Originally Posted by
Number400
Had to cut my ride short today due to cold hands. I have had cold hands before but this was terrible. I was so miserable that I came back within 30 minutes. Normally after 30 mins of effort, I warm up but today seemed different and I bailed. Time for new gloves as mine see to be very ineffective now after two seasons a few times through the wash.
I bought a pair of Pearl Izumi lobster claws several years ago but until today had only worn them when plowing snow with my garden tractor. Wore them today and my hands were nice and warm, only the tip of my right index finger got slightly cooler from resting it against the trigger shifter. My toes were OK-ish until I got off the bike, I was wearing my Shimano MTB shoes with 2 pair of wool socks, I think I would have done better with only one pair as my toes were a little squished and that's not good for warmth. I took my new build today with SPD's and 700 X 32's and it handled great but I think any future sub-freezing rides will be on my original beater bike which I have decided to keep and make my dedicated Winter bike. It has 26 X 1.75's; platforms with extra large Power Straps so I can wear nice warm insulated boots and it has a lot more stand over room. If I'm going to ride in much more than a dusting of snow though I think I'm going to need different tires on it. I have treaded city tires on it now with with narrow tread grooves that will pack up easily. I have a usable pair of MTB knobbies and another set of wheels I could throw on it for this season.
Originally Posted by
Giant Doofus
Good for you! I'm in the south, so I always have to qualify claims about a cold ride with (for me). I'll say "had a very cold (for me) ride today: 28-degrees!" And, by the way, that is my coldest ride, so to me you are pretty hardcore
Until today 28 was my record.
For someone who was raised in the Midwest I'm not really an "extreme" weather kind of guy. My ideal riding temps are 40 to 80 degrees, with 55 to 65 being "perfect". Once I get 10 degrees outside of the ideal range I have to force myself to get on the bike. I honestly wasn't going to go today but my wife gave me grief about buying the cold weather gear and then not using it. I'm glad she did.