How far is too far & how cold is too cold for distance commuting?
I live in Wisconsin and my commute is 18 miles each way.
In November 2007, I tried commuting when it was around 15 degrees, but had to stop at about 10 miles because my toes felt like they were going to crack off. Haven't tried it again at those temps since.
But I got some nice cold weather gear today :
- For my hands, Lance Garneau 2/1 Vital gloves
- For my feet, LG Wind Cover booties to go over my regular socks, Storm Socks, and shoes
Given that, in your experience, how cold would you say is too cold to make that long of a commute? When I do it in summer, it takes me about and hour and ten minutes. I know it will take longer in winter. Would my new gear + a balaclava protect me from frostbite?
I usually carpool in this kind of weather, but I'm damn eager to get back on the bike!
Thanks for any advice!