Yeah, it's just dark humor. A lot of people don't realize too much of a good thing will almost always turn into a bad thing...until they push too far.

Mmmmmmm, tough call.

For my part I'd like to say that 'hardcore' and 'stupid' are a matter of opinion. Posters here have said that stupid is when you risk serious injury, have little or no safety margin. I disagree, I have been in situations where I had very little safety margin, hiking in -40 temps, I summited a mountain in Alaska in hurricane force winds, icy traverses and climbs, surfing, skydiving, etc. some of the descents I do on the bike prove that I can eliminate my margin for error when its 75f outside. To some I am not even close to hardcore, to some I am stupid. But to me its precisely the times when my life was on the line that I felt the most alive. I don't mean to insult anyone who doesn't risk life and limb for sake of experience, but I personally advocate doing so.

As others here have stated, everything is a matter of perception. Perception depends on skill level. At the extreme limits of any sport there is danger. We're on a frickin' "road" cycling forum for cryin out loud, that appears to be frequented by accolytes (and perhaps a few members) of the pro peloton. Guys die in the TdF, when they lose it on mountain decents run at 100kph! Can you say Galibier? I can, I have an old pair of leather (remember leather?) climbing boots named after the peak

It might be argued that at the extreme, cycling is one of the sports that has grown softer, rather than harder. Sure, speeds have increased (marginally), but the actual conditions of the races are much easier than they were when it was run on unpaved roads, when stages weren't cancelled due to a bit of snow, and, of course, it hasn't been run as a touriste-routier (read: non-stop) event for ages.



Personally, I decry the whole "extreme" scene that has invaded mountaineering, ski and snowboard descents, etc. Yet, 20 years ago, I was at the "cutting edge" of some of those sports. What people fail to undestand, is that the leading proponents of such sports are extraordinarily competant and often functioning well within their limits.

The danger comes when a cultish following aggregates around such exploits and inexperienced wannabees go out and hurt themselves or worse, trying to copy their heroes, without first developing the skills needed to minimise the subjective dangers and avoid as much as possible, the objective ones.

Far be it from me to encourage beginners from exceeding their comfort zone, but, for me, taking a short bicycle ride in a bit of moderate cold, wind and rain doesn't exactly challenge my limits.

Now, Iditabike ... hmmmmmmm. That's always piqued my interest.

Some years ago a writer named Don Cuerdon (I think) entered the Iditabike and took with him as part of his survival gear a .45 caliber handgun. Anyway, at some point on the course he was hallucinating due to exhaustion and sleep deprivation and he thought he was being chased by a giant chicken. He whipped out the .45 and prepared to shoot the bird. As it got closer, he realized it was another rider and threw away his bullets.

Actually, getting into cycling was a result of such significant physical and emotional challenges in my life.

The lowest temperature I've ridden in is 15 degrees F (and our team did intervals then!). That's nothing compared to what some (or many) people ridden in, but that's not something I would ride in on a daily basis. I would rather not open that door to getting sick for something that can easily be avoided. I can, however, tolerate high temperatures really well; I had no problems riding in 100+ degree weather.

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It might be, but the question is would you do it, especially if you knew that the day after would be more "ridable?"

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I used to ride 20 miles round trip to work in Wisconsin. One year, it never got above zero F for an entire month. There were two days where it was -20F. The first time I got a small area of frostbite on my wrist. I never thought about changing a flat, it would be problematic.

Yes.

I commuted daily year round in Winnipeg for several years.

Yes... do tell.

30 degrees....

Tried climbing a local mountain that ive done many times...

got 1/4th the way up and turned around.. Lungs burning.. power dropped off..heart rate shot up to over 200.. Had nothing left..



=( I feel like a wuss


Oh yeah.. I was doing it with a cold and feeling drained already.. does that make me hardcore for trying?

I've had plurasey twice in my life. Both times I was jogging in -30. Doc says there is no proven example that exercise in cold conditions causes this but I'm not taking the chance again.