Jonathon

Earlier in the week, it was about 40 degrees out, so I decided to give it a go. I was wearing:

Senior week 2002 t-shirt
Socks with the toes cut out acting as arm warmers
American eagle long sleeve tshirt
Tommy Hilfiger sweathood

Sweatpants
2 pairs of socks

Early on, i knew i needed gloves, so i just rode to the LBS and picked up a pair.

Yes, i looked like an idiot, but I had a great ride of 20 miles in the coldest weather i've rode in before.

allgoo19

Are you kidding? I'm not going out anywhere below 65! I'm staying home.

charlesw

Shouldn't this be in the winter forum? Trying to be helpful..

NeoBinary

You're right! This could spiral out of control and create a state of disorder we may never recover from. Or not.

recursive

-10f

Pfoot

mid 20s. it was too cold for me. 30 is about where i feel like it is OK.

dfchatten

Upper 30's. With the right clothing, booties, and weather conditions it is not too bad. Once you get wind, et al... YUK! I would rather toss the bike on the trainer.

pedal

I did a one week trip across Saskatchewan in April of '99 that went from sunny tailwind one day to blizzard headwind for the next 4 days. I rode past semi-trucks in the ditches, a multiple vehicle/bus accident and a live stock truck that tipped over and killed a bunch of pigs. I think the temps were as low as -35 and I was sleeping in a tent at night on the side of the road. By day 6 or 7 the weather turned around again back to sun and I actually got a bit of a sunburn on the last day.

My shortest day was 50km on a really bad day and up to 205 km on a really good day. Overall total was about 750 km's.

ImprezaDrvr

I'm nowhere near as hardcore as pedal.

Mid teens, but that sucked. If it's in the 20's and dry, it's fair game. Well, barring strong wind, but here the wind and snow/rain come together in the winter.

H. Star

I went out on our coldest day of the year, 45F, and froze my arsse off with all the winter gear on. Anything under 50F is just crazy talk!

WildBill

Where abouts in MI? I'm in Toledo and am finally getting the courage to go out this weekend as it's supposed to be ~40F. I know a few of the Dearborn / Ford Cycling club members might be meeting on Sun.

I've just been hitting the gym and doing lots of cardio on the eliptical, stairmaster, and bikes since the snow fell. I was going to do the Bean Ride on Jan 1st but was out of town that day.

recursive

I can't understand being cold at 45f. At 45, I'll wear shorts and a tshirt, and as long as I keep moving, I stay perfectly comfortable.

Alas, I can't remember the last time it was that warm. Oh well, at least it's starting to get a little warmer these days.

2manybikes

Thank you so much !!

It it ever gets above freezing I'm getting out the road bike.

woody_1029

The coldest I've been out riding in is 35 degrees. My hands and feet were OK for the most part -- just some minor numbing in the toes. The hardest part for me was that it seemed like it took me 2/3 rds of the ride to fully warm up. It was like I was going in slo-mo for most of the ride. I guess my tights are not warm enough for those temps.

xsdg

Although my "commute" is tremendously short (between 800m and 1200m), I've done both 5 degF and 3 degF into a 20-30mph headwind in shorts and my winter jacket (yay, GoreTex!). I've ridden around (at 10-15 PSI for traction on the snow/ice) for an hour to 1.5 hrs in what I'd imagine are the teens or thereabouts in the same combination.

In terms of real rides (~20 to 25 miles), both times it could be considered "cold," both my hands and my feet were numb by the end. I was wearing a pair of tights, non-wind-proof gloves, a bandana under my helmet, a jersey, polyester booties, and a sleeveless vest windbreaker thingie. The first time, it started snowing after we left; the second time, there was a considerable wind. Both times, I guess the temps were in the 20s or 30s. Having proper gloves and wool socks, I imagine I would have been fine, however.

I think the main issue is what you're used to. I've worn shorts in the snow/cold weather almost as long as I can remember -- especially for soccer.

james57

I train in Montreal.. probably the coldest on a bike -15C but I try not to go out below 5C, I run all year outside down to -20C and have no problem with it.. it all a question of multi-layers and good clothes. Need to start cold and warm up within 5 min. , then its just a question of getting thorough your training ..

80sMutRider

-20F, 10-15mph headwind, averaging 30/35 mph, snowing, was probably the coldist/hardcorist (yes I said "hardcorist"). It was opening day at the ski area and I didn't have a ride, so I biked 10 miles with a snowboard on my back. I was using my winter beater, but I just found a plow and rode behind it most of the way. Still quite slick. Wish I had found a plow/sander combo.

francul

I'm from the north of Quebec, When I was a kid, I did some winter rides with a mountain bike in the -25 deg. C. The freehub was freezing and I had to run frequently beside my bike.

SAB

I recently moved to the northeast and I've been getting acclimated to the cold. I've ridden when it's in the teens, although my feet always seem to get cold. I've finally found a pair of socks that are fairly warm, and I wear two pairs of neoprene booties. I also wear mountain biking shoes, which are two sizes too big and not tight on my feet. This combo works well. Now in Texas, I've ridden centuries in temps up to 115 degrees, where the wind feels like a blow dryer in your face. In many ways that's more dangerous than riding in the cold and slowly building up long training rides in the spring/early summer is extremely important so your body can take such extreme heat.

BEAS

Ok we've seen the coldest but what is the hottest? Down here in the South to ride in July and August @ 95-105 with 95% humidity is the norm. You can always put on clothes but the law only allows you to be but so naked.

gabiker

16f for me and never again. High 30's and up is OK but nothing else.

al-wagner

-9 deg F. on a 5.5 mile ride to work. never again... I have set a goal of not riding below 0 deg. F.

meme

I don't know what the temperature was...but many years ago, I was out riding on a cold day on my MTB. I was just going leisurely at around 12mph when I went through a wet spot. Didn't seem that cold...until my bike started sliding and I started falling...and by the time I realize that the wet ground had actually turned to ice, it was already too late. I fell and slide some 30 feet. Ever since that time I told myself to never go out biking when the temperatures drop toward 32F.

Shorty

I've been commuting below 20* lately. I can do it, and I even have the gear so I don't get hot, but it seems so much harder! I guess its good exercise. I know I have to eat a lot more than usual to keep from being exhausted.

P. S. Sales happen as soon as the clothing is not in demand.

roscoe50

When the computer LCD's start freezing then I know it's too cold, happened yesterday!