I rode today (bike commute) and it was cold (24 degrees). How cold do you ride down to?
As cold as I have clothing for. . .(currently just about as cold as it ever gets in the lower 48 at any ridable altitude). Its never too cold to ride.
When I was new in the sport and thought I actually might be faster if I rode all year round ( many of you may be, not me however ), I’d ride into the upper 20’s. A couple of years later I found myself scoffing at riding below 40, and now, if its going to be below 50 I just pump up my running mileage instead.
I really, really, really hate being cold. Those chemical heating pads for the toes that hunters/fishermen use work great, but some cold you just can’t shake off.
I didn’t ride to work today since I am enjoying using my car until I begin serious training again in a week or two. But when I was younger I used to ride all the way down to 0 degrees F. (thats about -18 for our European friends). Its all a matter of wearing the proper clothes and dressing in layers plus having those little chemical heaters for my hands, toes and other sensitive parts. For me, if I ride the bike or drive the car depends more on the road conditions than the temperature, if it has been dry, 24 is not really a big deal if I dress properly. But if if the roads are wet during the day and it goes below freezing at night causing icy spots along the road, I park the bike and take the car.
The coldest I ever rode (and this was a complete mistake since I didn’t check the Weather Channel before I went out to ride) was -10 F with a wnd chill of -45 or -50. I was out for about 10 minutes and thought I was going to freeze to death. Only when I got home and clicked on the weather channel and saw the be advised to stay indoors or cover all exposed flesh if you go outside message did I realize how stupid I was.
I’m pretty comfortable riding in the mid to upper teens F.
Riding/Training 45 degrees with the forcast to warm up. If it’s colder thyan that I ride my MTB .The trails have more cold/wind blockers
I rode this week one day and it was 15 F when I was done. That is the coldest I have ever rode on a road bike. I was only out for 1.5 hours but that was about all my toes wanted. I just got lights for my mt bike for some night time trail riding and suspect that will be fine down to 0 or so. I’ve only been on the trails at night a few times and was so concerned with not dying that I don’t know if I was cold or not.
Personally, I’ve ridden in weather as low as 20. BUt I find this to be almost a colossal waiste of time. For ME, even with the proper gear, it is really hard to keep a stable HR and I become miserable after about an hour. I HATE COLD. But for some, they probably enjoy winter riding.
Thus, I have abandoned road riding in anything under 40 degrees. I feel that I can get in a quality trainer session keeping my my aerobic HR capped. For outside stuff, I will bomb down hills in the mountains and power up technical hills. It is mu8ch easier to stay warm in the woods.
Well, I think commuting and training are two different things, depending on how long your commute is. I have ridden down to about 10 degree fahrenheit and I don’t recommend it. I think there is a point of diminishing return somewhere around 35 degrees. Considering the time you spend getting dressed to ride below freezing perhaps your time may be better spent on an indoor trainer. Commuting on the bike is always better than sitting in the car and doing nothing in my opinion though. Good luck though, and be careful.
I ride to -5f and no more. At that temp you need those little hand warmers that Walmart sells, I put them in my riding shoes-I have a size to large to do that. The hardest part is when your breathing turns your face mask in to a sheet of ice. I ride small loops as a flat or mechanical cannot be fixed in the street. The windchill is your enemy so using a windproof shell on all frontal areas is a must. Underneath I use one to two layers and sometimes have an extra face mask along. I will also ride my cross bike on snowmobile trails which keeps the speed and wind down to 8-10mph. What really helps is not taking off more than 2 days in a row. I get used to the temp and actually enjoy getting out. Last winter I hurt myself and trying to get motivated after 2 weeks indoors made it hard to return to training.
Damn, you guys! Anything below about 45 and my candy-ass is on the trainer. I don’t mind running in the cold, but I’m miserable on the bike when it’s cold. I guess I’m a true Californian.
Last winter I rode one day when it hovered in the mid 30s with a rain/sleet mix. That was a two hour ride. Neoprene shoe covers, gloves, and face mask, with a goretex top and windproof tights and I was snug as a bug. Its all about having the right clothing. Oh, and I suppose I have a higher tolerance for suffering than many due to my Marine Corps Infantry sufferfest training. You can train your body to persevere in adverse conditions. But still, it really is about having the right clothing. I hate indoor training if I can avoid it. Once a week in the winter for a CT workout is about all I can stand. Other than that, I want to be on the road.
I agree with Tom, training on my road bike I can handle only about mid-forties and that’s it, any colder and I will get a better workout on the trainer. Now commuting to work is a different story, as long as the roads are passable I will ride my MTN bike to work (4 mi). Of course the 28 inches of snow we got in Northern Virginia last February shut me down for a couple days.
My dad lives in Michigan and is a die-hard runner. He has run in -40 wind chills and loves it; he calls it ‘character work’.
Dave from VA
Ok, we are ALL pussies here. Go to www.pezcyclingnews.com and read about Andy Hampsten’s ride on the Gavia in the '88 Giro. For those too new to remember that race, it really was one of the epic rides of all time. What, you didn’t know that an American besides Lemond and Armstrong have WON a grand tour? Well, now you know. Now THAT was a cold day in hell, literally AND figuratively.
I’m with jkat, you boys are salty, I can’t hack it when it gets below 60’ Might have something to do with not owning any winter cycling gear. I’m all about the trainer, the view doesn’t change much but my face doesn’t freeze either.
Recreationally, I’ve done rides down to -5F or thereabouts. Competitively, I’ve done 50 miles on snow where it was -15F (no wind) at the start and 20F at the finish. A couple days earlier we’d raced in 15F with a 30 MPH headwind, giving us -25F with windchill. But I have friends who’ve raced in tougher conditions, e.g. -30F. At that point, the issue is not so much staying warm, but being able to eat and hydrate enough to keep your body furnace on line. That’s tough to do when you’re all covered up and your food/water is buried next to your body to keep it from freezing.
And speaking of cold “rides,” I just got a picture of a friend’s new snow bike configuration. The trailer can be flipped upside-down and pulled like a sled in deeper snow. http://www.allyeargear.com/tmp/Box2.jpg
Tested my limits today - it was a crisp 28 in Columbus when I left the house. No wind though, and sunny…that makes a world of difference.
The only problem I have is my toes (even with booties)…they’re defrosting right now. I used to double up with toe warmers and booties.
When I lived in CA, my limit was 35 degrees (as I nearly got frostbite on my toes after a sub-freezing ride there). Each year I’ve lived in Colorado, my temperature limit drops. Part of that is due to the fact that I have acquired lots of high quality winter gear, but it’s mostly because cold is much more tolerable when the sun is out and the humidity is low (i.e. ice doesn’t form all over the front half of your body during your ride : ). Right now I would consider riding in 22 degree weather if the sun is out. Of course, I need buddies to motivate me…otherwise it’s the trainer in the basement!
40 degree rule here…I can’t take it…
Rode yesterday and it was 32, not bad, but about 2 hrs is my max. If the wind is >10 mph at 32 I’ll be on the trainer.