Do I HTFU and ride outdoors or stay inside on trainer?

I had this choice yesterday, same conditions. First time this winter I road inside while it was light outside. I suggest you do the same.

Wind chill is a scam. Still, hit the trainer. Really, you'll hurt yourself trying to ride in this weather. Heck, look at pcad. You don't want to wind up like that!

stay inside. I went out in 12F this morning and it wasn't fun.

Scam..really? Have to agree about pcad though.

In Houston this morning we're waiting until the outdoor thermometer hits 50 before heading out!

Go. I am heading out at noon. Just dress appropriately.

Envious I am...but you pay for it in the summer.

What are your conditions and for how long are u going out?

- 20 Degrees F with wind chill figured in..

My saying about wind chill is, “Wind chill is for wimps.” There always will be a wind chill when you cycle, and in the summer it can be beneficial. So I dress for the actual temperature rather than "feels like..."

I ride outdoors year round, even down to single digits, but only because I commute, and cycling has thus become part of my lifestyle. I’ll extend the 14 mile commute in the summer but in winter my job is the only thing that gets me out to ride, and IMO, that’s a good thing. Otherwise, I’m so busy, I probably would do no exercise at all.

BTW, surgeonstone, are you a surgeon? I’m a surgical pathologist. I once asked a fellow BF subscriber, Pathdoc, if he was a pathologist and he was, and invited me to come and take a look at a job in Texas.

Conditions are temp approx 15F windchill I have no clue but 5-10MPH winds. Back roads have ice patches but main roads are mostly clear (we had snow 2 days ago).

I have convinced 3 other clubmembers to join me, we are going to do a short 35 mile loop.

I say if the roads are safe you should try, but then again don't feel guilty if you hit the rollers or trainer instead. If I didn't have folks to ride with I might not be going either.

PS to Jim: I am an internist, there are several docs here in BF.

After a few decades of checking wind chill charts and riding in the cold, I don't pay attention to them anymore. I used to have a thermometer with a built in wind chill chart that I took with me.
It seemed more important with the motorcycles, more wind speed, and not as much effort, creating heat.
I think the heat generated by pedaling throws off the calculation of wind chill completely. It's more for someone not being active. Just make sure your skin is not exposed to it.

I find that at those temps I spend most of my time just trying to be warm, the ride is nice in the end, but the workout wasn't worth much.

Yes I am a general surgeon though I have retired from doing surgery to doing wound care. I love the hours and lack of call and for the first time in my adult life I know what it is like to look forward to weekends off.

I might just give it a short try and see how it goes. This is my first winter riding though I grew up a skier in New England and thought nothing of the cold.
Have you noticed much reduction in you average speeds when riding in the winter?

Hi datlas and surgeonstone,

Thanks for your for your replies. I rode in 14 miles this morning at approximately the same conditions and I was happy to arrive, but of course I had other things to do. One of my favorite posts on winter riding asks (I’m not asking you , but) “When does hardcore become stupid?”

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-become-Stupid

My favorite answer is:

I would also add dealing with road conditions and traffic, as well as temperature.

If the wind chill is -20, add you pedaling speed and you are close to -30. Best not have exposed skin!!

I will add that my wife thinks that hardcore became stupid quite some time ago.

Today's high is only going to be 61. Hopefully it'll be warm enough next weekend for a ride.

Just yesterday, my wife, with whom I have toured cross-country and for years has never had a problem with my daily year-round commute, chastised me for riding during a snow emergency yesterday.

Listen to her.

My downward limit is flexible, depending on how badly I need to ride, but generally I don't go out in anything cooler than 20. My main concern in the winter is the condition of the roads. I really prefer to ride the back roads, and they don't dry out as quickly as the main routes. IMO, riding around in salt/sand/slush just isn't worth it. Again, though, depends on how I feel.

Now there's enough snow on the ground to do some decent XC skiing, so I try to obsess on that for the month or two that it's practical to do so. It involves gear, so it'll do.

Average speeds go way down in the winter for me. The extra clothing, the fact that I'm usually on my cross bike on gravel / snow covered roads, and having to ride the brakes down hill all contribute heavily.

For me, winter riding is more about time spent than speed attained.

https://www.webmaster10.com/ldr/windchill.html

Here is a pretty cool wind chill chart. Once it gets down in to the 20's there's not much you can do to keep warm. On a motorcycle you can bundle up a little more with heavy leather gear...but wearing chaps isn't very practical for a bike. The hardest things to keep warm are the hands a feet. Another thing to consider when riding in below freezing conditions is ice on the road.

You live in San Diego.. what could you know of this 'ice'?