Froze today - What did I do wrong?
 

I've ridden in temps down to -18F and never felt like I was going to freeze. I've had issues with toes and fingers, but my core has always felt warm after only a few minutes on the road. This morning, the temps were 32 F and I was cold and continued shivering and feeling cold for a good 15 minutes after I got to work and I can't figure out why. I dressed as always for these temps...tights, lined wind-pants, under armor winter layer top, showers pass elite jacket, gloves and my cycling boots.

I started out feeling a little chill, which is normal, but it never went away. I did start to sweat, so something was happening, but I felt cold. I'm trying to figure out what happened. Based on this, in your opinion, what did I do wrong....over dress? Under dress? Or it was just a fluke? This is the first time I've felt this cold on a commute to work (only 5 miles) in 5 years.

I've had that sort of thing happen with mild dehydration. Drink some extra non-caffeinated drinks today and see if tomorrow's any better. Or you might be in the 1st stages of a cold/flu.

Did you have anything on your head? Did you forget and leave your pit zips open?

Could be different things, none of which you did wrong.
Cold humidity can be a big factor.
Also, you might be coming down with a bug.

It's a fluke. Sometimes I really believe it's a mental thing. I've ridden every day this year, most mornings as low as 11 degrees, and the first mid-20's morning for some reason I was chilled to the bone. No difference in dress, routine, anything. I think it was my mind believing that it was substantially warmer even though it really wasn't

maybe you're coming down with something, a cold?

Could have been humidity, lack of sleep, or some sort of bug.

You were dressed heavier than I would be at those temperatures, but I wouldn't say you were overdressed unless you really like to hammer along.

I tend to go slow on the commutes, so I'm probably a bit more dressed than a lot of folks would be, but I don't like to be a winded sweat ball when I get to work. Dehydration, exhaustion and lack of sleep sound like good candidates based on my schedule from the last week. I'm going to hope the 1st stages of a bug suggestions are wrong.

I wear a balaclava and a helmet on my head, just forgot to mention it. I'll drink a lot of water today and see if the ride home is better.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Humidity and wind can make 32*F feel colder than 0*F.

After I re-read yiour post, I'd be sweating badly with what you had on at 32 degrees.
Take that FWIW. How one layers is a very personal thing and you're no stranger to winter riding.

Could it be that you were breathing in ultra cold air heavily through your mouth? That could possibly drop your core temperature and chill you quickly. Try using a facemask or balaclava to "rebreathe" (or pre-warm) incoming air and maybe that will reduce the core temperature loss.


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You're getting sick!

Sometimes this is a digestion issue as it takes energy to digest food and that takes away from your body's ability to produce heat.

Along this route - you weren't holding off on going to the bathroom were you? Cause if you really have to go - remember that your body has to keep all internal fluids up to temp - and sometimes on a cold day this can make a big difference in how warm you feel.

Probably not your problem, but you never know.

I had that once and felt crappy all day. And the five days after that. Turned out I had a flue coming.

was gonna say it sounded like the flu but I read the OP's post an hour later and he didn't say he felt sick. I got a stomach flu, a kind of 24 bug and I couldn't stop shivering before I got violently ill. spent the next 10 hrs trying not to feel like I was going to die. it took about a week to get back on track.

Last night going home I was roasting, and this morning in similar conditions everything seemed normal. I do have a bit of scratchy throat today, but I don't feel sick. I'm chalking it up to a fluke mental thing. Still, I have upped my water intake quite a bit and I'm taking some coldeze (Vit. C) just in case.

I have had similar things happen. In fact, this week I felt very comfortable riding to work in 15 F but felt colder the next day when the temp was in the low 30s. I was dressed a little lighter the second day, but not inappropriately for the temperature. I chalked it up to the humidity and wind being higher, and my glasses did fog up easier the second day. It wasn't due to sickness.

When I am starting to get sick, I often find that my energy level is down and my pace much slower. Usually I don't feel any other symptoms yet and wonder why I had such a slow ride, then the next day I get a sore throat and a cold starts settling in.

Next time take your temp....
I am a RN, you probably have a mild virus.
For this no treatmet is advised.
Take nothing for a temp less than 101F. The temp is a virus killer.
Keep riding.
Drink a glass of juice.
For muscle aches a shower unless your temp is high.
Get some sleep.
15 minutes of sunshine on your bare chest is wonderful but usually impossible.
bill

Taking your temperature would have been a good start if you felt ill.

Sounds like you overheated though.