What's the coldest weather you've rode in? - Page 2

01-15-2007, 07:44 PM

In article <1168861830.824705.243400@11g2000cwr.googlegroups. com>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> Below zero, the insides of my glasses ice up immediatly preventing any
> thoughts of outdoor riding. A Colorado winter trip confirmed that.

I've only ridden that cold once, and I wouldn't recommend it either.
But wearing XC ski goggles over my glasses did at least keep them from
icing up. Unlike my nose hairs. Don't like nostril icicles!

--
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] is Joshua Putnam
<http://www.phred.org/~josh/>
Braze your own bicycle frames. See
<http://www.phred.org/~josh/build/build.html>

01-16-2007, 08:59 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> Well I've never rode in the snow, and that's only because I don't have
> studded tires for my Breezer. For me, the coldest temp that I've rode
> in was somewhere in the low twenties. And that was cold enough for me.

Much too long ago to remember the exact temperature, but for a couple
of years I had a newspaper route. I got out there at 4:00 a.m. seven days
a week, and rode about five miles on a sheriff's auction special
single-speed, coaster-brake bike, no night equipment but a rear reflector.
The papers (+/- 85 of them) sometimes weighed two or three pounds each,
and I carried them in the traditional front-and-back canvas bags.
Sometimes in about three shifts when they got immense.
I had none of what we now would consider cycling gear, just a plain,
department store coat and a pair of cheap cotton gloves.
Did this in all weather, including heavy snow. Took more falls than I
care to remember when the roads were slick, which is why nowadays I stow
the bikes under those conditions.
And those were also the days when the carrier had to go out and grovel
to the customers for the exorbitant $2.50 monthly fee. Had to pay for the
papers before I could keep any money, of course. Some of those deadbeats
would go two or three months before they had that princely sum on hand to
give to me.
Looking back, I am amazed that I didn't give up bicycles out of furious
disgust. Happiest day of my life was the day I quit that job.

Bill

__o |
_`\(,_ | There?s no present like the time.
(_)/ (_) |

01-16-2007, 01:22 PM

Last July (winter where I am) I cycled at around 5am and it was a
"freezing" 15ºC

... nearly had to wear a long sleeve jersey.

--
::dom::

01-16-2007, 02:30 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].webtv.net>, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
says...
> Well I've never rode in the snow, and that's only because I don't have
> studded tires for my Breezer. For me, the coldest temp that I've rode
> in was somewhere in the low twenties. And that was cold enough for me.

+5F last winter.

Coldest this season was this afternoon, at 18F or so (sun was setting, so temp
was starting to drop). With the residual snow and ice from the weekend's storm
(the plows didn't do the greatest job, and the sub-freezing high impeded
melting), today's ride was more treacherous than I cared for once I left the
main streets in my 'hood. I only lost traction completely once, but I managed
to extract from the toe clips fast enough to slide to a standing stop.

It's supposed to hit -1F tonight, but without studded tires, I'll wait until
things have a chance to melt more. I don't have to go anywhere until Thursday,
anyway (homeowners' association meeting).

--

__o Kristian Zoerhoff
_'\(,_ [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
(_)/ (_)

01-16-2007, 03:47 PM

On 2007-01-16, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
>> Well I've never rode in the snow, and that's only because I don't have
>> studded tires for my Breezer. For me, the coldest temp that I've rode
>> in was somewhere in the low twenties. And that was cold enough for me.

> It's not the cold that gets ya. it's the ice.

And the dark. And the combination of dark and ice, which makes it very
easy to wipe out. Which is No Fun, especially if you land in slush and
have to finish out your ride soaking wet. And then work 12 hours, put on
wet clothes and ride back home in the dark and ice.

When it gets like that I hang it up until spring.

--

John ([Only registered and activated users can see links. ].org)

01-16-2007, 04:01 PM

-32F many years ago before global warming became a pop word.

My daily comute was just 3 miles and that was about all I could stand
in that weather. Wore so much clothing I could hardly move.

brrrr Rick.

01-16-2007, 07:15 PM

On Sun, 14 Jan 2007 20:31:27 -0800, KGWebby wrote:

Last winter I rode to a bike club meeting at around 7PM, on the coldest
day of the year. It was probably in the teens but really windy, so the
wind chill was supposedly -7F.

It wasn't bad riding there because it was mostly downhill and a pretty
quick trip. But coming home, my hands were freezing because the
handlebars were so cold, having been outside for a couple of hours. The
heat got sucked right out of my hands. I didn't realize what a difference
there could be, between a warm bike and a cold one!

Matt O.

01-17-2007, 09:01 AM

A couple winters ago I commuted to work in about
-2F one morning. Probably have done some slightly
colder runs but I don't know the temps. I know the
chill factors have been in the negative teens at
times.

Winter finally made an appearance locally this
morning. Rode in at 9AM with 8F temp.

Took a little adjustment as its been steadily in
the 40-50's most of December and January to date.

SMH

01-17-2007, 09:06 AM

Matt O'Toole wrote:
> quick trip. But coming home, my hands were freezing because the
> handlebars were so cold, having been outside for a couple of hours. The
> heat got sucked right out of my hands. I didn't realize what a difference
> there could be, between a warm bike and a cold one!

I have both my winter bike's bars completely wrapped in multiple
layers of handlebar tape.

Both bikes have bar ends of one kind or another and not having to
put my gloved hands on bare metal makes a huge difference in how
fast the hands chill down.

SMH

01-17-2007, 09:42 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> Well I've never rode in the snow, and that's only because I don't have
> studded tires for my Breezer. For me, the coldest temp that I've rode
> in was somewhere in the low twenties. And that was cold enough for me.
>
> gene in Oregon

Sorry, no snow or ice (except in the drinks) here in the tropics. I
think it may have dipped to 75f the other day, brrrrrrr.

laters,

Marz