You are so hardcore.

I can't do that on a warm sunny day!!

Lady I can't fathom what's left of your airways from all the arctic cold long rides you do. You are a beast, meant in the most complimentary way, and I bow to you. In fact: SHE'S HARDCORE!!!

I guess, in a way, I'm the Canadian equivalent of the Californians and Floridans commenting here.

I choose to live in the "mildest" corner of the country so that I can feed my need for the velo year-round. After 40+ years of cycling, I am, as my physio says, "wired." Without continual pedaling, my whole organism goes haywire. So that's my comment on the "hardcore" question. I become unhealthy, both physically and mentally, when I don't ride regularly.

Now to the weather thing. I tried living in Alberta for a while. It was probably akin to a Californian trying do to Texas But seriously, I'm just not as tough as Machka!

Regina? I fled during a 50 below "cold snap". Got the first train out one New Year's morning. Two years in Toronto, sans bike, nearly killed me.

So, here on the left coast, in Canada's "cycling capital," I get to ride every month of the year. The worst weather, really, is the rain ... the eternal, pissin' rain. It's at its worst when the temperature hovers just above freezing. That's really hard to deal with; harder, I'd say than the cold, dry temps of the interior. One really has to dress for it. And keep moving.

As I've mentioned on BF before, I know first-hand about black ice. I spent last New Year's getting my chin sewn back together. But, hey, **** happens (especially in cars).

Maybe as an ex-alpinist I take some of the "survival" aspecs of cold-weather cycling for granted. They seem fairly pedestrian compared to being hundreds of miles from rescue on a storm-lashed glacier. Not to say that hypothermia isn't a possibility if you're not careful ... especially in aforementioned cold & wet. Yes, it's not for the faint of heart, or the unprepared, but it can be exciting and strangely joyful.

Boy was it nice to get out in the global-warmed sun yesterday, though. Very mild for November, but no bush fires yet (sorry, bad joke). Rain is back today.

I try to do 42 miles every day, occasionally cutting it back to 30 at a convenient shortcut.

Today, at 14 degrees F, I stopped at 20 miles, and would have stopped at 15 if I could have.

It got up to 17 by the time I got home, and I was miserable.

Sitting in the warm house, sure is nice today - and I think I have decided not to do my daily loop below 20-30.

The Airdyne is looking pretty good to me now!

That's a damned good question.

You know, I've been thinking about changing the name of the Winter Chicken Club to Winter Wisdom Club because of just such a dilemma . . . . are we really being "chicken" to choose not to ride in the cold, or are we simply too wise to suffer needlessly?

Quite the conundrum, no? You consider yourself "hardcore" whilst others consider you "fanatical" or "stupid".

I try to defend you folks as best I can, but their overwhelming numbers just beat me down. Finally all I can say in your defense is: "To each his own". It doesn't wash with the masses . . . they're convinced you're fanatics. Winter Wisdom Club does have a more positive ring to it, though.

A few of us gather for the "Sensible Sunday Ride." We still ride in all kinds of abysmal conditions -- we just do it slowly ... you know, to saviour the weather.

Yeah but not when it comes to weather

I have lived in other states where they had winter NJ, NC, WA and I've even spent some time northeast of Edmonton. I don't miss the rain, snow, hail, frostbite or any other discomfort that comes with living there. If I want snow I go to the mountains play around and come back to my modest little hamlet by the beach.

People ask me if I miss the four seasons. My response "Ummm......NOOOO!" I like the security and surity to plan what I am doing on Saturday (insert any day) without worrying about the weather. I have a 6hr training ride with a client tomorrow. I haven't even checked the weather nor will I.

We'll ALWAYS make room for ANY BF members that want to come out! Seriously

I like this chart

You people must be using a different thermometer than I have.
Today was in the mid 60s, sunny, wind gusting to 20mph. Half way through the ride I pulled out the arm warmers (lots of trees, so lack of sun)... It was a nice ride.

All I have to dress in are Arm/Knee warmers, ss base layer, ss jersey, and bibs. If it's to cold for that combo of clothes, it's to cold (that equals somewhere in the low 50's I imagine, don't know, haven't found that temp yet)

I'm sure I would beat a good number of FL. cyclists. But it really doesn't make sense to invest in winter gear, considering it would only get used half a dozen times a year, if that.

+1

+1!

You can't rule out bacterial just because you took a course of antibiotics. For example whooping cough won't get better with drugs, you just stop being contagious.

It is much easier to stay warm while Nordic skiing, trust me.

The reduced wind chill and the full body nature of the workout makes me cook.

I'll be back!(when it warms up!)

Is it possible you're overdressed for skiing and underdressed for cycling?

Hardcore turns stupid only if you get hurt doing it. Use common sense and judgment when riding.

You can wear about half as much as every other person you'll meet will be wearing. I don't understand these people and their arctic expeditionary parkas - it's 40 degrees and breezy, not -20 and raining sideways.

Some of those pictures are sad disturbing even.

I like my chart better. What's with all that rain?

Austin

Huntington Beach

That's what I'm hoping for. I have enough to wear for my morning commute, which sometimes starts around 40 degrees. That chilly commute is probably the ONLY reason I won't be one of those bundled up tourist wimps this time.

Not only do I cycle in "arctic cold", but I ski, snowshoe, and do a lot of walking. I love being outside, and won't let a little thing like bitter cold stop me. It's a rare day that I don't spend time being active outside.

BTW ... speaking of snowshoeing, the last time I went snowshoeing was a few years ago in Winnipeg. There hasn't been enough snow for that lately. But one of the last times I went, I was very glad it was -42C out there. Even at that temperature, there was a section of the river behind where I lived that wasn't frozen ... a water drainage pipe drained into the river just there. I was snowshoeing along, and fell into the river ... left leg up to my hip. I got out, and the water instantly froze solid all over my snowshoe, boot, and ski pants, so I was able to keep going. Had it not been that cold, the water would have had time to soak in, making me wet, and I'd have had to go in or risk hypothermia.


And I'm sitting here with three different inhalers ... that should tell you what's left of my airways.

No, but I rode a little bit this evening, and will be at the Turkey Roll in the morning.

Hey!

Major tectonic plate boundarys make for good cycling topography!

Oh no, these aren't the tourists that are bundled up. These are real DCers.

Just in case you want some actual info, it's been about 35 and very windy in the mornings here. I'm wearing regular bibs with wool kneewarmers, mtb shoes and regular cycling socks, a synth t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, or both, and a prorace jacket. Just a cycling cap seems to do the job for my 25 minute commute.

In the afternoon when it's about 40, the above clothes are more than enough for a ride that lasts an hour or two.

Yep, that's what we love about this place -- convergence of 4 major tectonic plates here in the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Is it stupid to live here ... or just hardcore?



Bring low gears and big quads.