When you can't feel your hands anymore.
Had that up the top of Skiddaw earlier this month, wind made it feel like I no gloves on, then hands went numb.
Not ideal for a steep, technical descent in the snow.
Bike Forum
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when is it too cold too ride? or is it never too cold
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Posted 1 year ago #
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IT was -11 the other day round these parts when we set off and that was proper cold, went off a bit too quick and had some breathing issues, but once I'd calmed down and acclimatized a bit all was good.
MW80's, Merino socks, Luso Max Repel bibs, Aldi thermal base layer, winter jersey and a soft shell all rounded off with goretex/thinsulate gloves
Posted 1 year ago # -
I used to commute to work in Prague and would regularly see -10 to -13 or so which was manageable with the right clothes. A few times it got closer to -20 which really started to get uncomfortable as any exposed skin would get very painful. Smearing vaseline over exposed areas was a big help, but not really the ideal way to start the day.... I'm sure shaggy or aidan will be along soon to blow anyone else's tales out of the water.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've had a few winter rides when the temp is about +10 degrees F, which I think is about -12- C and do alright as long as it isn't windy. As long as my toes/fingers don't get too frigid I am OK with it. I find the first couple of really cold weather rides to be the hardest, then I seem to acclimate. Same with the first few after-work summer rides when the temperature is in the +90-95 F--then I get used to it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
In Calgary I rode in anything down to minus 20 but only if the sun was shining. it was still bitter though
Took my single speed out twice but the free hub refuse to cooperate after 200m - Twice!
Posted 1 year ago # -
nice vid BB
Posted 1 year ago # -
Its as cold now as I remember as a kid. After Sunday's Slip & Slide Fest I'm thinking leaving my bike in the shed and going to look for my skates. Along the road from us is a hilltop curling pond which has a summerhouse in the middle.
Last winter we skated there for the first time in twenty years, its just not been cold enough for long enough. The moon is still pretty full and there is barely any wind.
Posted 1 year ago # -
mttm - Member
it was breathing hard in air that cold that seemed to be the limiting factor. Chest felt rubbish the following day, too.I use a balaclava by Dhb which sorted that particular problem out, if you don't fancy looking like a terrorist though, try a buff instead.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Been riding down to about -35C in Alaska and ridden and slept at -25C on the Wirral. Though the Wirral was in Iceland Frozen Foods warehouse, as prep for Alaska.
Posted 1 year ago # -
when is it cold enough to ride on the canal?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I don't think I've had as much fun on my bike in ages. Last night was ace
Posted 1 year ago # -
Car said it was -11 on Monday night when I got in at about 6.30pm. It was a lovely evening with almost full moon so I went out at about 10pm for a ride. Managed about 20 mins before giving up - I was getting colder and colder. Next morning it was -17. I did think about Brant and wondered how on earth he managed.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've ridden a fair bit on the recent cold snap and have been pretty warm generally, even down to -10 or so. Only issues I've had are the Camelbak hose freezing up (even with the winter sleeve on it) and the cassette icing up and being left with one gear (mechs iced up too) Rear pro2 freehub has been fine after being rebuilt with Rock n Roll Super Slick grease. XT and XTR shifters have been freezing up a little too, a few squirts of GT85 before a ride usually sorts that out.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Only been out on the rigid SS, as little as possible to go wrong, but it still shed the LH crank. The clamp bolts hadn't worked loose I can only assume the steel hollowtech shaft has a greater coefficient of expansion / contraction than the ally crank and it shrank in the cold enough for the crank to slide off.
Nice crisp, cold day to be out though, didn't get that far, going ranged between having to carry through the deep stuff to lethal water ice on some of the untreated roads.
There's a good article in today's Observer on the subject of riding in the cold.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've not really had a mechanical related problem riding in the cold. I'd suggest that cleaning the bike may well introduce water into voids/ spaces/ interstecies in cables, mechanisms etc that will then freeze. I find that my brakes make a lot of noise in very cold conditions. And air seals leak more than usual- I'm assuming that they stiffen and thus become less flexible and resilient in the cold. My shock pump has had something of a workout recently.
Decent gloves really help, forget waterproof, you need to let moisure escape so that you don't get sweaty and thus chilled. I use a pair of PI gloves, bulky but nice and warm down into sub double digits. Mits are even warmer.
In really cold weather I don't use my winter boots (too constricting), I use my summer ones, with a pair of wooly boolies, another pair of merino socks and then loosly laced up, so that my feet are not squashed. Cold at first, warm as toast later although it can come in waves.
Roubaix bibtights, perhaps with Ron Hills over the top and if an icy ride is anticipated, knee-shin pads for warmth/ knock protection. Toasty until you remove them.
As for the bloke riding with bare skin- rather you than me. I came into this game via Hilwalking/ climbing/ mountaineering and would never leave areas of skin exposed in such a way in the winter. You may not feel the cold as much on your legs but it is still capable of doing damage.
Posted 1 year ago #
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