How low will you go?
 

This week it was really cold for the morning ride. One morning it was 24 degrees. I think that was probably as cold as I rode last year as well. I think with the ski helmet and some wind pants added to my normal layers I might make it down to 15 degrees. How low will you go?

Since I ride for fun I will sometimes go out in the 40's.........if there's little wind...............if there is sun.

Course I feel the same way about walking, driving, looking out the window......................why am I liveing in New England?

The coldest it's ever been here is 30 before the sun came up. I bike commuted. I could go colder, but I'm glad I don't have to.

I voted 32+ because we don't get freezing temps here often enough to make riding in them an issue.

I'd rather ride in the cold than in the rain. Guess that's my wussy factor showing up.:rolleyes:

Even with tights I don't like anything below 60. Yes, I am a weather wimp.

See this thread from the Winter Cycling Forum, "How Cold is Too Cold? Lowest Temperature Cutoff," started in January '09 with 77 posts, up through August!

My reply:

Does not go much below 40 degrees here. However, we can get black ice on some roads so it is a good idea to let it warm up. At the track, we cannot ride if there is ice but usually by 10AM all the ice will melt once the sun hits the track.

As I've said before, I commute year-round in Seattle. Typical winter day is light rain and 38 degrees (F). Coldest I've ridden in Seattle is 24 degrees, which is not bad because at that temperature it's not raining. That's 10 miles each way.

I've accumulated a basket full of various layers, gloves, hats, etc. that keep my really comfortable in Seattle weather.

I've been struggling the past few weeks because it's still around 45 to 55 degrees, but starting to get wet --it's too warm for full rain gear, too chilly to wear summer gear, and if you dress for a storm in the morning it's pretty hot riding home in the afternoon. I'm often bundled up in the morning but much more lightly dressed on the way home.

In a prior life I've cycled down to 12 degrees, which was not too bad on a still, sunny day. But when it's windy and under 20 degrees it's not much fun for me, even bundled up.

I voted 40+ based on what I was comfortable with before my illness. I would very occasionally go for a short ride colder than that, but I don't like it much and I don't really have the right cycling gear for it. It rarely stays colder than that for very long around here, so I can wait it out.

It remains to be seen what my limit will be this winter. I know that I am more sensitive to cold than I was before.

Time will tell...My threshold now is lower than it was a few weeks ago. I've given up most of my weekly rides for the gym, but it has to get pretty cold before I'll live without at least one ride a week. Right now I'm at 40+, so that's how I voted, but if the road surfaces are dry, I may push lower as the season progresses. I'm pretty sure I'll be inside below 20 °F, though.

I'm improving my cold weather gear as I go, but I still haven't got the hat right. When it's say, 40-50°, I'm too cold without a hat and too hot and sweaty with one. I guess I don't yet have the right hat.

I will ride well into the 20s if it's not too windy. If it IS windy I would only do a tailwind ride at the lower end of those temps. Show and ice... no thanks.... I won't do that.

Had to reply 20 as in an average winter (looks as though the average has changed though) we will get a couple of mornings down to that temp. That has never been a road ride though. Offroad with the downhills taken slow to cut the windchill and I still sweat on the uphills.

Have to admit that clothing comes into it a lot. Hand feet and nose have to be kept at a sensible temperature.

I voted for +10F. It's seldom that cold here for very long.

About all that keeps me off the bike in the winter is the frozen ruts in the roads. I find them impossible to navigate safely. As long as the roads are passable I'll be out there commuting. Ya gotta love those studded tires!!

I absolutely hate the gym, I've tried it over the years and it never lasts so I stay on the bike as long as I can. Before I got serious about bridging the seasons with a fitness program 45 was about as low as I would go. Now it's probably 20. I would go in the teens if I had to but I think 20 is about as low as I will need to.


For 40s try a silk or coolmax beanie - just enough to take the chill off, that and a sweat band works for me at those temps, from 30 to 40 I use a thin fleece beanie and below 30 is a thick fleece beanie with ear flaps. I have an old ski helmet in the garage it I need it when it gets real cold.

Lenny,
How does the recumbant do on slick roads? - i would think the lower CG would make it more stable and less prone to slipping out.

Nah. No recumbent in the snow, that's what 'The Beast' is for!

http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r...e/IMG_0670.jpg

Quite a tough rig there Lenny. I would think for the serious slop - disc brakes would be in order.
I need to re-find my modivation to keep bike commuting, this week I rode three mornings at 6AM but could not get the motivation to hop on the commuter and ride the 2 miles to work - I used the car :notamused: That pic may just help me find the motivation.

I've ridden at 15 degrees but only when sunny and little wind. Oh, and dry road conditions. A quick side slide on black ice is darn scary!

Where the rubber meets the road....

...I put 40 and above, but I don't think I was being honest.

The USGP cyclocross championships are about 8 miles from here, more or less. I was going to ride my bike there and then watch some of the races.

I just got back from watching my daughter play soccer. It's about 45 out right now.

I feel so freaking cold there ain't no way I'm hopping on my bike. So I'm going to consume some fossel fuels, pump carbon into the atmosphere, and scrounge around for a stupid parking place. This afternoon I'm going to put my bike back on the trainer, maybe for the winter.

It's shameful, I know. But 45 is just SO COLD.

I'm going to retire to Florida.

20+ but then, I have done it only once. This time, I have prepared myself to ride more in that temperature range weather conditions permitting that there's no ice and snow on the ground, sunny and not too windy.

Actually, I'm surprised nobody has yet mentioned "How low will you go?" depends upon whether it's Fall or Spring. It's always easier to ride at a lower temperature in the Spring than it is in the Fall. Interesting human nature, but true.

I voted 32+ although the lowest I've ridden in was 7f. That was a sunny, dry day and I didn't check the temp until I got back into town. Its probably in the 40's right now and a little breezy but I'll probably go out for a bit later. Anything to avoid cleaning the house or starting with the weights.

So far I've only gotten down to 20 degrees once. That completed my Fahrenheit Century doing 120 degrees and 20. But here in Arkansas, I haven't met my lower limit, but I suspect that 20 is close.

As the temps drop, keep layering up. In SoCal, anything in the 40s is arctic, dead of winter cold. I have ridden in the 20s and could go lower with goggles, warm gloves, and overboots.

You're going to hate me but...

Down to mid 80s here. Merino wool long sleeves and thermal tights this morning's delightful 45 miler

Had the usual frozen water bottle when setting off - didn't touch it!