BobbyG

7F!

It had been 10F for three years, and 12F for a couple of years before that, and 21F before that after slowly creeping up over 20 years. While I had ridden down to 0F in my youth and possibly into my early 30s (20+ years ago) I have not commuted below 10 ever, as far as I can recall, and definitely not in the last 25 years.

The motivation was shoveling snow the day before at 5F and being warm and comfortable wearing the same basic layers as I do for my rides in the teens.

When I woke up this morning it was 5F with an expected high of 44F. So I knew it would warm up on the ride in. It was 6F when I walked out of the house, and 7F when I saddled-up to ride. For the first 4 of my 9 mile commute the side streets were hard-packed snow with the temperature rising to 9F halfway. I rode my winter bike with Suomi/Nokian W106 studded tires. Forty sunny minutes later when I arrived at work it was 17F. Still kinda cold. I was on the warm side of toasty, but as usual my thumbs were a little cold.

By lunch it was ~40F, and for the ride home it should be ~32F.

Next goal...5F, and then on to 0F at some point, which is gonna be tough because here in Colorado Springs morning temperatures in the winter are usually above 20F except for the rare cold snap (like we just had).

OmegaWolf

My lowest is 8F last winter and I'm not in any hurry to better that.

BobbyG

Ride home was ~26F. Dressed a little lighter.

alan s 

revcp 

It's fun to hit those markers. I've done -25F. Once you get to -10 or so it's just numbers.

rumrunn6

impressive! I think my lowest has been 17 degrees in the past. only rode in the 20s so far this winter

ussprinceton

I've ridden a cruiser motorcycle in the lower ~20*F. I plan on riding my bicycle again starting March '19

RoadKill

It was 31 yesterday when I rode to work here in Phoenix. It took every bit of cold weather gear I own to keep warm. I had the tights, wool socks, shorts over my tights as the crotch seems to be the first area that gets cold, arm warmers, jacket, balaclava, and my thickest gloves that aren't really all that thick. To live somewhere colder would require a large investment in riding gear for me.

no motor?

I kept riding a few years ago as it kept getting colder and just kept adding warmer clothes as the temperatures dropped. It didn't snow until late that year and the snow/ice/salt is what usually gets me to quit riding.

BobbyG

It's a unit that is made to stick on the outside of a house window. I have it lashed to the bike with a white shoelace you can see. It was ~$8 on closeout and the battery lasts ~3 years.

Holy cats! THose aren't "just numbers"...they're NUMB-ers.

Korina

Yikes, I feel like such a piker! My coldest commute was 43F (and about 95% humidity) a few weeks ago, and the only bits that never warmed up were my knees; being arthritic, I think they enjoyed the cold. I don't have the $$$ to get proper winter gear, so I ride the bus to work and the bike home. Like today!

BobbyG

I used to not ride in snow and ice until I got my studded tires. Now Ice is not an issue, and I'm good with snow up to 3". At 3" snow slows me down too much to make for a practical commute. It can double my times.

Except for my helmet and sun-sleeves I wear no bike-specific clothing. It's all inexpensive generic athletic gear from Wally-World and the like. I do have a Halo headband (the 'sweat gutter' is a miracle) but I don't know if that's bike-specific

wphamilton

I have the perspective that under 10° it starts to get "serious", as in you're taking a serious risk if you mess up. I can go entire winters without it ever getting that low, and then some few winters I'll have a week or two where every day is colder, so I don't have gear specific to near zero either. Just more layers.

wolfchild

The lowest for me has been minus -25 C ( minus -13 F). Not only commuting but also mountain biking. At those temps things start to get serious... This is no time to experiment, you need to have things figured out and be sure what works and what doesn't. The best part comes after the ride is over, the feeling of happiness and satisfaction is so strong I feel like a million bucks.

BobbyG

I agree. I usually have an extra layer in my backpack, and my street clothes, and since I ride through town, I'm never more than a mile from stores and restaurants. In a real emergency, I'm never more than 3 blocks from a residence.

I know people do it, but I can't imagine doing it myself.

no motor?

I carry an extra layer too, and the one time I ended up walking home in the cold I ended up taking it off along with some of the clothes I wore to ride in after getting too warm.

Korina

Me either; all my cycling clothes are from Target's athletic department. But a warm, windproof, not-bulky jacket is expensive; at least, to my budget. I should go look more thoroughly at the men's department (women's dept. is more "stylish" and less "functional").

bent-not-broken

I'm retired now, but my coldest commute was -17 F, four and a half miles each way. At that temp all skin must be covered. Hands and feet need special attention. Toughest issue for me was protecting eyes while wearing prescription eye glasses.

wolfchild

I also don't wear any bike-specific clothing, I also don't use goggles and never used any chemical warmers.

Archwhorides 

RidingMatthew

my coldest ever is 13F! My coldest in 2018 i think was 17F. i am not sure what this year will bring.

pdlamb

I bottomed out at 14°F for some years, because that was the coldest we got. I gradually acquired enough layers to stay comfortable, and even warm, at that temperature. A couple years back it went down further, to 7°. I decided 14° was a good place to stop.

kansascity 

I did 7°F last year in the sun. Teens are typical, but I need to get ready for morning (dark) commutes in the single digits.

BikingTech

My lowest was 9F here in Idaho for a 24 mi commute. My coworkers gave me the EXTRA crazy look as I walked in wearing my full winter gear. We had snow in the evening so I had to call for a ride because there were 20 reported slide offs on my route and didn't want a 4 wheeled whacko to end it all.

fietsbob

Why I live at sea level on the Oregon coast.. It has both Snowed , Iced, and gotten cold & clear @ 27F, but those were occasional not seasonal ..
Inland and higher up, and the weather changes dramatically

I did get a good deal on studded bike tires ... years ago.. always at the ready on a spare bike in the basement ..




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