Mojo31

I'm with you. 55 is brutal even if not riding.

WhyFi

55° is vest gilet weather.

big john

The 80s were tough for domestic car makers who had always relied on cubic inches for power and were faced with emission control laws that took some adjusting. They had to lower the compression ratio which took away lots of potential power and it wasn't until much later that they figured out how to manage things to make adequate power. The late 80s things started to turn around. Part of this was lighter cars.

That 307 (5 liter) probably made 150 horsepower. A 5 liter Mustang now is over 400 horsepower.

Mojo31

In the last 5 years, we've only had 7 months with an average temperature below 50. Several of those were only a few tenths of a degree below 50.

Days when it's 50-55 are good days to sit in front of the fireplace with your partner and a soft blanket.

WhyFi

The lack of HTFU is palpable.

Mojo31

Turbos and superchargers change the game a lot. So does improved materials that are more durable and able to withstand higher pressures. My car, while not Merican, has a 4 liter that puts out 503 hp.

The current Mustangs have the following power which is huge historically:

2.3L EcoBoost - 330 hp, 350 torque
5.0L Ti-VCT V8 - 460 hp, 420 torque/480 hp, 420 torque depending on model
5.2L NA Ti-VCT - 526 hp, 429 torque
5.2L Supercharged Cross-Plane Crank V8 - >700 hp, 625 torque

big john

50 is cool, but fine with a couple layers. Certainly not "cold".

big john

Computer controls have allowed compression ratios for naturally aspirated engines to go back up to 11:1 or even higher. The early 80s cars had to drop to 8.5:1.

MoAlpha

My best winter jacket has zipper vents with mesh on either side of the chest. They allow a lot of temperature regulation and probably make more sense than pit zips on a bike. Might be easier to install too.

LAJ

Emission laws, like them or hate them, forced the manufacturers to up their game. The by-product of all of that is huge horsepower gains. Things like the EGR have gone away from emission related functions, to fuel saving devices. Reducing pumping losses are a key fuel savings discovery. Variable Valve Timing went from a performance measure, to also working as an emission control device. It can take the place of Air Injection and aid in warming up the catalytic converter.

The old CVCC Honda was an honest 50 mpg car, but NOx was so out of control on that package, it had to be scrapped.

DougRNS

nope, outdoor light in backyard, light from windows in back of house and big pupils.

DougRNS

low compression ratios to improve MPG sacrificed horsepower in the early 70's. Prolly 150-175 horsepower for the 80's, 307 cubic inch engine. Now fuel injection and computer controlled engines have big horsepower in small engines.

bampilot06

Ill look it that. It does have a chest pocket. I could cut the pocket out and just open the zipper as needed.

abshipp 

How long are the vents?

I've got a really nice Craft softshell jacket but anything above 30°-35° in the sunshine it's way too warm. Has no ventilation options at all

DougRNS

I see this has been answered already. I didn't read all the way before spouting off.

bampilot06

I only wore this like twice last year. I waited until it was upper 30s most of the time and by then this would be too warm. Worked well today, but again no ventilation and when I got down it was soaked.

big john

I can't climb in a jacket, even in the 30s. I like to be able to stuff extra layers in my back pockets. Last time I went up Mount Wilson when it was 22 degrees when we started the descent I had 4 layers and was ok. I had a winter jersey with a vest and a cheap, hooded windbreaker rolled up in the pockets for the climb.

I've also taken a cheap ski/snowboarder jacket stuffed into a Camelbak but this is kind of a hassle. It won't fit in a jersey pocket but it is nice to have on a long, cold descent.

I never bought one of the high-tech cycling jackets and I always wonder how effective they are and if they can be carried in a jersey pocket. For most of the riding I do layering with a Gore vest is fine.

big john

I forgot to tell you my friend bought the jacket you recommended and she is very happy with it.

abshipp 

WhyFi

Half of the equation is your workload. For me, winter rides are about getting out of the house and maintaining a base - they're not about hammering. If you really want to hammer, you need to be pretty underdressed when you walk out of the door and still expect to be moist when you get back home. For me, a jacket of about that weight and a short sleeve wicking base layer is good for the 25°+ region. When/if I get hot, I just unzip the a bit (zipper open to the sternum makes a huge difference) and/or dial back the effort.

bampilot06

I don’t have my stalker sense on, but I was passed two days in a row like a was standing still. I wonder who it could be.


Edit: same bike, person was all bundled up, so theoretically it could be two different people.

WhyFi

Very cool - did she get a color that's as fab as the bright pink that I have?

bampilot06

Def not hammering. For one, I get really rigid and tense when I’m cold, two I feel super stiff with the extra layers, three I’m just out to have fun. Like you said before, just looking for volume this winter

WhyFi

Just tell yourself that they're turning themselves inside-out, while trying to look casual, as they pass you and that they're going to slow down when they turn off the route in a quarter mile. That feels a lot better than Strava stalking them and seeing that they held that pace for another hour.

big john

I haven't seen it, she lives in a different state. I'll ask her to post a pic.