycle that badly, simple as that.

Now I understand many folks do love to bike that badly, and will brave almost anything to get out on the road. I take my hat off to them . . . briefly (but not my mittens and scarf). Have fun!

I saw this guy out there today during a brief but intense snow squall, pumping like crazy to stay warm and get the hell outta that storm. I hope he was having fun!

But don't look for me out there until about mid-March.

Katrogen

I had my first team spring training session today. Thought I was good to go as I rode down there for the meeting. Ended up getting picked up by my mother at a local grocery store because all the heat had depleted from my body and my feet/hands took a couple hours to return to normal. Not fun.
better gear is the way but that's just a bit out of reach.

crazyb

From Iowa: Another vote for 50F

Thrifty1

If it makes my eyes water and nose drippy, it's too cold.

Machka 

I've ridden in temps down to -40C/F when I lived in Winnipeg. You have to dress properly, of course. You've also got to be prepared for the fact that your bicycle will ride like an old tank, will not shift, that braking will be difficult, and that plastic bits on the bicycle can snap off. But other than that, it's fine.

This winter my coldest was -16C/3F ... that was a century I did in December. It's actually been quite a warm winter here!

CdCf

I love that - the only temp you don't have to convert!

BillyD

I'll do 48 F on a bright, sunny day with no wind, but that's IT!!!!

2Rodies

Today was officially too cold for me, allthough I did ride. 31 degrees and raining, I did two miserable hours and wished I'd never left my house!

euphoria

I tried to brave 30F with windchill earlier today but I was back inside in less than 10 minutes. Would've been alright if I had full-fingered gloves, but alas I had lost all feeling until my hands were back under a warm faucet.

bigskymacadam

with the windchill it was 24F this morning. i lasted 20 minutes. completed my workout on the trainer.

webist

Ditto. That's why I have a trainer in the garage.

JT354

Depends on the time of year for me. In the fall, I usually quit once the temperature drops below 55. By February or March, I'll go for a ride if it's above 30. Getting new gear also seems to help a lot with my motivation to ride on those colder days.

fishmel

Made it 50 miles today, half was heading into a stiff east wind. It was pretty cold don't know the extact temp. Its funny, between the strong wind and all the hills your average speed stays pretty low, and 50 miles takes a while.

HereNT

-10F with -25 to -30 windchills the last couple of days.

My coworkers think I'm crazy just for riding into work. When I tell them that I went out for a ride just for the fun of it on Friday night, they don't believe me...

CdCf

It seems that as long as it's at least around freezing and not colder, I can go for several hours with my current winter gear on, without feeling cold at all, except maybe in my toes after an hour. Colder than that works for shorter rides (half hour or so), without problems.

I used to have a problem with cold-induced asthma, but it seems it's gone now.

timmhaan

no snow? snow would have been better, i'm sure. that low 30 degree rain stuff is brutal.

2Rodies

I actually was doing ok untill it started to rain. Then everything got wet and the cold started to seep into the clothing.