Step off the gas?

[Dave 123]

All last week I have been doing my 7.5 mile each way commute alot quicker than usual, mainly due to the cold, but mostly because I like riding fast .
I'll usually do between 30-40 on either a Saurday or Sunday. I went out today straight into a cold head wind, and I wasn't feeling the love. I was going to wimp it at 10, but went on for 16 tough and hard miles.
So on Monday either I dress warmer and go slower, or get home/work in a sweating, frothing, hyperventilating mess. I'm having trouble trying to work this one out/

 

[Fifelad]

Dress cooler go for the hyperventilating option

 

[Holdsworth]

I'd go with Fifelad's suggestion, dress cold and floor it. That works for me, some days I used to say to myself mentally to go slower and arrive at work presentable but its no use so I used to go as fast as I feel comfortable and prepare for the inevitable wash at the other end. Being a little under-dressed for the weather with plenty of vents helps to no end.

If you're anything like me you'll end up getting some sort of sweat on no matter how slowly you cycle, and warm clothes will make it more uncomfortable.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I take my ride to work steady and arrive presentable, this time of year with the cold means I can go a little harder without sweating up.

 

[snorri]

I wear more and cycle slower, the extra clothing provides cushioning in event of a slide on the ice.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Dress just enough for the weather and then get toasty. Toasty's good.

 

[Keith Oates]

It's always difficult to judge how much gear to put on but I'd rather be too warm than too cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MattHB]

Lots of layers then strip them off as you warm up. I do that on night rides, just take a backpack or pannier

 

[CopperCyclist]

Just to throw a spanner in the works, I'd rather be too cold than too warm! You can heat yourself up by pushing harder, but you can't really cool yourself down without stopping and removing layers.

Just make sure the extremities are well covered, so balaclava/buffs, gloves, overshoes etc and your core body eat tends to take care of itself to some degree!

 

[HLaB]

Just to throw a spanner in the works, I'd rather be too cold than too warm! You can heat yourself up by pushing harder, but you can't really cool yourself down without stopping and removing layers.

Just make sure the extremities are well covered, so balaclava/buffs, gloves, overshoes etc and your core body eat tends to take care of itself to some degree!

Yip, I'm the same

 

[byegad]

It's always difficult to judge how much gear to put on but I'd rather be too warm than too cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me too!

I see riders in shorts and SS top on days like today and wonder if they're a different species. No matter how hard I rode, dressed like that I'd end up with a stiff neck and shoulders that would take days to get rid of.

 

[cyberknight]

Depends on your body, i have Reynaurds

http://www.raynauds.org.uk/raynauds/raynauds
Basically if my hands and feet get cold they stay cold, just putting my lights + rack on in the bike rack prior to coming home meant my fingers were numb for about 8 miles even though i was sweating and wrapped up.