Originally Posted by
_ForceD_
On a road ride with temps in the low 20°sF I flatted. I had all the necessary equipment to repair the flat. But, I discovered that it really couldn’t be down with my thick gloves on. And then, when I took the gloves off, my hands and fingers got so cold very quickly that I couldn’t manipulate everything to do the change. So…I went to the cell phone to call my wife for a pickup. BUT…I then discovered that I was in a rural cellular dead zone. I had to walk (in cycling shoes) about a mile before I could get a cell signal. Dressed for a cold winter ride…I was fine as long as I was peddling. But stopped (an a bit sweaty), the cold really became concerning. There wasn’t even a house nearby that I could go up to and ask to use their phone, and for shelter until my pick-up arrived.
Moral of the story: Stay in somewhat populated areas during very cold rides.
Dan
Yeah, that's the thing that troubles me. Particularly riding thick-walled winter tires that get really hard to mount in the cold, I just don't think I could get my hands to work well enough to change a flat in the deep cold. And I ride at temperatures 30 degrees lower than the low 20s. Generally, though, I don't ride alone when it's that cold.