At the start of the ride this morning is was 31F with a wind chill in the mid 20s. By the end it warmed up to a crisp 33F. Looking forward to tomorrow when it should be above freezing to start.

I haven't been that cold yet ... it's all about the proper layering of outerwear. I ride into the teens with shorts and jersey too ... on top of that, I add a layer to trap my body heat, a layer to block the wind, another layer (as needed), another layer (if needed), ect. That applies to all parts of the body, head, feet and hands too.

I just got studded tires and had to check them out, so I rode up and down the street a few times in my Carharts. -27F today in Fairbanks, only the hardcore are out today.

20F, because changing a flat in anything colder is too uncomfortable. I changed a tube one night in 18F and my hands got stupid cold, I cannot imagine fixing a flat on my non quick release wheels in anything colder.

I do not have quick release wheels and the flat was on the back of my Torker Graduate, which has 5 speed IGH and coaster brake. I may consider going colder on my fargo, but I dont have as good of lights on that as I do the graduate, and when it is cold, it is usually dark or about to get dark.

I've cycled as low as single digits (F) but my criteria is really based more on road conditions than temperature. When roads are wet/icy I'm staying inside. But if roads are dry and clear I'm good because I can dress for it. Might end up looking like the Michelin man but as long as I'm warm.....

I start to take special measures around 20°F - the coldest I've commuted in is 5°. That's about my limit because it actually starts to get dangerous around that temperature if you don't really know what you're doing. Living where I do, we don't. But I can speak about dressing for sane outside weather.

I have a heavy jacket and insulated coat that I haven't worn in 5 years. We don't need them bicycling. You probably don't need a new jacket. All you need is something to block the wind, and layer up underneath with the same wicking stuff you might wear in the spring, and just go hard enough to keep warm. That's all there really is to it.

Below 20f I have a problem keeping warm and venting away sweat. Above 20f, my thermal layers and materials wick the skin dry while providing a permeable layer that retains warmth. Below 20f, the moisture fails to evaporate quickly and starts to chill the skin.

I have clothing that allows me to ski in -10f weather. But cycling produces more sweat than skiing and it's the damp and cold skin that I always avoid.

50s ... with a wind chill maybe down to 40s ... you're just on the cusp of a jacket. there are some thick shirts, that when worn with a good base layer, can keep you in the temp zone you want for daytime riding. such as the Brooks Podium 1/2 zip. even a few degrees colder you can be OK with adding just a windstop vest of some kind.

Minneapolis. I'll take it down to maybe 5 above zero, if there isn't much wind. Others around here go even lower.

A buddy and I rode to a party last night, 10.5 miles at 10 F. My face started to get cold toward our destination, but everything else was fine.

That's about the temperature where I sometimes have trouble with the rear hub freezing up making it freewheel in both directions. I had that problem yesterday when it was -22F during my commute. I hadn't got around to winterizing that hub yet, as we normally don't see temperatures that cold until later in the winter. Foolish of me, really. Today I rode an old 3-speed at the same temperature. No problems.

As long as it's not too windy, I actually enjoy cold weather riding. It's exhilarating, the air is fresher. Less traffic, less people on the streets. The bike path is owned by the few who venture there. Not to mention when having to ride through bad neighborhood, less worry about the trouble-making teenagers who are nowhere to be seen. Just wrap enough warm clothing. There is no limit how much you can put on, is there?

But if it's windy, it sucks.

Went out for a few miles in 9 deg w/wind chill down to -3. I'm pretty new to this, so basically I don't know any better as far as "too cold". Lol.

I'm from New York City, but I just spent Thanksgiving week on vacation cycling in Southern California (Ventura, a bit north of Los Angeles). For most of the week temps were in the high 60s/low 70s F and I was wearing shorts, short-sleeved jersey, and a short-sleeved wool base layer...and I was too warm. Thanksgiving morning it was overcast & dipped down into the high 50s, so I put on arm warmers & knee warmers.

All the locals I saw riding around me that week were dressed in winter cycling jackets and full length tights! To me, that's apparel for ~30°F weather!

If you can repack a wheel bearing, it's pretty easy (and kinda fun, I think) to take off the freehub body and flush it with fresh oil.

+1

For me I draw the line around -6 degrees Celsius. At that point the rush of cold air in my lungs on the downhill is more than I am willing to put up with, but I am from Galveston Texas.

-22 degrees? at that temperature I wouldn't be worried about my freewheel freezing, I'd be more worried about my blood freezing! Remind me never to move to Edmonton.

Well, I've reached a new low ............. -12*F, -22 with windchill. It was fairly breezy going home the other morning. Needed the heavy Sorel's though. Toes were a bit chilled after 7 miles. Winter isn't even here yet so it remains to be seen are far I can push it.

I'm fine down to 0-F so far, it's usually the air quality that puts me off the bike before it gets too cold...

I’ve never ridden in weather below 10F, but I did a century in which the first 40 miles were below 20F. This thread has inspired me, though. I’ll be out every seriously cold day this winter to see if I can set a new record. I’m only in upstate NY though, so I have no hope of competing with the Alaska, northern midwest and high Rockies crowds for a personal coldest ride.

I don't know how cold it has to be for me. I rode in -37F in Montana, and I wasn't miserable. I had to break the ice off my balaclava so I wouldn't suffocate. That's part of the reason I don't live there now.

I have ridden in -9F this year, and my normal commute to work in the dead of winter (now) is single digits. It's only 4 miles each way, so not really that far, but I will go out and ride for an hour or two in the same temperatures and stay warm. I have pogies for my bars, and use thick, full shoe covers over normal riding shoes. I find it quite pleasant. They key was getting the layers just right and pacing so there is minimal sweating. I ride much slower in the winter, but I am still riding...and smiling.

Minus 37 degrees and you weren't miserable? I'm darn near miserable at 37...that's plus 37!

I had trouble with my rear wheel at -15F when the pawls froze and wouldn't engage, so I walked the bike back and took the fixed gear. The coldest for me has been -24F but that isn't the coldest I'll go. I honestly don't know what the limit is for me.

I suppose I need to discover how to maintain the hub so this kind of thing doesn't happen again.

In the past I've had good results by removing the freehub, flushing the old lubricant out with solvent, and then re-lubricating with fresh oil.