urban rider

After coming inside from a cold winter ride I find it takes a while to warm up. When I arrive home I can take a hot shower, which helps. What has been your experience?

Cyclosaurus

I try to ride hard enough to not be cold.

alan s 

Hot and sweaty, regardless of how cold it is outside. My first goal is to remove all clothing ASAP so I don't overheat. I usually ride as hard as possible because my ride is my workout.

Buzzatronic

Hot cup of coffee when I get to work in the morning, hot shower when I get home in the evening.

marathon marke

I look forward to a hot shower and some hot food, soup if we have it. Sometimes I can stand under that hot water for might seem forever, and it feels like the greatest, most luxurious thing in the world.

Machka 

If I haven't dressed properly, I'm chilled to the bone ... a painful cold, and it takes ages to warm up again.

If I have dressed properly, I feel fine, although perhaps slightly more tired than I do after a warm weather ride.

If I've overdressed slightly, I'm usually hot.

Thulsadoom

I figure if I'm cold after the ride, I'm not dressed correctly. I only get cold for a few minutes when I start out.

digibud

When I was younger it was never an issue unless I had become chilled to the bone. After a day of working at -20F or some nonsense and getting thoroughly chilled I would come home seriously cold and take a long time to get warmed up. Now, at 62, when I come in after getting chilled I experience the same need to take a warm shower and getting chilled is much, much easier. I can be chilled from sweating hard indoors and then needing to be outside for a fairly short time without being able to dry off well, or going out for a bike ride at +20F for an hour or two and getting sweated up and chilled. Once I am really quite cold it is much harder for me to warm up in spite of the fact that when I am exercising and cold, I can stay warm internally because I am working and generating core heat, but now that I'm older when I stop working I don't seem to be able to warm myself up as well as when I was younger. Makes sense but it's a bit frustrating and I know I am a bit more risk doing outdoor activities.

AdrianFly

I'm dressed a little warm. Temperature was 5 degrees and I arrived home all hot n sweaty.

Bern Helmet with winter knit lining and my balaclava seems to be overkill unless it's -10 or lower. Hair all sweaty. Might be fine if I was skiing downhill or something but riding a boat anchor with Nokian 294's into a headwind turns a Bern helmet into a Sauna if it's above zero.

Kai Winters

The outside of my thighs and butt gets cold but only cold, not uncomfortable...the rest of me is fine and a nice hot shower is very welcome along with warm socks...

chriskmurray

My biggest problem is after a long ride in below freezing temps I have a pretty persistent cough which is pretty frustrating. If anyone has any tricks to get rid of it I am happy to listen!

mtbikerinpa

Drink not-so-cold drinks during the ride and a tall glass of milk after usually works for me. Lung-burn used to get me a lot in my semi-car light college days.

Nowdays I just end up with a bit of skin tingle/itch when I warm back up. Feet are the worst unless I have the SPD plates either heated or insulated.

Machka 

Go visit your Dr and get tested for EIA.

chriskmurray

I have always thought it was something along those lines, I just have not been able to actually afford to go and get tested.

Spookypedal

Maybe it's from smoking but my lungs really hurt after a cold ride.

gecho

I'm good immediately after a ride, but 10-15 minutes later I get the chills. My theory (since my stomach always gets cold) is that since the body diverts blood from digestion while excising, that area gets cold. Once you are done riding that coldness gets spread throughout your body.

Immediately changing out of my sweaty clothes and putting on a sweater minimizes the discomfort.

ThomasMcA

Yea, that sounds like exercise-induced-asthma (EIA). I have the same problem, so I carry an inhaler in my bike bag. I usually use it in the middle of my 10-mile commute on cold days. It definitely helps.

Another symptom of EIA is quickly becoming winded during the slightest amount of exercise. For example, I'm panting after going up 2 flights of stairs. Even though I'm winded, I can walk up and down stairs for exercise, but I can't run - I just can't get enough air when I run them.

squegeeboo

My core tends to be fine, but my fingers/feet will go numb based on the exact temp. If I've layered poorly my legs/arms will also be really cold, at which point I take a long shower and bring a beer in with me, as my reward for not freezing to death.

timmbo

I feel warm, and getting my baselayers off can be a bit "moist", but generally feel warm. With that being said, the very BEST thing to do after a long ride in the cold is jump in my hot tub!!!!! That is seriously the best thing after a long ride, even in the summer time, all muscles are instantly relaxed. I cannot say enough good things about cycling and owning a hot tub!

chriskmurray

I think I will have to get it checked out once I have the funds, coughing for hours after a ride is beyond frustrating.

howeeee

I have been riding everyday in 23 to 26 degree weather the last few days, I ride a Vintage schwinn Spitfire 5. I go about 20 miles at a time,,I am 60 years old, I FEEL GREAT LOL. Nothing so empowering like riding a bicycle in the winter. If I am a little cold after,,I take a warm bath.

Greg M

I try not to go too hard in the morning in the dark so I dont sweat to much and get a chill at a red light. So far is hasn't been so cold that I've gotten swea5y on the ride

fixed1313

After yesterday's glutinous exploits the 9* F ride to work this morning felt great. I generally feel great after a cold ride. I am rarely cold (finally getting my feet sorted out) but if I do plan poorly and get chilled a hot shower usually solves that problem. Thankfully I have the ability to shower at work.

tigerteeuwen

Usually my hands are overly warm, feet a tinge of cold but almost perfect. Only part of me that really gets cold is my sides by my kidneys and my butt.

I have to work on my layers though, i found a shell that is perfect. I bought a heated hoodie as well but i find the cotton fabric of it absorbs to much moisture that wicks off me from my base layer.