HardCore Nutters

[2wheelsgeth]

0C at 6am - did the longer 26 miles this morning. Beautiful weather for riding, once the mist had cleared. Great way to start the week, particularly after all the rain-based misery of late.

 

[ianrauk]

[QUOTE 2882304, member: 1314"]I agree. It was cold but not all that. Importantly it was dry, apart from a few icy patches.[/quote]


First really dry roads for a good long while

 

[gaz]

Gaz - do you have a link to anything that confirms it? Someone was asking me about it and I couldn't find anything, apart from some stuff about not being warmed up and the possible damage.

Nearly everything I've read about it points towards the study "The relation between joint stiffness upon exposure to cold and the characteristics of synovial fluid." published in 1952 in the Canadian medical journal (Which seems hard to get hold of).
This is a good read - http://www.jicosh.gr.jp/en/indu_hel/pdf/IH_47_3_262.pdf

The basic principles are that as the temperature gets colder, the synovial fluid thickens and is not able to lubricate the joint as well as it could. This can result in damage to cartilage or bone.
Now this can happen at temperatures above freezing, especially with a sport like cycling where you can be traveling at 20mph into a wind, the windchill can make it much much colder than it is.
I've read elsewhere that anything below 10 degrees and you should cover your knees, although I don't believe there is any scientific proof behind that.

 

[Stephen C]

I have to say this morning was perfect weather, clear sky, no wind, I've felt a lot colder when it was 10 degrees and raining!

 

[Chris Swift]

Hey I was joking around with hardcore nutters lol, I have full respect for anyone cycling in this weather. probs cos im not used to it but carnt wait to commute 6 miles tomoz morning!

 

[Dmcd33]

How long are your gloves?

They don't cover my neck!

 

[ayceejay]

We had a couple of days when it was only -9 including windchill so I did a bit but today it is -20 and I am not that much of a nutter. There is an area between my balaclava and glasses that suffers more than anything and can be quite painful, I tried ski goggles but apart from looking like a prat they obstruct sideways vision.

 

[Velo711]

Ahoy, going down to -25c tonight plus windchill. Regular salt is only good to -15c, the green stuff is good for -20c, plus the large snow banks.
Then factor motorists in a hurry because the car battery was dead, makes it unpleasant for cycling. I do feel for the Pedestrians, especially the
seniors.

 

[Chris Swift]

[QUOTE 2882368, member: 30090"]Why?[/quote]
Just do as I am really nervous about the morning.

 

[Kestevan]

It's not been cold yet this year.
A tad bracing this morning maybe, but not cold......

and at least it's not windy.

 

[2wheelsgeth]

[QUOTE 2882304, member: 1314"]I agree. It was cold but not all that. Importantly it was dry, apart from a few icy patches.[/quote]
Truly the cycling gods were smiling on us this morning. They have been unreasonably vengeful of late. Fortunately I sacrificed an Addison Lee Ford Galaxy over the weekend, and they have been temporarily appeased.

 

[steveindenmark]

18km to work this morning. Setting off at 5am it was -5. It's the first time it has been this cold this winter. The road was dry and after 5 minutes I was warming up.

It's not a problem as long as you have got good lights and good gear. Even when it's dry I wear over boots, it makes a big difference.

Steve

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

-2 Isn't cold. Try minus 15 and a foot of snow. That was great fun in January 2010, and almost as cold in December 2010. It's too mild this year, and the trans pennine is a quagmire !

2010 was definitely a benchmark year.
I only recorded -14 on my garmin and I gained the accolade of the only cyclist at work for neatly two weeks.

 

[cyberknight]

No idea what temperature it was this morning but my back brake froze up on the way to work at 6 am .
I have done commuting on 23 mm road tyres in - 10 , i know there are members on here who commute in some serious stuff but that was a bit "nippy "

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Which of you Hardcore Nutters was cycling to work this morning in - 2 degrees ?

Im going to be commuting 6 miles tomorrow morning, hope its not as frosty!!!

Chris

Minus 2? Isn't that warm in the UK, for Winter? I rode to work one morning last year when it was -1.5, but that's down under.