Bike Forums

Bike Forums (https://www.bikeforums.net/forum.php)
-   Singlespeed & Fixed Gear (https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/)
-   -   How cold is to cold? (https://www.bikeforums.net/singlespeed-fixed-gear/991584-how-cold-cold.html)

ThermionicScott 01-28-15 02:41 PM

10 F is about as low as I've riddALL HAIL THE HYPNOTOAD

North Coast Joe 01-28-15 03:33 PM

I've been riding through almost all of the last few Winters here along Lake Erie. I don't HAVE to ride, but no matter how cold outside, it beats sitting on that damned trainer. Temps can be ridiculous at times.

That said, I got frostbite last year and have to limit time outside on the bike. I have some spinal nerve damage and can't feel things from the waist down very well, so there are times when the legs and feet are much colder than I'm aware of. I'll do an hour out, then supplement it trainer time indoors.

Everybody's different, but I can't really say it's ever too cold. I can't see a twenty mile commute at zero, but I'm sure there are folks over on the commuter forum that do it without a second thought.

The cold wind, too many clothing layers, the pig-ass slow studded tires, fogging glasses, frozen derailleurs, road salt corroding everything on the bike.....not my favorite things. C'mon Spring.

hairnet 01-28-15 03:44 PM

The 30s are the lowest I have experienced, so I go with the 30s. It was nice though, just need something to keep my ears, neck, hands, and knees warm.

murrellington 01-28-15 03:53 PM

I have no idea. I don't ride at night and it doesn't often get below 50 F during the day in the winter. So I say 50 degrees is cold weather to ride. Guess we are a little spoiled here. I can honestly say I would not ride if I lived in some of those other cold states mentioned.

Philasteve 01-28-15 05:10 PM

1 Attachment(s)
It's never the cold that stops me too much as much as freezing rain and or snow. I would say around 30 with decent wind is where it sucks to ride. I'll usually try to do some push ups or calisthenics before I hop on the bike and go outside to get my blood pumping when it's freezing out. Almost always use my 29er/Giant Rincon Mountain bike if it was a decent snowstorm.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=431529

BlackJoker 01-28-15 05:23 PM


Originally Posted by TenSpeedV2 (Post 17507910)
I can't really answer that for you, because I have Reynaud's syndrome. My outlook on gloves is that they all pretty much suck, even the ones I have. My hands get cold no matter what. I had a pair from REI for biking that I really loved, but I lost them and they are not available any more unfortunately. Haven't found anything that is not bulky.

Yea, I have Raynaud's, too. It sucks when going on longer winter rides. I do double gloves and double socks and my fingers and toes still go white and numb (they go white and numb when it starts to dip into the low 50s F). I'm having trouble finding "warm enough" gloves, too, but I wont stop searching until I find a pair I'm happy with.

The coldest I've ridden in was 15 F, but that's just going to the store. Coldest I've done a longer ride (~2 hours) was 38 F.

Justsomedude 01-28-15 06:13 PM

This winter my only 'cutoff' was when we had a lot of ice on the roads in 0-15F.
Mid 20's doesn't feel too bad.

I remove some padding from my helmet and wear a Wool Watchcap under it that covers my ears.
I have a Fleece Orange Neck Gaiter (for hunting) that keeps my neck warm and it can cover my chin/mouth if desired.
When it is a little warmer I wear a "Buff" instead of the Fleece.
I have one that is wool also.

I wear Fleece fingerless gloves with the Flip-Top mittens.
Wearing glasses to keep the windchill off my eyeballs helps a TON.

Morning rides lately have been around 30-35F.
I wear thin long johns or UA ColdWeather top/bottoms.
Light pants and a fleece top or a Nike Golf pullover.
For longer rides, the Fleece gets too hot.
I wear wool socks all winter

hockeyteeth 01-28-15 06:18 PM

cold:cold::hot:hot

For me, below 30 F sucks too bad to ride more than a few miles commuting. I've never had the chance to ride in snow but it occasionally gets in the teens in central Florida and I have to wear enormous gloves just to ride to the grocery store.

Surly2698 01-28-15 11:13 PM

0 degrees F is the coldest I have ridden so far this year
It was not too bad, I have a 36 mile round trip in Denver

SalsaShark 01-28-15 11:31 PM

It dipped down to about -20 F with some brisk winds this winter on my commute and it was not too cold to ride.....so I would say at least colder than that!

TenSpeedV2 01-29-15 12:13 AM

This past Thanksgiving I travelled to Chicago to see my sister and her family. It just so happened that the Chicago Critical Mass was the next day. I took my bike, and I was cold. It got down to about 30F that night but I rode anyway. The next day, by noon, it was sunny and in the mid to upper 40's. I rode to a bike shop and a few other stores in shorts and long sleeve jersey. It is funny to hear what some of you consider to be cold, and what some of you won't ride in.

Night_shift 01-29-15 12:36 AM

75F +. Sunny. No wind.

CharlyAlfaRomeo 01-29-15 01:17 AM

Once upon a time I was a messenger here in Calgary, Alberta. In my six years on the road I experienced temps as low as -50 F (with the windchill) and every type of ice and snow you can imagine.

I actually quite like riding in most snow as long as it's under 3" or so deep when fresh and not packed or rutted. Ice can add a fun element too, also depending on the rut situation.

In my old age I limit myself to about 5 F on the low end.

I'm pretty sure SixtyFiver has done colder, he's three hours north of me.

Mumonkan 01-29-15 05:39 AM

for srs dudes, wool is the **** for cold.

when i actually rode my bike and commuted in the cold i would just wear a wool longsleeve shirt with a sleeveless jersey over it and my upper half was happy as a clam, if it got below 25 then i needed more

Hypno Toad 01-29-15 08:35 AM

I'm going to echo some comments made above, around freezing can be some of the worst 'cold'. The worst is around 35F with rain, those are some of my least comfortable rides, even with the right rain gear. I still go out and ride, and I've been known to ride these conditions just 'for fun'. Colder temps, like around 20F with sun and fresh snow.... PURE JOY to ride.

Ice & snow on the roads are the biggest limiting factor for me and riding. I have great bikes for riding on snow and ice (fatbike and studded tires); however, I have to ride on roads with cars. Cars that don't have studded tires (or winter tires; or even treads left on their tires), cars driven by people that are clueless about the road conditions, cars that are operated by people that are 'rushing' and going too fast for the conditions, cars that can easily ruin my day when they lose control.

Dannihilator 01-29-15 09:28 AM

Keeping warm this year, taking a year off from riding outside in the winter.

Wspsux 01-29-15 09:53 AM

I'd giver until about 18 degrees before I say **** it and get an Uber

SquidPuppet 01-29-15 01:42 PM


Originally Posted by CharlyAlfaRomeo (Post 17510161)
Once upon a time I was a messenger here in Calgary, Alberta. In my six years on the road I experienced temps as low as -50 F (with the windchill) and every type of ice and snow you can imagine.

I actually quite like riding in most snow as long as it's under 3" or so deep when fresh and not packed or rutted. Ice can add a fun element too, also depending on the rut situation.

In my old age I limit myself to about 5 F on the low end.

I'm pretty sure SixtyFiver has done colder, he's three hours north of me.

Man, I don't know how you guys can do that stuff. It's freakin maniacal.

I once attempted to walk .5 miles to my uncles house when it was -22f with a very light breeze. I was bundled up big time, and hey, it's only .5 miles, right. I got a couple hundred yards down the road and my nose was running like a faucet. A few seconds later, it all froze, all the way UP INTO my nose. When I wrinkled my nose, I could feel my icey frozen nose hairs shattering. Then my eyes started to dry out and freeze.

I turned around and ran home.

You guys are badazzes.

Curious about something. When you are exposed to hot weather, at what temperature do you begin to feel uncomfortable? What is intolerable?

stryper 01-29-15 02:43 PM

Don't own a car so if I'm going outside it's on a bike. Thankfully we don't really get below 25f here. As others have said, it's the rain and heavy winds that are really bad.
If it's over 60 I prefer shorts and no shirt, below 45 a windbreaker, below 40 add gloves or my hands are in my pockets the whole ride, below 30 I try to have pants/sweats but don't always. I have a pair of cycling tights, but I rarely wear them.

bmwjoe 01-29-15 08:36 PM

It was 9°F this morning on my commute. I saw 0F last year during the polar vortex. Riding in the cold is a combination of conditioning and gear. I have a short 5.5 mile commute, so it is OK if I get a little hot or cold on the ride. The first time I ride out in the 20's It feels unbearable. After a few weeks it seems normal. Today my 22°F ride home felt toasty after my 9° ride to work.

I wear a fleece skull cap under my helmet, 3 thin layers on top with an unlined windbreaker, toe covers and lobster claw gloves. This morning I treated myself to Home Depot hand warmers. I was fine.

Ride Safe,

Joe

CharlyAlfaRomeo 01-29-15 10:39 PM


Originally Posted by SquidPuppet (Post 17511776)
I once attempted to walk .5 miles to my uncles house when it was -22f with a very light breeze. I was bundled up big time, and hey, it's only .5 miles, right.

Walking is the worst in the cold. You don't exert yourself enough to warm up. By contrast cycling in even a little bit of snow is a serious workout, you just have to make sure your skin is covered and you aren't otherwise overdressed so as to sweat too much. Even without some snow you just have to pick up the pace and you'll warm up.


Originally Posted by SquidPuppet (Post 17511776)
Curious about something. When you are exposed to hot weather, at what temperature do you begin to feel uncomfortable? What is intolerable?

Summer comes slowly around here so I have time to adjust. Come July I'm fine up to the mid to high eighties, though the first really warm ride is a bit grueling.

I will say that without an adjustment period exerting myself in heat is awful. I traveled to Argentina one February and since it was their summer I planned to do a bunch of skateboarding.

It was -13 F no humidity to speak of when I went to the airport here, and 109 F with 100% humidity when I arrived in Buenos Aires.

For every five minutes I spent riding at the skate parks I would spend the next ten pouring ice water over my head.

T13 01-30-15 07:05 AM


Originally Posted by CharlyAlfaRomeo (Post 17513215)
Cycling in even a little bit of snow is a serious workout, you just have to make sure your skin is covered and you aren't otherwise overdressed so as to sweat too much.

The worst idea ever is wearing those waterproof socks. Yer feet sweat like crazy, then freeze.

OntheRun. 01-30-15 07:19 AM

Usually anytime its below 30 degrees I tend to not ride only because the only thing that bothers me the most are my feet since I do not like wearing bulky shoes. They are never warm enough. But I got me some Defeet Woolie Boolie socks and hope they work!

Mumonkan 01-30-15 08:38 AM

two words: shoe covers.

Flatulentfox 01-30-15 12:22 PM


Originally Posted by Mumonkan (Post 17513832)
two words: shoe covers.

Absolutely.

I picked some up recently. They're a game changer.

Huffandstuff 01-30-15 02:20 PM


Originally Posted by OntheRun. (Post 17513651)
Usually anytime its below 30 degrees I tend to not ride only because the only thing that bothers me the most are my feet since I do not like wearing bulky shoes. They are never warm enough. But I got me some Defeet Woolie Boolie socks and hope they work!

I've got some pairs of those socks and they get a thumbs up from me.

When it gets down to the thirties and raining I'll do a pair of those socks, longer wool socks over that, shoes and then shoe covers and my feet are invincible.

BilbroSwaggins 01-30-15 04:18 PM


Originally Posted by inCOGneto (Post 17507564)
I know this 100% based on personal opinion but this winter the weather has been hovering between 45-55 degrees, high 50's being my cut-off for whether I ride or not, mainly because I refuse to wear jeans or any kind of pants because I can't stand riding in anything but shorts. I will however wear a long sleeve and maybe a beanie under the helmet. But im pretty bummed out because I feel trapped in this damn house and really want to get out and ride. So after my lame rant I just want to know what you guys do in the winter ( California disregard ) and at what point do you just lean the bike and stay in.

I don't think these guys get that for us lowcountry South Carolinians, temps in the 50's are ****ing cold. we get summers that are in triple digits with 100% humidity so we get used to it being warm. ill ride in anything but if its 55 or lower I'm in full winter kit.

MattoftheRocks 01-30-15 05:40 PM

If I'd had a car over the last few years, it would have been used on the crap wet days 27-45F. Crispy, dry snow is pretty nice to ride on/through. 2nd the wool. Dbl wool socks in big rubber boots and water resistant windproof pants, balaclava, goggles and flip-mitts down to 10F, and full snowboard mitts below 10. I'm usually plenty warm at mile 1 and sweating at 2.

stryper 02-01-15 04:49 AM


Originally Posted by BilbroSwaggins (Post 17515179)
I don't think these guys get that for us lowcountry South Carolinians, temps in the 50's are ****ing cold. we get summers that are in triple digits with 100% humidity so we get used to it being warm. ill ride in anything but if its 55 or lower I'm in full winter kit.

HTFU. Low 20's on cold winter nights, not uncommon to hit 105 on hot summer days. Welcome to nor cal.

BilbroSwaggins 02-01-15 06:23 AM


Originally Posted by stryper (Post 17518637)
HTFU. Low 20's on cold winter nights, not uncommon to hit 105 on hot summer days. Welcome to nor cal.

I was using 50's as an example because he said that was his cutoff and most South Carolinians consider that cold. It has stayed around 30 for the lows every night. And I'll take 105 degrees all day. We live in what's basically a swamp. It's the humidity that gets ya. Not the heat


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:11 AM.


Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.