How cold is too cold? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-24-2007, 12:38 PM

Temps (with wind chill) for my daily commute (14 miles each way):

Today: 21 F . . . no problem
Tomorrow: 9 F . . . hmmm
Friday: -9 F . . . too cold?

I have the poly-pro balaclava for under the helmet, the face mask, the
booties, the lobster mittens, etc. But at -9F I'm thinking it may be
smart to take a day off.

Any suggestions?

- Josh

01-24-2007, 02:14 PM

On Wed, 24 Jan 2007 12:38:01 -0800, Josh Hassol wrote:

> Temps (with wind chill) for my daily commute (14 miles each way):
>
> Today: 21 F . . . no problem
> Tomorrow: 9 F . . . hmmm
> Friday: -9 F . . . too cold?
>
> I have the poly-pro balaclava for under the helmet, the face mask, the
> booties, the lobster mittens, etc. But at -9F I'm thinking it may be
> smart to take a day off.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> - Josh

Personally, I *could* do it. Without careful prep I would be risking
frostbite, so.... you know better than us as to your prep levels and
tolerance for cold. Goggles are recommended, as is checking for any
exposed skin. I intend to be riding at that level and colder this
winter, but I only have 6Km to cover each way.

Good Luck if you try it and let us know how it turned out.

01-24-2007, 03:49 PM

"Josh Hassol" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1169671081.003631.89980@q2g2000cwa.googlegrou ps.com...
> Temps (with wind chill) for my daily commute (14 miles each way):
>
> Today: 21 F . . . no problem
> Tomorrow: 9 F . . . hmmm
> Friday: -9 F . . . too cold?

They are forecasting -20c for Friday and Monday, hereabouts.

> I have the poly-pro balaclava for under the helmet, the face mask, the
> booties, the lobster mittens, etc. But at -9F I'm thinking it may be
> smart to take a day off.
>
> Any suggestions?

Layers. I've never found more than 2 layers of sweats, socks plus nylon
shell to be insufficient. A single ski-mask/balaclava with a mouth covering
and hood from my sweat top does it for me.

Any more and no matter how cold I over-heat.

01-24-2007, 05:32 PM

On 24 Jan 2007 12:38:01 -0800, "Josh Hassol" <jhassol@rcn.com> wrote:

>Temps (with wind chill) for my daily commute (14 miles each way):
>
>Today: 21 F . . . no problem
>Tomorrow: 9 F . . . hmmm
>Friday: -9 F . . . too cold?
>
>I have the poly-pro balaclava for under the helmet, the face mask, the
>booties, the lobster mittens, etc. But at -9F I'm thinking it may be
>smart to take a day off.
>
>Any suggestions?

Yeah - take the day off!

I've never gone that cold, but ISTM it's tough when the temperature
drops 20 degrees from one day to the next. If that holds, and it's
cold to begin with, skip it.

OTOH, just noticed your numbers are wind chill. Since you're going to
get a wind chill anyhow from your riding speed, what are the temps
without wind chill?

Pat

Email address works as is.

01-24-2007, 06:12 PM

On Jan 24, 8:32 pm, Patrick Lamb <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> On 24 Jan 2007 12:38:01 -0800, "Josh Hassol" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>
> OTOH, just noticed your numbers are wind chill. Since you're going to
> get a wind chill anyhow from your riding speed, what are the temps
> without wind chill?
>
> Pat
>
> Email address works as is.

Good point. Temps without wind chill: tomorrow: 17F in the morning,
and 20F evening. Friday: 8F morning, 11F evening. I think maybe I'll
ride tomorrow, and rest on Friday. I'll see how I feel at 6AM
tomorrow.

01-25-2007, 12:38 AM

On Jan 24, 9:38 pm, "Josh Hassol" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> Temps (with wind chill) for my daily commute (14 miles each way):
>
> Today: 21 F . . . no problem
> Tomorrow: 9 F . . . hmmm
> Friday: -9 F . . . too cold?
>
> I have the poly-pro balaclava for under the helmet, the face mask, the
> booties, the lobster mittens, etc. But at -9F I'm thinking it may be
> smart to take a day off.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> - Josh

I don't commute in cold weather, but I have been on some rides in that
last few days which have been cold. -18C and -16C (0F to 3F) without
wind-chill. (With proper clothes, IMO wind-chill is meaningless.) I
don't bother with googles, face mask, or that sort of thing. I just put
cold-weather creme on my face, and I just go slow. The most important
thing for me is to know I will be warm enough to walk for a long time
if I have some technical problems. I get warm enough from riding that
wool long-johns, and windproof tights and shell are enough, but if I
got stranded wearing just that I would not be a happy guy. I personally
am lucky that my feet almost never get cold, so wool socks, cycling
shoes, and wind-proof booties are enough for me there, but lots of
people have problems with cold feet. So that may be your limiting
factor.

Have fun!

Joseph

01-25-2007, 07:23 AM

Josh Hassol wrote:
>
> On Jan 24, 8:32 pm, Patrick Lamb <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
>
>> OTOH, just noticed your numbers are wind chill. Since you're going to
>> get a wind chill anyhow from your riding speed, what are the temps
>> without wind chill?
>>
>> Pat
>
> Good point. Temps without wind chill: tomorrow: 17F in the morning,
> and 20F evening. Friday: 8F morning, 11F evening. I think maybe I'll
> ride tomorrow, and rest on Friday. I'll see how I feel at 6AM
> tomorrow.

Given my cold weather gear, I know I could handle today's (Thursday's)
weather at your place. Been there, done that. Don't know about Friday
-- it hasn't gotten that cold (here) since I got the gear. And I've
been waiting two years to find out!

Pat

01-25-2007, 04:25 PM

In article <1169671081.003631.89980@q2g2000cwa.googlegroups.c om>,
"Josh Hassol" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> Temps (with wind chill) for my daily commute (14 miles each way):
>
> Today: 21 F . . . no problem
> Tomorrow: 9 F . . . hmmm
> Friday: -9 F . . . too cold?
>
> I have the poly-pro balaclava for under the helmet, the face mask, the
> booties, the lobster mittens, etc. But at -9F I'm thinking it may be
> smart to take a day off.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> - Josh

I wouldn't worry about the wind chill figures, as they're more related
to the effect of cold wind on bare skin and you sound well wrapped.

Another way to thimk about it is to calculate the wind chill on your
ride to work vs to home, considering the differences in relative wind
speed -- you probably generate one heck of a wind chill at various
times already.

Just dress for the absolute temps and add a little more insulating
layer for your core and legs if you're "just right" at 21 and see how it
goes at 9, then extrapolate for the next day.

Personally, i wear giant insulated galosh-style boots w/ felt liners
when temps get down in the 20 or lower range.

Also, i try to dress for steady-state effort levels, not right out of
the garage warmth. This means i'm a little chilly at first, sometimes
(esp in really cold weather), but it keeps me from turning into my own
private clambake five miles down the road.

bon chance.

01-25-2007, 08:38 PM

"Josh Hassol" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in news:1169671081.003631.89980
@q2g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

> Temps (with wind chill) for my daily commute (14 miles each way):
>
> Today: 21 F . . . no problem
> Tomorrow: 9 F . . . hmmm
> Friday: -9 F . . . too cold?
>
> I have the poly-pro balaclava for under the helmet, the face mask, the
> booties, the lobster mittens, etc. But at -9F I'm thinking it may be
> smart to take a day off.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> - Josh
>

14 f for me in NY on Friday; I haven't ridden in cold like that for years.
My plan is underarmor thermal, heavy flannel, fleece liner, and snowboard
shell. Wind-proof balaclava on top and snowboard gloves; acorn fleece
socks. I'm trying to decide on glove liners and a sweater between the
flannel and the liner.

The only thing that really gets me on a cold day is my fingers, so I'll
probably take the glove liners with me.

I've been trying to hold the line on suit & tie riding for political
purposes, but it's just impossible to ride a bike with an overcoat on.

--ag

01-26-2007, 12:59 AM

On Jan 24, 2:38 pm, "Josh Hassol" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> Temps (with wind chill) for my daily commute (14 miles each way):
>
> Today: 21 F . . . no problem
> Tomorrow: 9 F . . . hmmm
> Friday: -9 F . . . too cold?
>

Why don't you just ride and find out for yourself what your
tolerances are?

It used to be I'd commute no matter what the temperature.
For me it's not too bad until the temp gets below about 0F (-20C).
Below that cycling sux donkey dick, IMO. The wind chill effect
becomes extreme, and on a bike all your extremities are exposed.

Fortunately there are no longer many, if any, days out of the
the years where the temps stay below zero all day.

BTW, the coldest I've ever cycled in was -27F (-32C). Less than
5 mile ride and it was awful. Honestly walking is a far more civilized
way of getting around when it gets really cold.