Cycling in cold

[Patrick Moore]

About 25*F this morning when I left for church. I ride down to the upper teens, if sun is bright enough and winds are light enough; this is, generally, low humidity cold: 40*F in Atlanta is worse, worse worse than 25* in Albuquerque.

But this was one of those mornings when your oil turned to sludge (slushbucket Sturmey Archer AM hub), your brake blocks rubbed, your Rene Herse supple casings turned into thick-sidewalled studded knobbies, and there was a headwind from every quarter. My quads burned at the slightest rise.

So what. This is what. I'm curious about: (1) how cold do you ride? Meaning, tell us the lowest temperature you will ride in. (2) Do you find you need more energy to maintain warmer-weather benchmarms? (3) Tell us about bike or style or clothing or other adaptations for cold (I know this is open to interpretation, but let's define it as sub 32*F) weather?

One parting shot, an obersvation: The pit zips I had put into a cycling shell are one of the best investments I've made for cold weather cycling. This morning, I rode outbound in merino crewneck (dressy weight), Ibex wool vest, and Leatt shell with pit zips closed and placket zipped to chin Came home at 38*F with ditto, but placket open a bit and pit zips fully open; big comfort.

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[Bruce Baker]

I don't think it is necessarily the temp but the wind chill or heat index.  I'll ride down to a wind schill of 40 deg F and below a 100 deg F heat index...

At the lower temps I usually layer at the higher temps no layering needed...

Bruce

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[Brady Smith]

I’ll do my 20 mike round trip commute down into single digits, provided ice isn’t an issue. In that weather, I’m wearing my winter bibs, wool socks, overshoes, a thermal baselayer, a wool jersey, an outer layer (usually my Rapha insulated brevet jacket), a hat and mittens. I have a pretty heavy beard which is usually enough for face protection. I always carry chemical hand warmers in case I have to stop, but in that weather I’m on the bike with Jack Brown Blues, which have only suffered one puncture in about 3000 miles, and that with a child on the back of the bike. I find I’m cold for the first mile or so but pretty comfortable thereafter. 

[Tom Palmer]

Hi Patrick,

Here in west Michigan I will ride into the teens on the road and lower on the fat bike. The wind is the key. Calm and 10 degrees is no problem- 3 layers of wool, wind breaking jacket with ventilated back and pit zips, 2 pairs wind stopper tights, baclava or hat, neck gaiter and face covering, and warm shoes/boots and good to go. Keep the stops short and ride on. 30 degrees and 10-15 mph wind and it can be brutal. Even 40-45 and wind can be cold. I rode at least 3 times a week all last winter- it was a fairly mild one here until mid January. 

Tom Palmer

Twin Lake MI

On Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 5:27:34 PM UTC-5 Patrick Moore wrote:

[Jason Fuller]

Yesterday's ride was colder than I expected, as 5C (err, 40F) around my place, which is only a few km's from the foot of the valley I was riding into, turned into below freezing as soon as I got into the valley. I don't mind riding at these temps but it turned out that my glove situation wasn't quite up to par. Blundstones with regular cotton socks did remarkably well, though my feet got cold at a couple points.  Our temperatures are mild here, but it's always a very wet cold.  So I never have to ride in anything colder than about 25F and therefore there is no 'off season' for me.  I think that would be true if I lived somewhere colder too, but I would end up kitting myself out with the gear and bike required to make it fun (ie, fat bike and those goofy looking oven-mitt style handlebar attachments)

[Michael Morrissey]

I like wearing a Giro ski helmet when I bike in winter. The newer ski helmets all have ventilation that can open and close - same idea as pit zips - and they're very comfy. I'm skeptical of any cycling-specific winter gear. I like just buying ski gear instead.

m

On Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 5:27:34 PM UTC-5 Patrick Moore wrote:

[Ben Mihovk]

My commute is fifteen minutes if I hit every green light, but normally more like 18. Getting cold isn’t really an issue with that short of a ride...I start feeling a little cold, but half a mile in I’m comfortable. I’ve done it in the high teens without wind, and I think I could probably go mid teens with no wind, but that’s probably where the line will be drawn. I could wear just about anything sensible and be fine with that short of a ride, but I do employ lots of wool close to the skin and my favorite Winnipeg-made Raber Garbage Mitts.

It’s the snow and ice that are keeping me off my bike for my commute. We woke up to 4 inches on Saturday morning and I am terrified to ride tomorrow with melting and refreeze in the streets. I know my tires (42mm Shikoros) are not ideal for winter riding, but I don’t know that any tires will help me stay upright on a patch of black ice. 

Ben, who will be a reluctant motorist for the next few days