BobbyG

DreamRider85 I realize that people vary in their perception of what feels cold, due to local climate and individual physiology. But having read some of your past posts, and considering some of the challenges in your life that you've mentioned, I'm wondering if you may be suffering from an underlying medical condition like anemia, hypothyroidism, Reynaud's disease, diabetes, less-than-ideal nutrition or others.

I know times are weird with Covid-19 and all, and your present situation may make some things more difficult for you than others, but I would suggest you try to see a doctor or a clinic and explain your symptoms. If it is a medical condition, it may be as simple as changing your diet, or as simple as taking a pill. There are programs to provide medicine and care for people who are having a rough go of things, although with the pandemic's effect on the economy, these programs may be stretched thin with so many people in dire straits.

I also know from your past posts that you are very clever and resourceful, and seem to find a way to solve problems, mechanical and otherwise, and I'm sure you will find a solution to this coldness issue as well...I just wanted to bring possible medical causes to your attention.

Wishing you smooth riding ahead...

Bob

chaadster

As a MI winter rider accustomed to sub-freezing temps, I’m most challenged by temps in the mid-50s and low 60s from a clothing perspective, because it’s too cold for me for summer gear, and too warm for winter gear. I also dislike managing layers, and prefer to wear what I wear the whole ride. I’ve got the gear to do it, but heading out in that range involves so many decisions; I’ve got multiple weights in gloves, hats, balaclavas, bib tights, jerseys, jackets, and arm- and leg- warmers. Oh, and helmets...vented with midweight cap, or maybe I want non-vented with lightweight balaclava to keep chill off my neck? Or maybe running the visor vented helmet or the non vented visor helmet... Crazy.

DreamRider85

I must say I do appreciate the responses. Yea I don’t know how you guys can do it below 50. For several months it was in the 70s and 80s mostly and a few days in the high 90s. But the weather was so good.

but now at 55 degrees, I just feel bothered after a while. I will try a few things, but I also like the advice of doing a hill immediately or doing intervals. Maybe thats what I need in the winter. I haven’t been able to do any long rides late fall or winter yet.

Gresp15C

I ride through the winter in Wisconsin, but this thread isn't about that. It means we get two seasons with temps in the 50s, instead of one. For me the problem isn't the temperature per se, so much as the fact that it could change a lot over the space of a few hours, and I often guess wrong when I'm starting out.

My solution is a rear rack and a bag to stow the layers that I remove after I figure out that I dressed too warm. The bag is to prevent what happened a few weeks ago, my jacket slid down and a sleeve got into my rear disc brake.

The main sign of "winter" is road salt. That's when I get out the dedicated winter bike with artisanally pre-rusted chain (tm).

genejockey 

Hmmmm. So, for a ride I did two Sundays ago, temps ranged from 50 along San Mateo Creek (Crystal Springs Road) to 59 on Canada Road northbound at about 2 PM.

I wore a midweight skullcap under my helmet; thin longs leeve baselayer under long sleeve jersey; thin gillet vest; full finger but not insulated gloves; midweight bibshorts with thermal knee warmers; thick wool socks and toe booties. Temps ranged from 50 along San Mateo Creek (Crystal Springs Road) to 59 on Canada Road northbound at about 2 PM.

I thought I'd be fine without the vest once I got out of the trees, so I took it off when I got to Canada on the 'out' leg, but put it back on 1/2 mile later. With all that on, I was not cold. My arms got a little chilly while riding along the creek, but warmed up quickly climbing Crystal Springs up to the dam, then on to the top at Bunker Hill.

I think the baselayer made a big difference. Without it, I'd have been too cold for a lot of the ride, and probably would have wanted a jacket instead of just the vest. Mind you, I might run a bit hotter than you.

chaadster

It’s just about having the right gear, but there is often the time consuming and costly part of figuring out what the perfect mix of gear is.

icemilkcoffee 

Some random answers:
1. The body is very sensitive to change in temperature. When the temperature goes from 45 to 50 you feel warm. If the temperature drops from 55 to 50 you feel cold. So if you have a choice- ride in the late morning.
2. first thing you do when you get outside- do a few deep breathing arm-up breath-in arms-down breathe-out exercises (what do they call that?) It warms you right up.
3. Get either Icebreaker merino wool base layer or Helly Hansen merino blend (blend is more durable in laundry and holds its elasticity for longer). Smartwool is cheaper but not as warm.

LMM2855

I haven't had a car for many years and that means riding in all weather, so I have a few tips to offer for staying warm. This is more for utility cycling such as hauling groceries and commuting to work, as well as going on longer bike trips, or combined hiking/biking trips. In northern Oregon it isn't nearly as cold as many places are, we mostly have frosty mornings and lots of rainy days in the 40s. I find getting too hot and sweaty is almost always a bigger problem than being cold. And I am one of those people who always wears extra layers inside and has cold feet almost every night.

Try getting a waterproof/windproof helmet cover and a fleece earband or skullcap to wear under your helmet. My ears are very sensitive to the cold and will hurt even in mild weather, so the earband is a must for me.

Wear rain gear because it is windproof. You could wear a huge, thick sweater, but once you get going, it's nearly worthless with the wind blowing through the knit of the sweater. You can find very lightweight, breathable rain jacket and pants that will help keep you warmer than several layers of knit fabric alone.

I wear ski/snowboard gloves when it's 45-50F or below. At warmer temperatures I wear fleece convertible mittens/gloves.

Consider wearing a pair of overshoes to keep your feet warmer, I like the NEOS brand. They slip over your shoes and are totally waterproof and windproof, and they are lightweight and have their own sole. I have a set of heavy insulated overshoes that I wear if it's going to be below freezing and I'm going to be out all day.

Wear multiple layers of lofty synthetic fleece. Wear long underwear and avoid cotton. Carry extra layers to put on as needed.

And finally, this may have occurred to you already, but if you have all the proper clothing and are still cold, you can try riding harder! If all of your extremities are insulated and you are more or less windproof, you will definitely overheat and start taking off some of those layers! Good luck on finding the right gear to keep you riding in cooler weather.

jay4usc

remember 30% of your heat comes out from your head and it’s important to wear the right skull cap.

I bought mine from EBay for about $10 and it keeps my heat in my body. See link below. I get cold easily and when I’m riding below 60 degrees I wear this winter skull cap with long sleeve cold gear under Armour base layer, windproof light jacket, fleece pants and leather gloves and I’m good. it’s worth an investment for $10

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Windproof-B...wAAOSw0U9fdFIH

DreamRider85

Today it was about 57 degrees. And I tried my new thermal jacket. It worked really well. I didn't feel cold at all. I was also wearing my toe warmers and gloves. I started on Canada Road. But by the time I got to Woodside around 45 minutes to an hour later, I started to really feel a bit colder and it was bothering me. But the ride started really great with just the jacket alone.

I wonder if I would need to bring another long shirt with me and then put it on later on in the ride? I feel closer than before, but wonder why it got colder the more south I rode.

DreamRider85

I just ordered it from that link, thank you.

jay4usc

your welcome. Just by wearing that skull cap you will noticed how much heat you retain in your body.

jay4usc

. You can have the right jacket and pants but if you dont cover your head properly you will release a lot of body heat and could be a reason why you got cold.

friday1970

Wear something that doesn't make you sweat. Easier said than done. But if you're wet, you're gonna get cold. A fellow randonneur likes to wear plastic bags over his feet to keep them warm too.
Then again, it's the low 30's in Michigan. I'd love to see 50's and 60's again. But, that's not gonna happen for 3.5 months. It took me about 15 minutes to walk normal after toes went numb today on my ride.

Camilo

Sorry, but the heat lost from the head is about proportional to the amount of body surface - 10% at most. I'm not saying don't keep your head warm (I do - I wear a cap at 70F! ) because a cold head is like cold anything - it makes you feel cold. And the head is often overlooked and makes you feel cold. But if your head is uncovered and you're wearing shorts, you'll lose much, much more heat from your bare legs than your head. Same for arms (to a lesser degree than the legs of course).

So pay attention to all of your body parts when trying to be warmer, the head and hands, thin layers on arms and legs, etc..

Camilo

I usually go the opposite: chillier in the beginning, warmer at the end. Because I'm warmed up and because it generally gets warmer as the day goes on. So I end up packing stuff at the end of the ride vs. the beginning like you might have to. But packing clothing is packing clothing.

But if I were in your situation, I'd get a super light wind jacket or vest, something that you can easily roll up and put in your jersey or jacket pocket. If they don't fit over your thermal jacket, they will probably fit under and you might be surprised at how much a light layer for the arms and/or torso will help.

You want to figure out what to carry so that you can just layer it on vs. actually changing clothes, if you can.

If it's a specific part of your body that gets chilly on the way home, bring a layer for that part. For example - a skull cap for your head (or a heavier one to replace a light one that you might be wearing), warmer gloves to replace the light ones, a light set of arm or leg warmers to add under your top layers, etc. All that stuff, individually, can be easily carried in a jersey pocket. Could you carry an entire layer from head to foot? No, but a couple of little additions should be doable.

I often wear a light wind jacket and warmer gloves when I start and then pack the jacket and replace the warm gloves with light gloves. Sometimes I take off leg or arm warmers and carry them.

Broken record: if you're getting cold, dress warmer, bring something to accomplish this. All you can do is try until you find what works and get better at predicting what you'll need. Also, you might have to learn to just put up with a little discomfort for a finite and tolerable amount of time, i.e. "a little chilly" is not being "cold", and an hour of being a bit chilly is a nuisance but not a hardship like actually being cold for 3.

DreamRider85

Kinda hard to stay warm but not sweat.

chaadster

Yes, and that’s why in cold climates, if you’re riding hard enough to keep warm, the clock is always ticking on ride time.

Germany_chris

Im a bit of a polar bear by I will say that if your feet are causing the most problems a pair of gortex over socks like hikers wear will probably fix that I personally like seal skins but there are hundreds of brands. I do have problem with my fingers in the winter probably from them getting dangerously cold to many times so I dual glove when it gets cold generally a wool set of dress gloves the a pair that stops wind.

Your body will regulate its temperature well if you give it an opportunity to so don’t over dress and prevent nature from helping you but head, fingers, and toes can use some help.

cyccommute 

I went to Hawaii several years ago for Christmas. A clothing stores 1/2 mile from the beach on the big island was selling snowmobile suits

But, yea, 50° to 60° is barely arm warmer/leg warmer weather.

drlogik 

This old adage has been my method for staying warm in temperatures down to -55 degrees. "If you want to keep your hands and feet warm, wear a warm hat." A hat is a very neglected thing. Your body reacts to what the brain tells it what to do. If your head is cold, even if your head doesn't "feel" cold, it can send signals to the body to conserve energy and heat and keep the core and brain warm at the expense of keeping the extremities warm.

I've experienced the coldest Utah, Colorado, New York and Maine days. Nothing compares to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in winter in my opinion but Upstate New York does come close. I generally wear a hat warmer than I think I need. I can always roll it back or take it off for a few minutes. I no longer live where it gets bitter cold but when I did I wore a wool hat. A wool cross-country ski hat without a tassel works great for cycling because the good ones have a wicking material in the band area and wool for the rest of the hat. My preference are the ones made by Swix.

The key for me cycling is to wear under garments of wool and wicking materials as outer wear. Sweat is the enemy. It has to be channeled outside the garments to stay warm for long rides. Not an easy task and usually only the expensive stuff can do that effectively....unfortunately.

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BlazingPedals

I may be a northerner, but I've always considered myself a *wimpy* northerner. For 50F weather I'll wear tights and a long-sleeved jersey, and maybe a windbreaker and some of those one-size-fits-all knit gloves, but no toe warmers or ear warmers. That'd make me too hot. In the 40s I'll wear a headband and some light fleece gloves, and toe warmers if the temp isn't going over 40 or so (which generally means I'm starting in sub-freezing.)

rsbob 

I stuff a bandana in my helmet to keep my head warm. It blocks the vents and works fine without getting too warm. If it does, it’s so compact it’s easy to put into a back pocket. Try it, you’ll like it!

mdarnton

I've been riding the 20s and 30s last week in Chicago and made an interesting discovery. Usually I overdress, and take a layer off later when it has become unbearable. One day this week, thinking that i knew what I needed, I went directly to that. I never warmed up, both my feet and my fingers were cold the whole time. That never happens. I realized that I really need to get my core fired up and the heat spread around before I move back to what I should only be wearing.

Maybe you should at least try something like starting with a down vest and then when that becomes too much. stow it. That's working for me, anyway.

Cyclist0108

I live in one of the more extreme temperature regions in the Bay Area. It occasionally dips below freezing at night, as was the case last night. There was frost on the pumpkin this morning. Today I will ride with shorts and a jersey with a T-shirt under it.

The idea that this constitutes winter conditions is total non-sense (not surprising, given the source). Having spent the first 18 years of my life in Chicago and the next four in Maine, the idea that CA has freezing cold temperatures apart from up in the mountains is high comedy. (We do have a few harsh winter storms in terms of wind and rain and mudslides and power outages, but no one in their right mind would be recreationally riding in one.)