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Dangers of the cold

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Dangers of the cold

Old 11-06-20, 06:40 AM
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alloo
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Dangers of the cold

What is more dangerous? Riding slower (more effort), but longer exposure (time) to the cold or Riding faster but less exposure (time) to the cold? Cold being defined as below freezing. Thank You.
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Old 11-06-20, 07:25 AM
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There's really no danger in the cold. per se, unless you're not dressed for it. Frostbite is a risk in truly frigid conditions, and in that case, wind chill would be a consideration.

The greatest danger is ice on the road.
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Old 11-06-20, 07:53 AM
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Why would it take more effort to ride slowly?
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Old 11-06-20, 08:18 AM
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I think the optimum is to ride as fast as you can without sweating. (Much.)
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Old 11-06-20, 09:01 AM
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With proper clothing as long as I'm riding I'll stay warm enough and will get to my destination in a timely fashion. My concern is having any type of breakdown that'll cause me to stop and then freeze.
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Old 11-06-20, 10:24 AM
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Originally Posted by jon c.
Why would it take more effort to ride slowly?
harder to stay awake.
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Old 11-06-20, 12:34 PM
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Personally I think you would be safer riding with lower exertion in the cold (though I don't). I say low exertion rather than low speed because on my fat bike I can be riding hard and not going very fast. By necessity under high exertion you have to dress minimally to prevent overheating, even so I tend to sweat a lot. If you have to stop for any reason for more than a few minutes, you rapidly get cold. Even without stopping I've sometimes had ice form between my layers.

What I wear for -10C on my fat bike in the snow is about the same as what I wear for up to +10C on my touring bike on bare pavement. The difference in balance between exertion vs self generated wind chill is insane.
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Old 11-06-20, 05:15 PM
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I can't say for sure. But I know that my limit is 1 hour in 15F/-10C temperatures with goggles on. At that point, my eyes start freezing shut even wearing the goggles

Last edited by parkbrav; 11-06-20 at 05:18 PM.
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Old 11-07-20, 06:12 AM
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Originally Posted by jon c.
Why would it take more effort to ride slowly?
Less Assist level, lower speed. Since I ride in the dark sometimes black ice remains.

Last edited by alloo; 11-14-20 at 06:44 AM.
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Old 11-07-20, 07:04 AM
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Originally Posted by gecho
Personally I think you would be safer riding with lower exertion in the cold (though I don't). I say low exertion rather than low speed because on my fat bike I can be riding hard and not going very fast. By necessity under high exertion you have to dress minimally to prevent overheating, even so I tend to sweat a lot. If you have to stop for any reason for more than a few minutes, you rapidly get cold. Even without stopping I've sometimes had ice form between my layers.

What I wear for -10C on my fat bike in the snow is about the same as what I wear for up to +10C on my touring bike on bare pavement. The difference in balance between exertion vs self generated wind chill is insane.
+1
Staying dry is most important. My 70 minute commute involves a strenuous hill so when temps drop into the 40's I do not commute (local rides only). When I have perspiration on my chest induces asthma.
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Old 11-11-20, 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by alloo
What is more dangerous? Riding slower (more effort), but longer exposure (time) to the cold or Riding faster but less exposure (time) to the cold? Cold being defined as below freezing. Thank You.
I ride through the winters in Minneapolis and I'll ride temps below -25F. I'll happily do both: ride slower with longer duration and ride fast with shorter duration. It really comes down to the clothing: for slower rides (lower effort) dress warmer; when riding faster (harder effort) dress for venting heat and sweat.

My recent example was a gravel century last month in temps between 25 and 30F, it was a virtual race (results based on Strava) and I was being competitive, so I dressed light. Being a long ride and mostly solo, I'd find myself easing up my effort and feeling the cold in my toes and fingers would kick me in the butt to ride harder to keep the core hotter and keep the toes and fingers comfortable. So, if you're dressed too light for the temps, increase your effort - you'll get where you going quicker for less exposure and you'll keep your core warmer to keep extremities more comfortable.
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Old 11-15-20, 08:47 PM
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Just want to add to what AlmostTrick alluded to above WRT to getting stopped in the cold due to a flat, and/or other maintenance issues. I learned this the hard way on a ride at 15°F. Depending on the gloves/mittens you’re wearing...it can be almost impossible to get a tire off/on the rim with wearing thick gloves/mittens. If you take the gloves off to accomplish it...you’re hands get real cold real fast and you still can’t get the tire off. I took my cell phone out to call the wife for a pick-up and discovered that I was in a cell dead zone. Since that experience I now try to stay in civilization when riding in real cold temps so that if I have to stop I can see refuge in an emergency.

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