How cold is "too cold" ?

[gopherhockey]

I'm looking at the temp that my computer is reporting right now and it says -3 degrees. I started to wonder for all of you winter bikers out there.. when is it TOO cold to ride?

I admit this is my first year biking past the month of October. Previous months I was reluctant but ok to just put the bike away for the year. (and sadly start to get really out of shape!)

This year I have been riding almost every week so far. I have learned a lot about how to dress warm. I have put on toe warmers with shoe covers when it was in the 50s and had my feet boil... and I've forgotten the covers when it was in the 30s and froze my toes off. I have learned that my bike can make some really strange noices the colder it gets.. (especially my lefty fork for some reason) and have learned to really love riding at this time of year when the parking lot has just one car in it.. mine!

So far the colest I have ridden was 20 degrees (last Sunday). I haven't gotten the courage to get out in much less than that.

Does anyone have any horror or success stories about cold weather riding? I know some of you are doing it... as I think most of the warm weather people have yet to join us here at the forums.

[fsrslug]

Rigth now it is too cold. When I woke up and went to class it was -12. I wish it was a little warmer, I have not even been going to spirit mountain to snowboard the whole week. But atleast I got a trainer for my birthday, so I can do something when it is so cold.

Last year I made my first attempts to ride when it was cold. I tried to keep my eys from freezing by wearing ski goggles, but tat only made things worse. They kept on fogging and i could not see. Someday I will make some shoes that have a power source to keep my toes warm. That is the only part of me that I have a problem keeping warm.

On a side note, check this out. www.redbullcrashedice.com
I applied to race, but doubt i will make it in. It was worth a shot.

[Don Youngdahl]

"Too cold" is not simply a function of temperature. It depends on several other factors: wind, sunny or not, length of ride, riding venue, etc. When it's too cold for a fast venue like the River Bottoms, it may not be too cold for single track in protected woods.

If the sun is shining brightly, that's equal to about 10 degrees additional temperature due to solar radiation. The most important factor is wind. I've gotten cold at 25 degrees and windy, and comfortably ridden the same place next day at 12 degees with no wind.

Lenght of time in the cold is also a big factor. For those close enough to your riding area to normally ride there, if you take your car instead of riding, you can likely get in an hour or two of riding in conditions you wouldn't think of tackling otherwise.

Don Youngdahl

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by fsrslug
Someday I will make some shoes that have a power source to keep my toes warm. That is the only part of me that I have a problem keeping warm.


I have this same problem. I have not yet found the right combination to keep my toes from almost falling off out there. Toe warmers on top usually works at around 30 degrees (and low wind - I do most my cold weather riding in the dark) but I often forget to leave them out in the air long enough to really warm up.

I saw some ski boot warmers the other day that were no thicker than the bottom insert in a shoe and can be cut down to size. They have a small battery powered source and a flat ribbon that attaches as to not get in the way. I wonder if this would work.

Anyone tried actual powered warmers in their shoes?

[dennis porter]

The best for cold feet (believe me I know due to frost bitten feet numerous times) is Lake Winter shoes and those charcoal heat packs. The problem of the cold is the sole of the shoe. The cold comes up through the bottom especially if you have cleats. Lake Winter Shoes have a extra thick rubber sole, neoprene liner, and Pittard Leather. Buy a size bigger than you normal size and put those heat packs in the toes area and Kaa Blam your feet are toasty. Value wise they seem spendy but compare them to other shoes and you'll see they are worth it. They may be tough to find now because they are that good and it's late in the winter season.

[MNbiker]

Originally posted by gopherhockey
I'm looking at the temp that my computer is reporting right now and it says -3 degrees. I started to wonder for all of you winter bikers out there.. when is it TOO cold to ride?


It's NEVER too cold to ride!!!!

Seriously, you can ride in any cold weather MN has to offer. You just need the proper gear. My coldest ride was a -28 F, 32 mile RT commute 3 years ago. Had to stop & put some Mycoal toe warmers in my shoes - otherwise, no problems. The toughest areas to protect are the extremities (face, feet, hands). Here's what I do:

Head - I have a pair of Oakley goggles that are pretty much impervious to fogging. I got a snap-on nose/cheek guard for it that helps protect my face. I also made a piece of PowerStretch fleece that velcros onto the nose guard & both sides of my Balaclava - great for the REALLY cold weather.

Feet - Lake high-top winter cycling shoes, a couple sizes too large. Wool socks w/Thermax liner socks. Pearl Izumi Typhoon booties on top, if below 0 F.

Hands - oversized windproof mittens w/fleece gloves inside.

Bike - suspension forks & shocks are at risk, below 0 F or so. The oil in them thickens sufficiently to risk blown seals. Lube freewheels with WD40, TriFlow or similar, if it gets really cold - they tend not to engage so well in colder temps.

-Steve

[syntaxjunkie]

OK, this is the point at which it becomes obvious that I'm not from around here (since the giveaway accent isn't apparent in this medium). But I can barely survive walking my dog in sub-zero weather. I've tried doing the cold weather gear suit-up because I can't stand the thought of going months at a stretch without a real ride. But below 20 degrees F, that whole law-of-diminishing-returns things kicks in something fierce.

Don't get me wrong: you intrepid souls who brazenly defy plummeting temperatures (to say nothing of manufacturing your own windchill) have my undying awe and respect. But as I sit here typing this in my basement office after a spin on the new bike trainer (thanks for the recommendations, by the way), I'm cold enough.

I'll get my revenge when the mercury spikes in the upper 90s and y'all are cowering in your air-conditioned domiciles 'cause it's too HOT to ride. Too hot? There's no such thing. ;)

[gopherhockey]

Too HOT to ride.. I was going to say thats funny, however - I have to admit you are right - there have been times that I just don't care to be out there in the heat.. planning my rides in the early morning where possible, hoping to stick to a trail that doesn't put me under that nasty sun. (this is one reason I don't like the gravel road sections of Lebanon.. but thats for another discussion).

Now that this fall got me into night biking, I may even find myself waiting until after the sun goes down and most the rest of the riders are off the trails before I head out to spin.

So... you definitely reminded me that maybe cold isn't all that bad.

I'm with you on setting a mark where it just may not be worth the effort. Even having grown up way north of the cities, I still find myself wimping out around the 20 degree mark. If it weren't for my damn frost-bite prone toes I might lower that. Then there is the fact that in the summer it takes me all of 5 minutes to dress and be on the trail, where in winter it can take that long just to round up all of my warm weather gear... then I find I left my shoes or gloves out in my truck... my mp3 player is so cold I can't even get it to turn on... hehe

Then there is this unwritten law that forces me to try stay warm, yet with as less weight as possible. When I was growing up I'd go out in -50 degree wind chills to ride snowmobiles and not think twice about it, but it didn't take long to throw on that kind of winter gear. I wouldn't have been caught dead with 3 pairs of lycra pants on back then, but on the other side of things I bet one would be laughed off the trail sporting ski pants and jacket...

[TrailPatrol]

I can identifty with too hot, also. It's a lot more common to see riders bonk in the heat than the cold. When I was a "bikecop" (park ranger) it got over 90, with a heat index over 100, and I had to call my police cycling instructor, Kirby Beck, to see what they (Coon Rapids P.D.) did in the heat. Basically, take it easy, ride as much as possible in the shade, drink lots of fluids, duck into the A/C as much as possible. Still was not fun. The last year they let me wear a hydration pack, and I still bonked--from hypernatremia. Basically washed all the nutrients out of my system. Learned that you have to drink sports drinks, and do the rest of the above.

The cold is relative. My bike has a chromoly frame, so I don't take it out in the winter when it's wet. But I do x-c ski at 10 below zero, (when there is snow on the ground) so it can't be that much worse. you just have to know how to layer, and how to manage your layers. I think Kleincrazy, our resident ice biker, should be able to help anyone in that area. I ride from about 10 above to above 90 degrees, but I don't do snow! I have enough balance problems without adding skidding to them! BTW, you still need to hydrate!

Ride safe, stay warm,
Hans :banana: