30s and low 40s today. How much longer can I get away with riding?
Here's a pic of the cold shining sea with my smooth-running Trek; now with 10,000 miles on it. 28 miles today.

The season would have ended 15 or so degrees warmer for this cold weather wimp from Florida. :D

I do not know how you people up there ride in that weather. You must sweat while riding ? Then what, turn into a human popsicle when you slow down ?

I did a 20 mile fitness ride this afternoon after work in pleasant 84 degrees weather. No sun though, overcast all afternoon. Serious headwind ( for me ) for about half the ride. Twelve ~ thirteen MPH against the wind. 20 ~ 24 with the wind, at least that part was fun. Occasional blasts of wind would slow me to under ten MPH for short distances. :notamused:

As long as the roads stay dry and the winds don't get too heavy, I bet you're good at least until it gets well into the 20s.

That's a lovely beach and cove, BTW. I've got family in the area and know it well.

[QUOTE=Rogan;16267146]The season would have ended 15 or so degrees warmer for this cold weather wimp from Florida.

I agree. I have ridden at 28 degrees but I didn't enjoy it. Saturday is supposed to be in the 40s and I'm trying to talk myself into riding. But my self is very resistant. This year looks like the fronts are going to roll through on the weekends and I will have to harden up and ride or stay on the trainer all winter.

20°F is the magic too cold for my old a** number
15° this morning meant no commute today
Pirk

20f is also my cut off temp...especially when the wind chill is added...brrrrr

Season? What is this thing you call season?



For me it depends on the nature of the ride. Having been car-free since 1999, for commuting or errands, I haven't yet found a lower limit on temperature, or a depth of snow that keeps me indoors--much to the consternation of my driving co-workers. They've learned not to complain about conditions on their commutes.

For the record, I'm very, very seldom the first tracks out there either.

When it comes to purely recreational rides, somewhere in the teens (F) is my limit. It all depends on how itchy I've become and how nice the day is otherwise. Although we used to have a weekly group ride through standard time that met every Tuesday evening. Before my hours changed at work, I was a regular at that, no matter the weather.

I can start a ride at 40 degrees, but I prefer that the temperatures increase during the ride. The challenge this time of the year for us soft Californians is that you can run out of daylight on a long ride unless you start at dawn's first light. I'll start today at 0800 wit temperatures forecast to be in the low 60's in the afternoon. The 70 mile ride will probably take me 5-1/2 hours with stops; at least that's the plan.

I have to agree with TSL. What is this thing you call seasons?

Here in the PNW my high was 41F yesterday = excellent weather when dry. I ride down to about 35F when dry. Even with full fenders&flaps and wet gear I need warmer when our weather is 'seasonal'. Snow is OK for casual ride, but not otherwise. (and please keep me off the hard ice).

edit: I sometimes wonder the national heritages of 50+ members who swear to winter commuting in snow and ice and brutal cold. Finns&Swedes&Lapplanders&Arcticfolks. Much tougher on the constitution than ski patrolling in the 'lower' Cascades.

I am not worthy!
Being born and raised in SoCal has made me a weather wimp. First, I would not ride my bike in the rain unless it was an all out emergency. Second, riding when the weather drops below 45 is not an option.
I am not worthy!

I'll not throw out the Florida weather card, I am fortunate to get to ride year round and, I appreciate that very much. For the other 50+ members in less hospitable winter areas I suppose it comes down to having the desire to ride, no matter what and, to how much you want to invest in suitable kit and bike set up. No suggestions on either from me, I have spent for tights and bib tights, some ls jerseys, full finger gloves(UA Cool Gear), a balaclava (UA Cool Gear), arm warmers and a compression base layer mock turtle ls top (UA Cool Gear,) I use what the day dictates. Wind tends to be my biggest fight, it comes down to putting in the effort necessary. I make do in hurricane season so I figure winter is a simple adaptation for me.

I admire those that ride, as TSL and many others do, no matter what, and seem to enjoy it very much. My hat is off to them (Chapeau!) and some day I would like to ride with one of them in winter conditions (real winter conditions.) This is the latest of several threads about the annual move to seeking warmth, I enjoy the tips and leads for kit that they provide as well as the warnings to those of us in warmer climes (Guilty of poking at the bear myself.) Those that do the trainer (turbo, there Billydonn, deal with that one) and indoor Sufferfest workouts or spinning in gyms. At least we all ride in some fashion or, dream about riding, all the time, I know I do.

Bill

Wow you cold weather riders are an inspiration. I wish I was that tough.

Charlie

30's and above are not a big deal. I do ride sub-30s and can't say that I enjoy the start; however I find myself warming up nicely as I ride, but my feet and fingers complain. I road the few days we had last year in the teens, but definitely took the short route to work. My riding is primarily commuting and so if I don't ride, I have to walk.

I have lived much further South during my life than where I live now, so I am truly a hot-weather lover and hate the cold. I find, though, that it's more of a mental issue than physical. If you resolve yourself to enjoy a cold weather ride, you will. There are exceptions, of course: unexpected sleet hurts when it hits.

Back in the day I used to commute in very cold weather, snow and ice, etc. when I lived in St.Louis (or suburbs thereof) but since I moved to SoCal in '95 I've had it a lot better; only ride in cold and snow when I'm in the mountains.

This Sat. I'm hoping to ride up to Dawson Saddle (almost 8,000 ft.) but the forecast tells me it will be cold and quite likely snowing up there. There was an "Official Ride" scheduled but it has been cancelled due to the predicted weather. Since I am not so smart (when it comes to being afraid of weather) I'm going to try it anyway!

. . . or at least see how far up there I can ride.

Rick / OCRR

PS: for SoCal locals, Encanto to SGRT to Hwy 39 to Hwy 2 to Dawson.

This part of Massachusetts and Rhode Island have the ocean to moderate our temperatures. Bad road conditions and excessive wind in the winter keep me off my bike. Temperature alone is very seldom an issue. I worked outside for much of my career and always took note that winters gave 10 or 12 excessively cold days annually. I think the average winter temperature is around 30F which is not that bad.

The riding I'm talking about here is short commutes for whatever reason. The market, work, trivia night at Pub 99. These are very different from the fair weather hours long rides on our road bikes. It has to be a weather anomaly to get me on my road bike this time of the year.

The key, then, of course is: Never slow down!

This morning's ride for this soft Californian started at about 0600 (with temps in the low- to mid-40s I'm guessing). I'll let you in on the little secret: Lights! They work well.

That pretty much describes me until last year. Maybe it was enjoyng the time I spent on the trainer so much , but I started getting out in colder weather (at least down into the 30s). Now, I've committed to trying the commuting thing at least a couple of times a week throughout the winter, so I've gotten proper lights, a real rack and fenders for one of my bikes, a good bicycling rain jacket and pants, better gloves and show covers, etc. You know, it's really not so bad . . . as long as you're prepared and dressed for it.

To the OP: I'll probably draw the line at freezing conditions. The cold doesn't bother me, but the reduced traction is a deal-breaker. Fortunately we only drop below freezing a few days/nights per year (and sometimes not at all).

True KenshiBiker, This soft Californian started this ride at noon last Sunday:
https://www.strava.com/activities/95752863

And finished (with a flasher tail light only) close to 6:00 PM. At least it was kind of warm at the start but I had to put my jacket on for the final descent off of Turnbull. Should have brought a headlight too . . .

The average temp. was 63 Deg.F.

Rick / OCRR

I must have dyslexia, just read the title as "the cheating season". I married couple I know just came out to ea other about their extramarital companions and now have an open marriage.

I always thought a trip to Hawaii was the best way to beat the season.

We did that two years ago but it was very expensive. Plus, I had to spend a lot of time in the ship's gym on trainers to keep from doubling my weight. Cruise ships are notoriously over-caloried.

I missed this before. Sorry.

The serious answer is that I don't dress to keep warm. Pedaling, as you suspected, does that.

I dress to keep cool so that I *don't* sweat. Sweating in the winter is the first step towards hypothermia. The only parts of me that ever get cold are the ones that are dressed too warm, and then sweat. That chills instantly and deeply. So you either learn to dress cool, or you give up winter cycling.

It's easier to understand if you change your perspective from "keep warm" to "heat management". Just as in summer, excess heat has to be dealt with.

My tights are wind proof in the front to protect me from the cold winds--be they weather or slipstream. The backs of my tights breathe to let out both excess heat and persperation. Same with my gloves. The backs? Windproof. The rest? Breathable. I've ridden down to -4 (F). I have never closed the pit zips in my jacket.

I don't use a helmet cover because they don't let heat and persperation out. My head sweats and it runs down my face and neck, with the expected results when it's below freezing. Below about 25F, I do use the winter liner than came wiht my helmet. It reduces--but does not eliminate--air movement across my head. And it plugs only the front and sides. The rear stays clear.

People have made charts and spreadsheets recommending what to wear for the cold. It's really so simple that you don't need them.

When you first step outside, you should feel chilly. Not chilly enough to question your sanity, but chilly enough that you wonder if you need just one more layer. That's when you know you're dressed just about right.

About five minutes into the ride, you'll begin to question your sanity. Soldier on.
About 10 minutes into the ride, you'll realize you forgot about the cold. Smile.
About 15 minutes into the ride, you'll want to unzip a little here and there. Do it.
About 20 minutes into the ride, you'll fine tune and be just fine for the next hour or two.

If you're sweating at any point, you're over dressed. If you miss these waypoints, you're underdressed.

No matter whether you use cycling specific clothes, or whatever is hanging in the closet, whether you're a polar bear or a Floridian, and whether you're a hammerhead or a smell the roses rider (What roses? It's winter!), this simple method will get you to the right clothing choices for you. You'll get it wrong a few times--generally in the overdressed direction. Strip off a layer and try again.

Acclimation is important as well. If you suddenly decide in January that you want to go for a bike ride, you'll freeze your cojones off.

My trick is to let myself feel a little chilly on every ride, beginning in October. It's November now, and typically highs in the 30s. I'm still wearing what I wore in the 40s. It felt just a bit chilly then, and it feels the same now, only now it's ten degrees cooler. Yesterday, mid-40s, I was sweating and unzipping in the same clothes that felt chilly in the 40s last month. My body is adjusting.

For reference, I'm still in 'tween seasons gear--mid-weight tights, a single long-sleeve wicking t-shirt, softshell unlined cycling jacket, three-seasons shoes and booties, three-seasons skullcap, and a pair of summer-weight long finger MTB gloves inside a pair of windproof 'tween seasons gloves. (My fingers get cold easily--Reynaud's Syndrome.)

I know from previous years that what I'm wearing now in the 30s will keep me warm into the 20s--once I've adjusted. A one or two-day cold snap like we had last week, means an extra layer. By January, I'll have switched to my winter boots, winter tights, and a lined softshell cycling jacket. That will keep me until the lower teens, when I'll add a second t-shirt and kneewarmers under my tights.

And if I ever do get cold, I just pedal harder!

Above all remember, whether your belief system tells you we evolved from lower-order animals, or it tells you we were created in His image, the result is the same: All our ancestors did without central heating and travelling in climate-controlled bubbles. They survived just fine. We're the proof. It's only our generation and the two before that have been conditioned by society to believe we cannot go outside without a car. As a species, we are all tough enough, no matter what you may think of your yourself.

Good post, tsl.