I'm not seeing where the averages come from--?

I think most of us pretty much ride our bikes to work not matter what the temp. That question might make a better poll.

Well, I never thought about it before, but according to this website, the average temperature for NYC is 54.7 degrees, so that must be the average temperature I commute in.

I voted 50 degrees.

I think (and my data from my commute supports this with a 1deg delta) that the yearly average temp is about the average round year commute temp for typical workday hours (8-5pm). The coldest part of the day is just about sunrise and the warmest maybe 3-4pm depending on where one lives and the season (in winter warmest part of day is earlier) and latitude. So if one commutes during the times that are about the coldest and warmest for the day it comes close to the daily average and therefore yearly average.

(but of course there are many other factors, such as the distribution of temp during the day, but this is keeping it simple)

Al

Averages are pretty useless. You can easily have an average that is a temp that you never actually ride in (average of two rides, one at 0 and one at 100, is 50).

I'd guess that an average temp for me is around 50*F, but there are very few days that I ride that are actually 50*F. That's an unheard-of warm temp in the winter, and an unusually chilly morning in the summer. 50*F rides are only likely for a few weeks a year.

+1

I've ridden from -15 F to 120F+... If my bike can roll, I'm up for it.

Define "colder". Lots of people here commute year round. The earth's mean temp for the past 50 years has been 57F. In the U.S. (where I imagine most of the respondents are), it's about 50F, so it's not surprising to find the plurality of responses between 40-60. It's simply the average temp of where people live.

Hardly. In OR and WA, most commuters are probably in the 40's more than any other temp. Summer is the best time of all. The perfect temp to ride in is in the 80's, but 90's are still very nice.

Ah, didn't realize the question was about ideal or average temp. 50-70 would be perfect for me. Temperature alone wouldn't really put me off, but there were a couple days this last winter where the wind chill was about -25F where I didn't bike to work. I use 0F as my cutoff temp, but I also haven't had much opportunity to try colder than that.

I wont hardly ride if the AM temp is less than 50. I feel like a wuss but I do ride no matter how hot it gets.

I mostly commute on work days, irrespective of the temperature.

All seasons, all conditions, all temperatures, every single workday--86 days to date so far this year, 221 workdays last year, didn't keep track before that.

My range has been from 4°F to 96°F, but only because that's the coldest and warmest it's been since I started commuting by bike.

My preferred range? 50-80, but temperature determines only what I'll wear, not whether or not I'll ride--or whether or not I'll enjoy the ride.

My range is from 0 - 100

In how many seconds? *duck*

LOL I guess that depends on which mountain pass I am comming down.

Anything from mid 30's on up.
I don't have a limit for heat. 115+ is fine with me.
I don't commute every day though.

So what temp am i supposed to pic? 70?

I think this poll is flawed.

my daughter had a science problem where the temperature of Columbus Ohio and some place in the tropics had the same average temperature. Of course, the standard deviation was somewhat higher in Ohio.

it depends what the temp is outside. wont go much below 20F, which keeps me out a few months in Mpls

I have no limits, hot or cold. At least, not that have actually happened where I live in the last 5 years. Personally I kind of like it hotter, I'd prefer 100*F to -20, but we only get either for 2 or 3 days a year.

same here...we win!

Ride year round. So far that has been 0 to ~110. I prefer something in the 60's. It's easier to layer up than cool off when it is really hot. I have a shower at both ends of my commute so I can warm up or cool off if needed.

+1 But you forgot to mention the rain

I live in Florida. In the mornings, it can be 40-80, in the afternoons it can be 50-100 with heavy life sucking humidity. So I avg'd to 80.

i live in phoenix so most of mine is pretty warm 50 which is the coldest to about 117 during the summer

I bike even at -40F/C I usually over heat so I never use a down jacket, but a gore tex shell with a base layer underneath.
It is important to winterize the hub to a grease that dose not freeze.