How cold is too cold?

SpokeGal

donrhummy

When there's ice or snow on the ground or when it's so cold your clothing/shoe covers won't keep your body temperature high enough to keep off frostbite. Other than that, why not ride?

BTW, when it's super cold, I find that shoe covers don't do enough so I add in heat pads (the kind with those small rocks in them). I've heard that winter shoes do wonders too but never used them.

ecandl

I don't like any chance of ice on the roads. When it gets below 40F, I would rather do 2x20s on my trainer in the garage.

postal_bag

I prefer not to train outside if it's less than 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit). I worked as a bike messenger for 5 winters, riding in temperatures as cold as -30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit), in rain, sleet, snow, etc. Now I won't even ride in the rain on warm summer days, unless I get caught out during a storm.

I think many people end up going the "base" training route by default in the winter, because it's too uncomfortable to work at higher intensities in the cold, and they despise riding indoors.

musher

Where in e. Wash. State ?. I live in Wenatchee ,it can get very cold & snowing ,but the danger is this ICE ,i do all my intensity w/o on my trainer & rollers ,IF the roads are ICE free i do a long ride 3 hrs to 4 hrs on sunday ,i will ride as low as "16 degree " .
Every other norning at 5:00 AM ( in any weather) , i ride my mt bike to the gym it 5.5 miles mosly down hill and i break a sweat on the way back home. Ride Hard ,Musher

Intheloonybin

It depends on how bad you want to be outside. I rode in to work yesterday morning at 5 degrees F with a gusty wind and home at 12 degrees. My feet were the only parts that were cold. I will either ride platform pedals with regular boots, or buy winter boots and wear booties over them. I will use the disposable heater packs on the really cold days. You can get rechargeable electric inserts, but they are pricey.

FWIW, I had on two pairs of long undies and tights over them, cycling shorts under all of those, a short sleeve t shirt, two long sleeve t shirts, sports jacket (wind break front, breathable rear), balaclava on my head, helmet, Lake shoes with shoe covers, and Pearizumi lobster claw gloves with wick glove inserts, goggles that sucked/regular glasses on the way home.

When it gets icy/snowy, I am going to buy Nokian studded tires (mountain bike).

buckhorn

One more thing to think about in the winter is fog. <32F, Foggy, or Icy and I will skip the outdoor ride for the week. Right now my plan is to ride 5 days a week, with 4 of those indoors, and a Sat. or Sun. outdoor ride.

Bikeridindude

There is not a place on earth where it is "too cold" to ride if you are determined.

http://www.speedwaycyclesak.com/Pages/fatback.html

http://www.susitna100.com/

BullGod

anything under 40 degrees F is a challenge.....but here in NL it also depends on windchill, how "damp" the cold is, and if there is any winter sun to warm things up.

Animator

Supposedly there's a Nordic saying that goes: "There's no such thing as too cold, only not enough clothes." Or something like that. I've ridden straight through several Midwestern winters. 5° F seems to be about my limit for training. Wear lots of wool.

BullGod

yeah - I would much rather have that low humidity / blue sky / icy kind of cold you get in the middle of big continents than the damp chilliness we have here on the coast.

-20 Celsius can seem pleasanter than +3 .....weird I know.

daveryanwyoming

Tru 'nuff, we get down to 20 below(farenheit that is) many times during the winter and being out and about isn't too bad since it's dry and doesn't chill you to the bone. But that's mostly skiing.

Cycling in real cold temps is a different beast with increased wind chill, feet that aren't doing too much but freezing into blocks of ice and the potential for ice on the road and sand on the shoulders. I stick to the trainer once the snow flies and the temps drop below 20 F or so but do get out a lot over the winter skiing including a lot of nordic track skiing.

-Dave

Felt_Rider

I was going to ask a question last week as to some winter gear, but I have already ordered and will receive it today.

I am glad that I live in the southeast because on our worst days may start in the 20's (F) and warm up to the 30's (F). Last week I rode in the high 30's and dressed too warm with a Sugoi wind jacket, base layer shirt, wind tights, toe covers and just about overheated. My group rides every weekend year round because we've had very little percipitation in the last several winters so I load the gear bag down with all my winter accessories and keep going. It's kind of funny to hear all the runny noses and one might want to be careful passing on the left without a warning if you know what I mean.

Animator

Just read this today:

http://www.roadbikerider.com/warmfeet.htm