Rolla

If I'm already out when temperatures plunge that's one thing, but there are too many nice days here in central Texas to get me to start when it's below 40.

alloo

32F No Snow/Ice on the ground. I have been down to 25 F.

jwalther

46 miles yesterday with temps ranging from 28-33F and bright sunshine. It was glorious!

skidder

Same with me. 40F is pretty basic for a winter morning low, and I'll ride even into the 30F range. My feet don't seem to mind the cold at all, but my hands do and need good gloves. I did go out once when it dropped into the 20s (temp got down to 26F). I thought I was just a little sensitive that morning and I'd warm up after a few miles, but I stayed chilly and stopped after 15 miles. .

Speedway2

I'll ride if it's sunny and the roads are salt free. I'm not in a snow-belt region but the City seems to have a huge budget for road salt and are not shy spreading it down.
However, once the fingers and toes get cold.....I call it quits and head home for a warm beverage.

ofajen

You know I used to be more grumpy about winter riding. I just did as much as I could stand because I’m not a big fan of indoor trainers.

This winter I’ve started to notice lots of little things that I appreciate about riding in this season:

1) slogging through muddy patches is actually kind of fun, especially now that I have big knobby tires and swept back touring bars on my old MTB, so I can keep my weight back, have a wider grip and just pedal through.

2) mud is also a lot of good hard work.

3) visibility is better on a lot of corners with the leaves down.

4) very low traffic on MUP trails.

5) cycling pants protect my legs from all the miscellaneous knicks and cuts I get from stray rocks and sticks when just wearing cycling shorts.

6) the added padding of cycling pants (actually soccer warmups) further improves saddle comfort.

7) I’m usually wearing my cycling windbreaker which has a safe handy pocket for a cell phone. I don’t have to store it in a small and already crowded saddle bag.

8) I’m usually wearing a headband, so it’s easy to keep earbuds in and actually hear music while I ride without having to play it loud.

9) both of my bike frames are old and worn, so I don’t worry about them getting messy.

10) both of my bikes are now SS. No shifting needed, so I can wear heavy gloves or mittens if I need to.

So, it’s been interesting to notice and look at winter riding a bit differently this year.

Otto

dabac

Any temperature I’m willing to skate or ski in, I’m willing to ride in. Duration isn’t really an issue. Big thing for me is that at -15C or thereabouts, I can’t do any repairs. A medical condition - Raynauld’s - make me vulnerable to getting my hands (and feet) cold. If I have to do something bare-handed, I simply can’t get my hands warm again.
Main method for keeping hands warm is bar mitts. Main method for keeping feet warm is arctic rated boots and electrically heated insoles.

bargo68 

Dang! Thanks for schoolin' me!

Trakhak

The Cheap Trick version of the Move's "California Man" also quotes from another Move song. Guess they were big fans.

bargo68 

Yeah, my scant knowledge of the Move is through the much more obvious ELO connection. I've got some back catalog searching to do. Got a rainy day here in Nor Cal so I'm off to the YouTube!
Just to keep this tangentially bike related:

rydabent

Anything below 60 degrees isnt fit for man or beast. If you cant ride in shorts and a T-shirt, it is too damned cold.

Obeast

-22C is about it. Below this my ears begin to experience these popping sounds which are not pleasant at all.

dennis336

Just got back from a 16 mile ride - 30 degrees F with wind around 15 mph. I'll go out into the 20's F maybe upper teens if it's sunny without much wind. Granted I don't do long rides but if I can at least get an hour to and hour and a half on my winter days I'm happy and keeps me maintaining some baseline conditioning. For me, riding in the cold beats riding indoors.

Ghazmh

Comfortably in the 20’s, I can do teens for around 20-25 road miles.

Reflector Guy

Wow, look at Jeff Lynne! He still looks remarkably the same!

Reflector Guy

Saturday's upper-20s (F) and sunny and dry roads was nice for riding, but that may be it for awhile - we're supposed to get a lot of snow today!

jgwilliams

I really start to struggle once it gets below 0°C. I suspect I could mitigate that with good clothing but it just doesn't happen often enough where I live to warrant the expense. I was OK commuting to work as it was invariably a lot warmer (and less windy) in central London than where I live on the top of the Surrey Hills. I haven't been into work since the first lockdown back in April 2020 so all of my cycling is around my home at the moment. So when it's as cold as it is today I definitely cut back the miles a bit.

pdlamb

Covid is making me soft. I've commuted in weather below 10F. Since I've been WFH, though, I think I've avoided rides below 25F. It'll usually warm up later in the day.

BobbyG

Year round commuter, 5F is my limit, provided there is minimal wind.

Notso_fastLane

Year round commuter here as well, but I cheat: I have a velomobile.

Even in ~20F temps, the inside of the velo usually hovers around 45-50F, depending mostly on how much wind is affecting the airflow inside (once I get it completely enclosed, that won't matter).

I've ridden in temps around 7F, and it was cold the first few miles, and consistently chilly even after I got warmed up, but tolerable. That's a lot coming from me. I'm originally from AZ, and I hate the cold! I've done a few day rides for fun when the temps were only in the mid 30s (high).

TakingMyTime

I'd say the same for me. Anything under 40 and I'm staying home and going for a walk that day. I also need to know that it will warm up as the day moves on. There's no way I'm doing a 2 hour ride @ 40f for anyone. But, here in SoCal I really don't need to worry about sub 40.

jadocs

I guess it depends on what your objectives are. For me, there are two categories...training and pleasure. If it's cold or wet, I'm not getting any pleasure. As far as training is concerned, I get way more out of riding indoors where I don't need to worry about environmental influences or drivers.

Therefore, (for me), I won't go out unless it's above 50 and dry. On the other hand I do know people who seem to think riding outside in all conditions is some kind of badge of honor. Obviously, they must get some pleasure from it.

aplcr0331

I typically can't go below 45F. I will commute around those temps, but often see temps lower than this when I get down by the river.

I usually ride outside between March 15th and end of October weather depending.

crowbike

I ride for enjoyment. To me, below 40° is not that pleasant. I usually take long walks on the colder days.

CAT7RDR

Last cold ride was last year at about 30F in the shade along the Glendora Ridge in CA. Spent most of the ride dodging ice patches. Only down side were my feet/toes were getting numb. I will wear proper woolie boolies next time and tape close the vents. That and the Gore thermal glove do the trick.