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Just starting to bike in the cold

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Just starting to bike in the cold

Old 12-06-16, 07:46 AM
  #51  
edawg55
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I went 18 miles yesterday and it was 40 out. After the first 10 mins I was fine but for some reason I got winded quick. My neighbor tells me I'm crazy. lol I think around 40 is probably the lowest temp I'll ride in though. So I might have a week or two left to ride.
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Old 12-06-16, 07:49 AM
  #52  
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Overcast and 27 degrees is my cut off. Found it last year. Anything above that and I'm good to go.

As many others have said, its all about layering correctly.
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Old 12-06-16, 08:02 AM
  #53  
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I would suggest accepting reduced performance & continuing to ride
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Old 12-06-16, 08:05 AM
  #54  
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posted this on a different thread, but it applies here:

We have dreary weather today. I checked the hourly and decided not to haul my bike into the office for a hookie ride because of the 13 mph NNW.
But most of the winter we will have 60-degree weather. On clear days, often start at 40 and end at 80.
I bike in layers in the winter, and every bike has a place to put them (and swap for shorty socks) as the day warms.

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Old 12-06-16, 08:08 AM
  #55  
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Originally Posted by bulldog1935
nice light mount. how'd you do it?
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Old 12-06-16, 08:29 AM
  #56  
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Here in Phoenix, it cools off pretty quickly after sunset, and that is obscenely early this time of year.

In the truly hot part of the summer here, I mostly ride at night.

Like others, its dark when I leave for work this time of year, and dark when I get home.

The temperatures are seldom below 50 until late in the evening, say 10 PM, but it is the short days that sap my "get up and go" out and ride.

I also don't have much in the way of reflective nighttime cool weather gear...but then, I don't have any nighttime reflective summer gear either. Just lights. So that must be just be an excuse. Reflective gear is only for svelte people, not for Clydes like me. Cars bounce off of us, I guess. Meh. More lights.

The cooler weather is nice, but I hate "the going of the light..."

Gotta pick up my game. Silly to let 40-50 degree temps, or the lack of daylight, stop your riding. Never stopped my running when I was a young guy.
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Old 12-06-16, 08:36 AM
  #57  
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It's in the high 30's (zoiks!) here this morning and I'm headed out for a ride around 7am. Gonna be doing some serious layering before I head out..
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Old 12-06-16, 08:57 AM
  #58  
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
nice light mount. how'd you do it?
The bag is a custom from Ruthworks to hang on a Nitto F15 handlebar rack.
I used a Cygo helmet mount, and chatted with Ely about the plan. He put a couple of velcro straps on the bottom of the bag, which help to secure it. But from the start, my plan was for rando bag, which always has a rigid plastic U-box - and to secure the light mount with M4s. The M4 button-heads facing inside the bag are smooth.




There's a tilt adjustment on the Cygo helmet mount.

The geometry of the bike is really not a front load hauler, so I never plan to put more than layers and shell (wallet and keys) in this bag.
All my roadside weight is in the saddle wedge. The bag is also big enough to stuff my daughter's layers, as well.

There are definitely cheaper bags for Nitto F-15, and I did consider the Ostrich F516 bag from Alex's cycle in Japan. But I knew I could do the light mount on the custom bag from Ely.
Alex also sells the Nitto F-15 for a very good price ($65), and the Ostrich alternative, the Hook Rack K.

The light was integral to my plan from the start, because this bike has no other place to put a light except the handlebars, and a bag crops that.


Last edited by bulldog1935; 12-06-16 at 09:24 AM.
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Old 12-06-16, 09:13 PM
  #59  
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The last decade (most of it, anyway), I've had a commute under 4 miles. I used to stretch it for fun. When it was 9+ miles, I'd still ride until the roads were too hazardous -- temps were irrelevant.

And they don't mean much now, either. Insulated coveralls carried me through -5F/-35f windchill for 10 miles.
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Old 12-07-16, 07:02 AM
  #60  
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It was 34.5° on Monday when I rode. I'm moving my way down in temps.

The core, I'm good. synthetic t-shirt, synthetic long sleeve t-shirt, thin sweatshirt, fleece, and thin windbreaker jacket. Hands were fine with a thin pair of non-cycling gloves I have. I have better options in the closet as temps decrease yet.

The head, or more specifically the ears, were a different matter. I cut the ride short as all I had was a regular tassel hat. The wind blew right through it. Yesterday was raining so I took a trip to Performance and bought a cycling cap that will cover the ears and a balaclava for when it gets colder. Will try out the hat tonight if it isn't raining.
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Old 12-07-16, 07:52 AM
  #61  
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Originally Posted by mrodgers
the ears
yes! can't find my cycling headband! works so well & cost me $20 I think
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Old 12-07-16, 09:55 AM
  #62  
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Originally Posted by mrodgers
It was 34.5° on Monday when I rode. I'm moving my way down in temps.

The core, I'm good. synthetic t-shirt, synthetic long sleeve t-shirt, thin sweatshirt, fleece, and thin windbreaker jacket. Hands were fine with a thin pair of non-cycling gloves I have. I have better options in the closet as temps decrease yet.

The head, or more specifically the ears, were a different matter. I cut the ride short as all I had was a regular tassel hat. The wind blew right through it. Yesterday was raining so I took a trip to Performance and bought a cycling cap that will cover the ears and a balaclava for when it gets colder. Will try out the hat tonight if it isn't raining.


trial and error and dont give up :-)
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Old 12-07-16, 09:57 AM
  #63  
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headband is smart. I've also seen small fleece ear mittens - little dusters that just cover each ear.

here they are - ear mitts - https://sprigs.com/earbags/?gclid=Cjw...uCFhoCVi3w_wcB
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Old 12-10-16, 08:47 PM
  #64  
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Its alot more exhilirating with all the cold air hitting your lungs and if youre prepared clothing wise you wont really feel anything.
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Old 12-11-16, 10:37 PM
  #65  
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Originally Posted by practical
I used to think that anything time the temperature was under 60, biking was cold. Then it was anything under 50. Then it was under 40. I am learning to love biking in the colder weather. I have been biking in temps under 40 and it has been lots of fun. Why was I such a wimp before? If you're not biking because the weather isn't "nice enough", then you're missing hours of wonderful biking. How do others feel about this?
Whatever you do don't frostbite your fingers!
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Old 12-12-16, 09:10 AM
  #66  
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15 below is my personal "best". It was a surreal experience. So cold the freewheel wouldn't catch properly- had to pedal super fast to get it to engage. Co workers were duly impressed upon arrival LOL. Really though the cold doesn't bug me all that much. The worst thing would be driving to work.
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Old 12-12-16, 09:58 AM
  #67  
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Originally Posted by mrodgers
Yesterday was raining so I took a trip to Performance and bought a cycling cap that will cover the ears and a balaclava for when it gets colder. Will try out the hat tonight if it isn't raining.
So, as I said, if not raining, I'd give it a go with the cycling specific head and face garb. It dropped down to 32°. Had the same tech t-shirt, long sleeve, cotton sweatshirt, fleece, and rain jacket. Wore just the cycling cap and was toasty warm except for the face and neck. I didn't realize it was going to go lower than the other night. 2° is quite a change at that low temps.

Then on Thursday I headed out adding a heavy winter jacket I wear to work and the balaclava. It dropped to 22.6° while I was out. I was plenty warm with everything but the fingers and toes. Had ski gloves on for the fingers, they weren't too bad. Toes got pretty darn cold. I only have my work shoes that I use because the soles are stiff. I'm hot all the time and they were just fine at 32°. With the wind at 22°, I could feel it going through the shoes. I can't find anything in footwear as I wear a 4E width shoe. Instead of wasting $100+ on shoes while trying to save up for a place to live, I'll just make the cutoff around 30°. I'll be perfectly warm around 30-28°. No sense in making it painful, then it's not nearly as much fun.
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Old 12-12-16, 11:05 AM
  #68  
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Yesterday began with temps in the low 30s F and climbed to the mid 30s for the day. I rode 27 miles and though well layered and wearing warm ski gloves and with bike shoes in warm cycling booties, feet and hands got cold which surprised me. It was the coldest day of the year around here. Obviously some adjustment is in order, probably to attitude. In any case, the solstice is in a few days with days getting longer and eventually, warmer.
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Old 12-12-16, 12:09 PM
  #69  
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Originally Posted by berner
adjustment?
chemical toe warmers & thin silk glove liners should help
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Old 12-12-16, 01:01 PM
  #70  
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18 degrees and blowing snow this AM = fat bike, ski helmet & goggles, insulated boots, gauntlet gloves, balaclava, polypro layer + softshell on both top and bottom. I was sweating 15 minutes into the ride given the 5 inches of crusty, slippery snow we were plowing through and the 8 psi in my tires. 30 minutes into the ride, I removed the goggles and opened the vents on my jacket. With this getup, I've ridden down to 0 degrees without issue.

In other words, I laugh heartily at some of the above "cold weather riding" in dry weather in the 40s. Those are perfect riding conditions.
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Old 12-13-16, 12:01 PM
  #71  
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Originally Posted by berner
Yesterday began with temps in the low 30s F and climbed to the mid 30s for the day. I rode 27 miles and though well layered and wearing warm ski gloves and with bike shoes in warm cycling booties, feet and hands got cold which surprised me. It was the coldest day of the year around here. Obviously some adjustment is in order, probably to attitude. In any case, the solstice is in a few days with days getting longer and eventually, warmer.
Don't check the weather channel for Thursday.
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Old 12-13-16, 12:13 PM
  #72  
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I spend time on a telemark skiing forum. One of the guys from the mid-west just reported a fine snow dump and posted a nice ski video. We are likely to get some of that in New England but not as much where I am. Just in case though, I'm going to wax my skis. Fortune favors those who are prepared,
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Old 12-13-16, 02:06 PM
  #73  
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Originally Posted by berner
wax my skis
fond memories of the smell from burnishing XC ski wax with a torch. not sure if ppl even do that anymore
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Old 12-13-16, 09:05 PM
  #74  
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37 degrees is my personal best. I find as I get older cycling in the wind isn't enjoyable. Especially during the winter.
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Old 12-13-16, 11:42 PM
  #75  
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I admire you cold riders. Greatly. I'm down here in Fl and it's perfect 65-75 degreeish sunny spring like weather. I went out in 50's temp and I don't see how I will ever get used to it. Hot and humid I can handle. Cold and damp I can't.
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