I lost my beloved balaclava yesterday after stupidly leaving my seatbag open on the ride home from work. Usually I wear it when temperatures are below 40 F, so I've got some cold rides ahead with the winter we are having. Temperatures are supposed to be in the low to mid-20s F for the rest of this week, which is colder than I have ridden without any face protection. Do I need to worry about frostbite at those temperatures? What's the coldest temperatures you have ridden in without a face covering? I'm trying to decide whether to shell out $25-30 for a new balaclava or just tough it out.

In the low 30's F I like to wear something on my ears. I don't reach for the balaclava until temps get down around 20 or lower.

I'll ride w/o a balaclava in temps down to low 20s(F). I've found that rubbing in a layer of vaseline on eyelids, cheeks, and nose does help (also feet, but that's another post). Nobody notices the shiny gleen, 'cause if they're bothering to look that closely they're probably seeing the frozen snot and spit in my beard instead. Yeah, facial hair (what little I am able to grow) helps, too.

I would certainly buy a new balaclava, or rather two; I like to have spares of everything bicycle related to avoid downtime, and balaclavas, gloves etc. just get lost sometimes. A nice trick is to apply some kind cream to your face, it really helps to take the sting out of the cold wind and snow/sleet/rain.

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Regards

Anything in the low 40s and below ... it is balaclava time!

But I don't live in Frozenville like some of the hard cases, so I'm a wimp when it comes to the big chill.

I like to be comfortable on my bike.

I'd like to have a balaclava once it gets under 30 F.

I start wearing a very thin balaclava (just stretchy woven polyester, really) around 30F, and it has worked fine down to around 10-12F.

At 20F, I might start being concerned with frostbite if I were going very far without ear covering. It depends on how long you're going to be out and how fast the effective wind speed while riding is.

My morning commute is about 10 miles and generally takes about 45 minutes. My route is hilly, so I reach speeds over 30 mph on several hills. I do have plenty of cycling caps that cover the top of my head and ears, so that is not the issue, but my face. I leave home at 6:30 am, so I am generally riding in the very coldest temperatures of the day.

get another

in the teens this morning so I wore my 3 hole ski mask/balaclava
in the 30s this afternoon so I'll wear a short wool hat that just covers my ears

I've found that face covering is only needed below 0 F. Growing up in New England, nobody had heard of a balaclava, and we all did fine.

Paul

I suspect you'll be ok in terms of injury/frostbite, but you'll probably be a lot more comfortable if you get another balaclava. Not to mention looking less windburned when you get to work.

Thin balaclava and regular glasses under 35F, mouth and nose uncovered. Thicker balaclava and goggles (my eyes dry out and hurt later) below 20F, mouth and nose covered. I also use oily cream if it's below freezing point.

Adam

I have happily ridden in the upper 20's with no face covering. I do have a cap under the helmet, and ear warmers.

I have never pondered facial frostbite on a bike, but I have nipped a piece of cheek once skiing. It was in the single digits F, maybe in the teens.

Get another one.

Even at 60F you can get chilblains after repeated exposure. Don't use vaseline to stay warm either, it's just placebo. Might help with moisture

10. Chilblains
Most people don't know they have it.

^^ What he said.

Michael

A happy ending to my dilemma. I went by the local bike shop during lunch and they had all their winter gear on sale for 20% off, plus they had one Craft balaclava left. So I bought it. Then on my drive back to the office I cut through a neighborhood on my bike commute route, and there was my old balaclava laying on the sidewalk. I rode right by it this morning and didn't see it, but the light was dim. So now I have two balaclavas.

I almost suggested you go back to look for it - it didn't sound like something someone would take.

one day, in my car, I noticed a lunch bag in the road. it was sure to get flattened. it was at a junction of 1 roads and it must have slid off the roof of the person's car. I thought about stopping but didn't but I kept thinking about it getting squished like my cell phone a couple months back and eventually I went back and put it on top of a snow drift. I would have called but there was no ID in it just food. later that day I drove back and noticed it was gone - so hopefully someone in that family got it.

chilblain? oh my gosh!

I wear a hat under my helmet down to about 25F, and a different hat with a face mask thingy that I use to cover my neck down to about 15F. Never wore a full face balaclava, but I'm pretty sure you're not at risk for frostbite unless it's significantly colder.

I usually put on a balaclava when it drops below the teens, F. Guess I'm hot blooded. I overheat with a full head covering unless it's cold. It's the wind chill that I'm most concerned with, not warmth.

I have a band for my ears that I wear when it's below freezing.

My balaclava does not cover my face, only my neck and ears. I wear it when it goes below 40 and below 30 I'll wear a toque as well. My face is never covered and it really doesn't bother me but then again, I won't ride in temps below 10F.

Skull cap at 35F to 25F. Below 25F is when the balaclava is necessary (for me).

I pull a skull cap on when the temps drop to the low 40's, and the balaclava goes on at about 35 or less. That being said, I have yet to pull on a face mask, but when I was riding at 14F, I wish I had one.

D

I like to be kind to my sinuses and so I cover the bridge of my nose and cheeks. I've had a bloody nose while riding and it is no fun. I attribute that to a mega does by mistake of B12. 2500 mcg before hill climbing in subfreezing temps is not wise. not with my nose anyway

Pick up a scarf at a thrift store and look for sales on balaclavas.

I've probably ridden without anything on my face down into the teens but I doubt I was very comfortable.

You do not have to worry about frostbite.