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

[HLaB]

Depends where and why for me as to what is the minimum temperature. If I'm in a group everyone else is suffering from the thick air etc. If its a route where there could be ice it could be too cold though even at 0deg but if there's no risk of ice I don't really have a minimum. For my commute down south anything much below freezing is too low whereas for my old commute up north as roads were better gritted I'd still cycle as long as it never fell below -6deg

 

[Slick]

Interesting to read so many tactics and attitudes to getting through the winter. I'm no shrinking violet and actively love being outside all year round probably as that's where I've spent most of my working life. I'm was going to take the bike tomorrow but I've now decided to give myself a break until the new year as I'm starting to think there may well be a bit of underlying man flu going on.

 

[Thorn Sherpa]

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.

When the temperature drops I use some lightweight walking boots I got from Decathlon. Had them for years just had a look on on their site they don't do the exact same boot (Quechua Inuit 500) but they do similar Quechua boots. Warm, lightweight, never had wet feet even when I've been out for hours in the pouring rain. Even though their obviously not cycling boots they've a fairly solid sole and not difficult to ride in. I'd recommend them to anyone who suffers cold feet

 

[Turdus philomelos]

During my winter months my commute time can increase by almost 10 minutes.

As soon as warmish climes arrive back my time reduces.

 

[User6179]

My feet did feel a bit cold despite the rubber overshoe, so might look into trying a better pair.

Never had cold feet with BBB bws-04 overshoes, wet plenty of times but never cold,

 

[steveindenmark]

I ride to work most days, even in winter. 40km round trip.

I have 4 layers on top, plus 2 buffs and helmet. 3 layers on the bottom. Gloves and overboots.

When the summer comes and i am in just my lycra, I am going to fly.

When you are wrapped up like a mummy, it is bound to effect your riding. Its cumbersome, to say the least. But at least I can stay warm and enjoy the scenery.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

On my last ride on Sunday I never really warmed up properly, my legs hurt the whole time and it was really hard going. The sheets of ice across the road was tiring too. Winter miles = summer smiles. Endure

 

[Lonestar]

No problem.The ice is more of a worry.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

It takes me 12-15 km to warm up in the physical sense. Winter or summer, my lungs and legs need to kick in properly till I’m operational.

It isn’t so much the extremes of temperatures, it is the inbetwixt temperatures I find harder. Too cold not to layer up, but REALLY hard to manage moisture. Sweat gets cold. And it also means carrying clothes systems for a multitude of vagaries. Touring or Audax rides over shoulder seasons can mean carrying lots of extra ‘in case’ weight. Annoyingly you may not wearing some of it.

At least if it’s really cold you don’t sweat much. And if it’s hot you can get away with wearing very little and drinking loads.

 

[Mr potts]

It depends on whether I am out with a bike or trike. It’s my toes which suffer more noticeably in the colder temps. Anything below 5 degrees and I don’t take the trike out now. Last week I was commuting at -8 for a couple of mornings on my cdf.

Perhaps a change of spd shoe is necessary, as mine are getting on a bit now (15 + years old)?

Cycled last week on a club ride at -3 and got to admit my toe ends were " a bit nippy" a friend has given me some space blanket ( the type runners wear after a race) you cut it to match the insole, yet to ride to see if it makes a lot of difference?

 

[Randomnerd]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woE2bsBifF4&list=PLkikeuOCtrb6bZ1FCUl3APMM3-cJdnli4&index=8

 

[Slick]

Never had cold feet with BBB bws-04 overshoes, wet plenty of times but never cold,

I just had cheap Halfords ones so will certainly look into an upgrade.

 

[12boy]

In Edmonton Canada they say there is no bad weather only bad clothing choices. I have ridden about 3 miles to work in -28 C and it wasn't too bad but a face mask would have been good. The colder it gets the bigger I get due to extra layers, and the extra clothing tends to restrict. Here in Wyoming the cold is only half the problem as the wind is stout in the winter months and bare skin isn't wise. Still, a dry road or just a couple of inches of dry powder snow can be great biking, especially after gorging for days on rich and tasty food. No matter how cold it is we have lots of sunny days and it is hard to stay indoors when a bike fix is yours for the taking. Maybe only a quarter of the mileage but riding in the snow, bundled up, against the wind or all 3 mean it is just as much work and fun as a 20 mile summer ride. For myself, I will take 0 C on a still day with a dry road over a 38 C day anytime.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I had to put my knee length shorts on a week ago, it got that cold in the UK.

 

[Slick]

I had to put my knee length shorts on a week ago, it got that cold in the UK.

By UK you obviously mean Englandshire.