What is the lowest temperature you would cycle in?

[Trail Child]

This is the present temperature here:

Now I know why the dogs won't go outside.

This is what I'm "supposed" to be commuting in tonite:

I think I might make tonite the first commute day I skip. Haven't decided yet.

 

[Nigeyy]

Yep, Canada takes the biscuit.

I have cycled in about -20, but that was mountain biking -not sure I'd want to do it on an exposed road with effectively more windchill as you go faster than on a trail.

Canucks are really 'ard (and have my respect).

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I am not sure that in Britain it would ever get too cold for me. In fact I find it hard to imagine any set of circumstances where I would not go by bike. I think death or a broken leg are the few exceptions !

Tuesday was tough but manageable. Coldest ever for me, but as long as I kept my fingers moving they kept warm, everything else was just great. I think it was at least -10.

When I got to work I had frost on my eye brows, the front gears had frozen, the spokes had frost on them and the brake fluid in the front brake was frozen.

The sense of achievement was fantastic, the trusty bike and me were as one and did the job. Well chuffed.

 

[ayceejay]

Temperature today (including wind chill factor) minus 39 Celsius.. I think even Ranulph Fiennes would think twice about going out in that.

 

[Trail Child]

I am nervous about biking to work tonite. I've laid out my clothes. The alternative is walking, and that's just scarier. I found some latex gloves from work so I'll wear those under my gloves. That should hold the heat in!

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Got whistled at tonight,either me or the bike up the Cann Hall road.(Not sure which)Still in shorts and I lurve it.

 

[BentMikey]

Coldest I've cycled is -8C, I start to get nervous then as grit/salt stops working somewhere around that temperature.

Laughing at the Ottawa temperatures - you're further south than most of of us are, AFAIK! The UK stole all your Fahrenheits via the gulf stream?

 

[NormanD]

I'm a Geordie ..is there a temperature low enough?

 

[ianrauk]

I'm a Geordie ..is there a temperature low enough?

When you have to put a string vest on?

 

[Trail Child]

I am nervous about biking to work tonite. I've laid out my clothes. The alternative is walking, and that's just scarier. I found some latex gloves from work so I'll wear those under my gloves. That should hold the heat in!

Done! Not as bad as I thought. The tires felt funny though.

 

[ayceejay]

It could be worse, not only is Beijing cold but polluted as well. Perhaps some tips from this woman on how to dress to cope

 

[Crankarm]

Currently reading Rob Lilwall's book of his journey from Siberia to UK - he talks of riding in temperatures of -40.
He also said that he didn't think there's be much of a difference between -20 and -30...until he had to cycle in it

His expolits of commencing his ride in Siberia in winter really annoyed me. I found his book really really irritating, a lot of proslytising about God in it as well.

 

[subaqua]

I'm a Geordie ..is there a temperature low enough?

So how hard are the blokes from the North East?? Farenheit temps
50 DEGREES Southerners turn on the heating.
People in Newcastle plant their gardens.
40 DEGREES Southerners shiver uncontrollably.
People in Newcastle sunbathe.
35 DEGREES Southern cars will not start.
People in Newcastle drive with the windows down.
20 DEGREES Southerners wear coats, gloves and wool hats.
People in Newcastle throw on a T-shirt (girls start wearing mini skirts.)
15 DEGREES Southerners begin to evacuate.
People in Newcastle go swimming in the North Sea.
ZERO DEGREES Southern landlords turn up the heat.
People in Newcastle have the last barbecue before it gets cold.
MINUS 10 DEGREES Southerners cease to exist.
People in Newcastle throw on a lightweight jacket.
MINUS 80 DEGREES Polar bears wonder if it's worth it.
Boy scouts in Newcastle start wearing long trousers.
MINUS 100 DEGREES Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
People in Newcastle put on their long johns.
MINUS 173 DEGREES Alcohol freezes.
People in Newcastle become frustrated because the pubs are shut.
MINUS 297 DEGREES Microbial life starts to disappear.
The cows on Newcastle Town Moor complain about vets with cold hands.
MINUS 460 DEGREES All atomic motion stops.
People in Newcastle start to stamp their feet and blow on their hands.
MINUS 500 DEGREES Hell freezes over.
Sunderland qualify for Europe.

 

[subaqua]

dunno what the lowest is for me. have yet to do a commute thats too cold . appropriate clothing sorts most problems

 

[Bodhbh]

Probably about -15 in Finland a couple of winters back. To be honest it wasn't really much colder than the UK that year.

My hands are by far the weakest link, I think a few days on the trot of -10C or more I'd either be rethinking commuting by bike or looking to do something radical like buy poogies, start plastic bagging the hands (on top of the mitts), etc.

Constant dry -sub zero is fine. You get ice tyres and are sorted. It's the slush, wet snow and rain that I can stand, and messes up the bike with water getting everywhere and freezing, you get soaked and cold too.