I just wear a skull cap or cover my ears. I've used a balaclava once and couldn't stand it. It gets too hot and fogs up my glasses.

under 20F early in the season, but as the winter wears on my threshold drops into the single digits

Ditto.
My beard is thicker by then end of winter too, so that helps. :p

Yeah, what he said. I own a balaclava, got it last year when I was gearing up for the winter commute. I still haven't used it. I have ridden at 0 F with only a neck gaiter and 180's earmuffs.
As a disclaimer, my commute is only six miles one way.

Yeah, frostbite is a serious condition but occurs at lower temps. At combined temperatures lower than -20C and 20km/h winds frostbite on any exposed skin is ensured in a healthy adult in about 30 minutes. So anytime you're on a bicycle at -20C you are at risk of frostbite on any exposed skin and that is if the wind is dead calm, reduce that time if there is a wind blowing.

There are other complications such as chilblains, which I mentioned. These arise from chronic exposure of skin to lower temperatures though - but can contribute/complicate your proneness of getting frostbite.

Everybody is sensitive to different levels of cold, elderly can get hypothermia at room temperature. So take care!

Anybody mentioned this yet?
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...base_media.jpg

Slather this on and you're good to go. I'll go to single digits before worrying too much about more face covering. I'm typically only out for about 40 minutes though.

I think i did... there is a military study done in finland which finds zero thermal benefit to such products.

edit: unless you meant as a moisturizer?

No kidding? Lucky I've been dodging the frostbite then eh?

I wear a beanie which is large enough to come over my ears until about -1C ... if it's colder then that I put on a thin balaclava. I also have a thicker balaclava for very cold conditions. I don't cover my mouth or nose until about -15C and colder. I also use a bit of vaseline on my nose and face in extremly cold temps. I also don't use any goggels but instead I just use clear safety glasses when it's very cold.

Not sure if you're being sarcastic...? i have no idea which conditions you use this cream for.

oh, I always assumed it was frostbite that made your face look that...er...reptilian. :o

not being sarcastic, just feeling a little silly that that was doing nothing but moisturizing. It has use as a sunblock too, is it effective in that regard I wonder? As far as my conditions, as I said in my post, I'll go to single digits with nothing on the face but only for about 40 minutes. Wind chill temps on descents are anybody's guess. I guess that's not harsh enough conditions for frost bite.

I do have the softest cheeks in the commuter forum though I bet, reptilian looking or not! :D

Oh and, somebody forgot to tell them...

http://2010winterolympicsvancouver.c...screen-and.cfm

From that: A two-year clinical study by the Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine concluded that Dermatone protects exposed skin two times longer against frostbite than any other product tested. Winter sports enthusiasts have been saving their skin for years from windburn, frostbite and sunburn with Dermatone's cold weather protection products.

I rode to work without my balaclava and the temperature was -2 deg F. I didn't feel it too much because I had my flemsy mtb gloves, so my hands were killing me.

I use my neoprene face mask when the temp is below 0 Celsius. I tend to have to slide the mask on and off if it's not windy. Otherwise I start sweating. I notice the mask is best if it -5 Celsius and colder or if it's windy outside.

I went 10 miles in 30 degree weather this morning. Not too bad. As long as my ears, fingers and toes stay warm Im usually pretty comfortable. If its super dry and in the 20s or lower then I make sure to cover up. The dry air will just kill your skin.

Hah, some unbiased reporting there! Double zero protection is still zero, do they give numbers? I think that army study must have been a different study... because that certainly wasn't the conclusion of the Finnish one. I have faith in the argument that fleece fabric provides better insulation than a layer of cream if only because the cream conducts heat much faster than fleece. That study I posted also concluded that wearing a hood provided a lot more warmth than any balaclava they tested... doesn't help cyclists much though since hoods + riding in traffic = bad.

This winter I've gone as low as the single digits (with a wind chill well into the negatives) without covering my face. I always cover my ears though.

Oh yes I am familiar with marketing. They mention better than "any other product tested" but don't tell us what those products are.

At 60F? I don't buy that, unless they have a circulation problem.

200 years ago people were outside all the time in all sorts of weather. Frostbite is the issue.

I think Vasoline helps. My face feels warmer (even though it might not be) and it doesn't dry out on a cold ride, which is key. Moisture is important, imo. Football players, runners, skiiers, and others wear it.

I wear my balaclava, which is thin, at temps below ~35F. I can put it over my mouth (to get warm) or below it. I also wear a skull cap over it if it gets below 15 or 20, as it did on Monday. I have a thicker balaclava, but I haven't got that out in a while.

I advise getting another one, and note that a thin one like this works great ( I own it).
http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...1_10000_201527

I think time involved and individual characteristics play a big role as well. This year I've gone down to 0F without anything but my beard. I can't remember the last time I have worn a scarf. My commute is short though - 20mins to half an hour. I am also not affected too much by cold. Walk around at work outside in just a t-shirt.

Well, it is going to vary on a bunch of factors including exposure length and number of exposures... but apparently it is possible according to the smart people at Princeton university.

I don't even own a balaclava, though I considered purchasing one for this winter's commuting. I've ridden to work here in the DC area with temps in the upper teens and been OK. All I had on my head besides my helmet was a little fleece ear wrap thingy and my beard. I suppose the beard helps a lot. Might still grab a balaclava at some point, just haven't really needed it yet. Gloves and hands, that's a different story - a pair of gloves comes in real handy when it gets much below 35 or so.

35°F is my cutoff point. I wear a thin one, and even that I have to pull down when I stop. My ears, however, need to be covered below 50°F or else they end up feeling like they've been punched after a few miles.

For me personally, I cover my ears below about 40ºF, and I cover my face below 10ºF. But it depends on what you're used to.