Originally Posted by
cogdriven
You really have to ask, "What was your coldest commute and how long was it?" You might ride for five miles at -10F, but would you want to go 25 at that temp? My commute is 12 miles and the coldest ride I've done was 7F. I won't do that again. I have two long hills to come down and thought my eyeballs would freeze me blind, ha! I rode at 11F last week just because I had been off the bike for too long due to injury. Generally I'm comfortable down to 20 for that ride.
It depends on the wind and the accumulated heat as well.
I have noticed that it takes me usually around 1 hr to really feel the cold weather and with that the need to had another layer to my legs but in windy days it takes less time to reach this threshold. The wind doesn't make thing colder but make things reach the outer temperature faster.
When there isn't much wind, for a ride under the 1hr threshold the temperature hasn't as much effect on me. I believe it is due to the warmth brought with me from home or from wherever i am. The same thing happen with nordic baths when naked people jump into half frozen water.
I usually use this accumulated heat with my rear lights which are unable to handle below freezing temperature and my extremities hands and feet by staying indoor a few minutes with my lights turned on and my clothes on before leaving in order for my lights, hands and feet to gather enough heat before going outside