ThinLine

+1 I learned that the hard way.

Sirrobinofcoxly

I'll typically ride my road bike until 5ºC. After that, stuff gets kind of sketchy. Then I switch to my winter beater.

Mobilegroomer

39

80vette

Exactly !!!

Savagewolf

So far, there hasn't been a "It's too cold to cycle" for me. Of course, I think the lowest I've gone is about 15 degrees F. Even when it's past freezing, I find that the actual ride is enough to keep me warm if I'm wearing arm warmers, gloves, and a light mask over my face.

It's the really cold, wet days that get me.

mazpr

Yep, I tried it once and in a few minutes I was on my way back home.

blonduathlongrl

Ive been wondering all day how cold is too cold for some...

Im suppose to go for a group ride tomorrow, 9 AM, weather forecast calls for 32 and snow the whole time. Im wondering if I should just stay in bed.
it's a "fun" ride, 40 miles, im just not sure how "fun" 40 miles in the snow is on skinny tires, I want to go! but... Im being a wussette... wondering if that is too cold for most people and if most people wont show up!

*sigh* what to do what to do... 32 is OK, but snow the whole time doesnt excited me much.

thirdin77

I won't say you're a wussy but I say you're missing out. Why not ride below 50? I live in a mediterranean climate and am not used to the cold so I compensated by just getting warmer clothes; wind-resistant tights & toe covers, a neck gaiter and heavy gloves. Just use as warm an ensemble as you must and you don't have to quit cycling for 3+ months/year.

merlinextraligh

60 degrees.

It's rare that it's colder than that here.

ZeCanon

about 25˚ for road riding, much colder for mtb. I went for a mtb ride on some snowshoe trails in the woods last night, it was about 16˚F, and after 15 minutes I was down to my craft shortsleeve winter base layer and long sleeve jersey on top, with just a set of bib tights and shorts for the bottom. There's no wind, so it's oh so much warmer...

DataJunkie

I hit 5F this morning on my MTB. However, that would not count due to the fact that it was from my house to the bus (a few thousand feet) and from the light rail to my work (1\4 of a mile). Last winter I hit 5F on a 15 mile ride at 5am.
I still think 15F is my practical low.

mgmoore7

About 50F for me. I am in FL though and I don't have and will not buy a bunch of cold weather gear to use it a few times each year. So 50F is about my limit.

Of course, we don't really see 50F very often for very long.

One exception though. Supposed to get to 22F tonight. I have not seen it that cold for several years even for an overnight temperature. Maybe I should get out and ride at 5am just to say I have riden in under 30F temps.

explody pup

Well, I went on my coldest yesterday. 39F and maybe the windiest I've ridden in. It hurt my body. I'm counting the days until my new winter gear arrives in the mail.

slimvela

40F or colder and/or raining...daddy don't ride! Hey, give me a break I live in Phoenix. That means we pretty much get to ride year round. Example, Casa Grande Century this Sunday the 6th. Forecast: Highs in the upper 60's and partly cloudy.

fprintf

40 degrees F for me. Anything colder than that and it is time to get on the rollers. But that is because I only have one bike and no budget for buying fancy winter cycling clothes. I just use the excuse that I am working on my spin for the next three months!

daredevil

same here but turns out the commute is fun.

serac

Ding, ding, ding. This is my answer.

In Colorado it was cold but dry and wind was the enemy so wind resistant gloves, touring shoes or booties, tights and a neck warmer were useful starting in the 20s. I stopped riding around 10 except for special occasions.

Here in Seattle is doesn't get cold but it's wet. I put on gloves just below 35 when raining. If not raining, I don't use them until much colder. Metal brake levers are the main culprit to suck the heat from my fingers. So here in Seattle nothing special is necessary. When I start to ride I warm up a lot and then even the rain isn't too bad. I've never needed a hat here or special footwear. A simple shell on top and light tights are good enough for the tropical PNW.

webist

If it is daylight, I'll layer up and hit the road down to about 25 degrees. If it's dark, I'll use the trainer no matter the temp. Wind and rain forces me to the garage as well.

Colonelmom

+1

07RoubComp

60 is about it for me, anymore. When I was younger, I would ride my Harley in any weather, but now that I'm in the over 60 gang, I don't enjoy being cold, at all. Thank goodness I now live in AZ and it doesn't get or stay cold here very much. I'm so glad I moved from VA. The Harley's long gone, but I still enjoy the Roubaix. When some of you guys have ridden in the cold and wet for forty years, we'll see how much you still enjoy it.

ken cummings

60 F is the lower limit for my wife. For myself freezing is the limit for fun rides and 10-15 F on commutes.

mimib123

I just started road biking about a week ago. I live in East Tennessee, and the temperatures don't get TOO bad but they get pretty cold. It is about 26 degrees today from what it said in the car. Yesterday it was in the low fourties. I don't wear that much, just long sleeves and long pants, gloves, a beanie under my helmet, and ski socks. There are only a few times during my ride where the wind gets high and I get cold, but usually I'm quite warm. I like riding in the winter more, it seems like with good clothing it isn't terribly difficult to not be miserable. In the summer, you could be naked and still be miserable due to the temperatures. Just my opinion.

MrCrassic 

I can ride comfortably when it's between 35F - 40F minimum.

Anything lower than that and it becomes hell for me.

Fortunately, this January seems to be much warmer than previous years, so I think I'll be riding a bit more.

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sykerocker 

As long as the roads are dry, I've yet to discover the concept of too cold. However, that is not a result of physical tolerance, etc. It's a direct result of my firm belief that the best possible definition of personal hell is spending the evening in the garage on the trainer.

I'd rather freeze to death than die of boredom.

28 degrees in the sun today, and I still dragged the Raleigh Sports out at lunchtime to put a few miles on. And the trainer stays on the shelf tonight.

karlkras

Couldn't agree more. Cold isn't so much a problem in these parts (NW Oregon) and I can even deal with a fair amount of rain, but ice, forget about it. Unfortunately ice is more prevalent then snow when it gets cold in this area, I actually like riding in snow but don't get much of a chance in our climate.
Cold and dry is a very good combination, IMO, but again, this is rare here, also have to factor in some of the hellatious winds that come of the Gorge. Bad enough in the summer months, but in the winter it can be a killer.