How cold does it need to be to have an affect on your ride?

[hoopdriver]

I remember riding through the Great Sandy Desert in Australia many years ago, during the height of summer, when the nightly low would be 26-28C and thinking to myself - longingly - as I enjoyed the early morning ‘cool’ that there were places in the world where that would be the high for the day. How I longed to be in those places...

 

[Bazzer]

My average speed, whether commuting or out for pleasure at weekends, has dropped a little in the recent colder weather. I have put it down to a combination of factors, in particular a little more clothing, and managing windchill on my hands and face. Plus riding on wet roads or icy roads takes an edge of my speed, whether caution, or the unpleasantness of being sprayed from the road. My commute in the evening in particular I notice it, as there is much less road space and the sides of the roads are in many places filthy. I recall coming home one evening last winter and I and my bike, (with mudguards) looked as if I had spent an afternoon on a cyclocross course

 

[Racing roadkill]

I don’t mind the cold. There’s no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong kit. I won’t ride in fog, like we had this morning, but the cold never bothered me anyway.

 

[palinurus]

It starts affecting me once the temperature drops below 21 deg. C.

 

[palinurus]

Legwarmer time

 

[Drago]

No problem at all for me until its so cold the rubber in the tyres freeze. We do live in the UK, after all.

 

[Thorn Sherpa]

I wouldn't say there's a noticeable impact on my body when it's cold, obviously everybody uses more energy when it's cold to keep warm but I don't feel weaker for it. When it's cold however it does have an effect on how I ride to work I'm more careful and take longer as a result. I'll decrease my speed for corners and use main roads which have been gritted when ice is present even if it adds to the journey time better safe than sorry imo.

 

[Sunny Portrush]

Not so much the cold as the wet. Many an outdoor cycle has been replaced by the turbo as I couldn`t be fecked cleaning the bike for a third time in a wek!

 

[NorthernDave]

Unless there is ice about, it doesn't really stop me going out. Ice means indoor cycling.
But like many have already posted, even properly layered up it takes longer to get going and I'm definitely not as committed in corners or down hills if the roads are wet / muddy. During the winter I could have 4 or 5 layers on the top half, plus Roubaix bib tights, knee warmers, thermal socks plus gloves, overshoes, etc.
It also effects my route as there are several roads not too far from here that are a glorious ride in the sunshine, but from October through til March / April become a mudfest thanks to inconsiderate farmers and a toothless highways department.

 

[Milkfloat]

My speed suffers as I add layers to my legs, just shorts are fastest, follow by shorts plus knee warmers all the way through to my thick winter longs. My theory, which is probably totally mad cap, is that it is increased resistance due to the stretchy fabric as my legs go around rather than wind resistance.

 

[mjr]

It gets slower below 6°c as the clothes are much bigger and usually it's accompanied by bad weather. Below freezing and I think the grease gets stickier too.

 

[cosmicbike]

I don't mind riding in the cold, I just layer up and accept that I'll be slower, and the first 2 or 3 miles will be horrible. I've dropped a good few miles in the past 2 weeks due to the risk of ice, which has led to me using the van to get to work. Studded tyres are on the shopping list now as I dislike driving to work, always feel tired when I arrive.

 

[bpsmith]

You will cycle slower as the temperature drops irrespective of the difference in clothing and also whether it’s icy. The drop in road surface temperature plus the lower tyre temperature will have an affect straight away.

I agree that additional clothing will definitely add to this too.

 

[mustang1]

I dont think I'm too affected by cold as long as the roads are ice-free. Even then I would take the ice tyres out if I had more confidence in car drivers not doing stupid stuff.

I'm not sure how cold it would have to be but certainly nothing that UK winter can throw up will stop me except, as mentioned, ice.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

These day's I have problems with cold feet when temperatures get down around freezing, it didn't used to bother me but does now. I also tend to loose some of my ability to spin the pedals and some of the suppleness in my legs, can make descending on the fixed interesting.