rumrunn6

for those that take a winter break from outdoor cycling, when do you look forward to getting out again? is there a temperature milestone? a simple calendar date?

mattbur

Typically I'd already been out. The roads are open well enough to ride. But I got frostbite on my foot early January and am waiting for that to heal up a bit more before I try it again in this cold weather. This morning we had 4 degs. brrrr

How about you??

Tony

Steve B.

I never take a winter break from cycling.

Fall/Winter and part of spring is the time I mt. bike. No ticks or poison ivy. If there's no snow and the conditions are frozen dirt, it's terrific riding down to about 12 degrees (my tolerance level). I think I averaged twice per week since mid November.

Right now though and after 4 snow storms of coatings, it's a mess on the trails, so I will road ride. My tolerance is about 25 degrees, but road conditions dependent.

Helps to have appropriate clothing and this year I invested in Lake winter boots, so my feet are warm for the first time in decades.

I AM looking forward to warm weather though.

bakerjw

Got to have sniffle gear to be real hard core. I've been out in some really cold stuff just to be "that guy"

badger1

Not so much temperature but road/path conditions are the determining factor for me. I won't ride on/in snow/ice. Once the ice/snow is definitely gone, I'm back out -- every day. Typically that will happen some time in March -- so this year, soon! By the end of March any snowfall we get usually does not result in any kind of build-up.

Once the roads/paths ice up again, I stop. Typically that happens in late December/early January.

If retirement plans work out, back 'home' to SE Vancouver Island, putting an end to this 'seasonal cycling' nonsense.

rumrunn6

yikes! how did that happen? did you see a doctor? what is the prognosis? hope you don't have any permanent damage! I have terrible foot circulation, my feet get cold just sitting at my work desk. but I've actually been riding thru the winter. I use sock liners, winter socks & chemical hand warmers taped in between. then I put on regular winter boots

was asking that general question, cuz I was just curious. forum traffic falls off a lot after Thanksgiving. looking forward to more "shares" when ppl start riding again!

TheRef

Living in Chicago land far west suburbs one learns real quick to adapt. I try to get out a few times during the winter as long as there is no snow/ice covering the roads and temps are not under 25f. Spring around here can be miserable with lots of cold rain and very windy. Sometimes I get more rides in the middle of the winter than early spring. It can be May before the weather break for the better... if I were to wait for that I'd be crazy.

luevelvet

Living in Florida, it's been great weather for cycling almost all winter.

Skipjacks

I ride all winter, though 25 degrees is my bottom. I just can't do it colder than that.

I had the flu in mid February and that shut me down for riding for 2 weeks. Now that I can ride again I'm probably going to just sit out this last cold week of winter as it's supposed to jump into the 60's next week.

Iride01 

Yeah, I'm a wuss. I quit riding for several months even though my winter temps here are sweltering compared to some of the temps many of you others must be riding in. Partly it's just that I don't want to spend the time to get decent winter wear for cycling. And partly that daylight is gone so early and I don't care to make it a habit to ride in the dark. I'll cycle if it's above 55° F (13°C) and a gorgeous day. 65° plus and I'm happy.

delbiker1 

I live in a resort area, southeast coastal Delaware, that is very busy in spring and fall, and extremely busy in the summer months. It is also a pretty temperate area where winters usually have a lot of nice riding weather and not that much snow, ice and extremely cold temperatures. We do normally get a lot of rain and high winds during the winter season, but usually have a lot of fair weather in between those weather fronts. October through April is when I most enjoy biking where I live.

JohnDThompson 

Not until the ice is off the roads. It's not supposed to get above freezing until the middle of March, and they're already predicting more snow before that happens. So who knows?

indyfabz

High 40s for commuting/errands. Upper 50s for road riding. I have become a cold weather wimp unless I am our touring somewhere pretty. I have Good Friday off, so my benchmark spring goal is to have enough miles under my belt by Easter to do a three-day tour, even if it's only a flat route. Weather has no cooperated the last few years. I usually take a two-week tour out west in mid-June, so I need to be ready by then.

PedalingWalrus

when the breakdown lanes are free of snow and ice bumps.

Milton Keynes

For me usually when the temperature gets up to around 50 F. Yes, I'm a cold weather weenie, to me it's no fun riding in 20 degree weather with 15 MPH winds making the wind chill make me wish I'd stayed indoors. So during winter months I'll spin on my trainer. But it's nowhere near as enjoyable as being outside and actually riding.

We did have a couple nice days in January and maybe a couple more in February, so I did get a few miles in this year so far.

wipekitty

I ride outdoors all year long, but only road bike (i.e. take long rides out on hilly rural roads) in certain conditions...so I'll play

For me, it has more to do with the road conditions than any particular date or temperature:
1) Most snow melted from roads, a chance of black ice: Road cycling on gravel bike with studs.
2) Snow and ice melted, roads still covered with salt/sand from winter: Road cycling on gravel bike with gravel tires.
3) Snow and ice melted, spring rains have washed away winter salt/sand: Actual road cycling on a road bike!

Here in western Wisconsin, this means that my "road" season usually begins in February or March (with numerous interruptions, as it will snow through April), and the princess road bike usually does not hit the streets until early May

rosefarts

I rode through December no problem. I've ridden once outdoors since.

I hope to get out tomorrow. It's going to be messy.

Doctor Morbius

I prefer it to be about 60 and up with NO RAIN. I am the embodiment of fair weather cycling.

mattbur

Out snow blowing the driveway without the proper boots on. Noticed a bit of chill but figured I could also get the path down to the woodpile opened up. Then, as long as I had that done I should probably get a path over to the barn opened up as well. Well, I way over did it. No permanent damage and only affected skin deep...no solid tissue damage. And most important, nothing that won't heal up.

rollagain

I've found it does me no good to go out when the temp is below about 30 F; some part of me gets too cold too soon. It used to be my feet, but I just got some new insulated boots, so then it'll be my fingers. Pavement must be clear for the most part.

And, I have to pry myself away from this computer ... that's frequently the hardest part.

WaveyGravey

I am also a fair weather cyclist. Never in the rain.

I commute about 4 miles every morning as long as temps are not below upper 20's. For road biking my lower limit is 55.

bikejrff

I cheated, spent Jan/Feb in Florida panhandle & rode 1500 miles. Now that I am back in Indiana am waiting for dry roads and sunshine. I'll do 20-30 mile rides with temps in the mid 40's as long as it is not too windy.

ddeand 

Kapusta

Trsnrtr

That's about the same for me. I'll go colder if the wind is calm but that rarely seems to happen. Today was 22 with 15 mph winds. Off to the pain room.