Dangers of the cold
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 490
Bikes: 2022 Priority Coast, 2022 Priority Current
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 175 Post(s)
Liked 137 Times
in
99 Posts
Dangers of the cold
What is more dangerous? Riding slower (more effort), but longer exposure (time) to the cold or Riding faster but less exposure (time) to the cold? Cold being defined as below freezing. Thank You.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 777
Bikes: Raleigh Classic 15, 84; Miyata 912, 85; Miyata Ridge Runner SE, 85; Miyata 610, 86; Miyata 100M, 86; Miyata Valley Runner, 88; Miyata Triple Cross, 89; GT Karakoram, 90; Miyata Elevation 300, 91; Marinoni Touring, 95; Long Haul Trucker, 2013
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 159 Post(s)
Liked 133 Times
in
80 Posts
There's really no danger in the cold. per se, unless you're not dressed for it. Frostbite is a risk in truly frigid conditions, and in that case, wind chill would be a consideration.
The greatest danger is ice on the road.
The greatest danger is ice on the road.
Likes For John Nolan:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,899
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2602 Post(s)
Liked 1,925 Times
in
1,208 Posts
I think the optimum is to ride as fast as you can without sweating. (Much.)
#5
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Looney Tunes, IL
Posts: 7,398
Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1549 Post(s)
Liked 941 Times
in
504 Posts
With proper clothing as long as I'm riding I'll stay warm enough and will get to my destination in a timely fashion. My concern is having any type of breakdown that'll cause me to stop and then freeze.
Likes For AlmostTrick:
#7
Senior Member
Personally I think you would be safer riding with lower exertion in the cold (though I don't). I say low exertion rather than low speed because on my fat bike I can be riding hard and not going very fast. By necessity under high exertion you have to dress minimally to prevent overheating, even so I tend to sweat a lot. If you have to stop for any reason for more than a few minutes, you rapidly get cold. Even without stopping I've sometimes had ice form between my layers.
What I wear for -10C on my fat bike in the snow is about the same as what I wear for up to +10C on my touring bike on bare pavement. The difference in balance between exertion vs self generated wind chill is insane.
What I wear for -10C on my fat bike in the snow is about the same as what I wear for up to +10C on my touring bike on bare pavement. The difference in balance between exertion vs self generated wind chill is insane.
#8
Full Member
I can't say for sure. But I know that my limit is 1 hour in 15F/-10C temperatures with goggles on. At that point, my eyes start freezing shut even wearing the goggles
Last edited by parkbrav; 11-06-20 at 05:18 PM.
Likes For parkbrav:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: NJ
Posts: 626
Bikes: 68 SS, 72 Fuji Finest, 72 PX-10, 77 Pana Pro 7000, 84 Pinnarello Treviso NR, 84 Trek 520, 88 Project KOM, 90 Trek 750, 91 Trek 930
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 184 Post(s)
Liked 204 Times
in
142 Posts
Personally I think you would be safer riding with lower exertion in the cold (though I don't). I say low exertion rather than low speed because on my fat bike I can be riding hard and not going very fast. By necessity under high exertion you have to dress minimally to prevent overheating, even so I tend to sweat a lot. If you have to stop for any reason for more than a few minutes, you rapidly get cold. Even without stopping I've sometimes had ice form between my layers.
What I wear for -10C on my fat bike in the snow is about the same as what I wear for up to +10C on my touring bike on bare pavement. The difference in balance between exertion vs self generated wind chill is insane.
What I wear for -10C on my fat bike in the snow is about the same as what I wear for up to +10C on my touring bike on bare pavement. The difference in balance between exertion vs self generated wind chill is insane.
Staying dry is most important. My 70 minute commute involves a strenuous hill so when temps drop into the 40's I do not commute (local rides only). When I have perspiration on my chest induces asthma.
__________________
Last new bike 1991
Last new bike 1991
#11
meh
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,704
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,013 Times
in
519 Posts
My recent example was a gravel century last month in temps between 25 and 30F, it was a virtual race (results based on Strava) and I was being competitive, so I dressed light. Being a long ride and mostly solo, I'd find myself easing up my effort and feeling the cold in my toes and fingers would kick me in the butt to ride harder to keep the core hotter and keep the toes and fingers comfortable. So, if you're dressed too light for the temps, increase your effort - you'll get where you going quicker for less exposure and you'll keep your core warmer to keep extremities more comfortable.
Likes For Hypno Toad:
#12
Sr Member on Sr bikes
Just want to add to what AlmostTrick alluded to above WRT to getting stopped in the cold due to a flat, and/or other maintenance issues. I learned this the hard way on a ride at 15°F. Depending on the gloves/mittens you’re wearing...it can be almost impossible to get a tire off/on the rim with wearing thick gloves/mittens. If you take the gloves off to accomplish it...you’re hands get real cold real fast and you still can’t get the tire off. I took my cell phone out to call the wife for a pick-up and discovered that I was in a cell dead zone. Since that experience I now try to stay in civilization when riding in real cold temps so that if I have to stop I can see refuge in an emergency.
Dan
Dan