How low will you go?

[Jigger]

Not sure where to post this - but temperature is an important topic for us in Spokane as the temps drop!

We are currently in the middle of a high pressure ridge that has kept us snow free, but temps are getting down to the teens at night. We are riding at night to boot - so we finish up with temps in the high 20's. This is all new to me as I'm usually in a spin class by now...(-;

So...how low do you go? I'm getting close to the end - but I've been saying that for a month. I have tights, decent gloves and some cheap shoe covers. If I spend on better stuff it will snow, right? Then I'll be done. Do you try to ride all winter? How about snow?

[ssinga]

Luckily (for mountain biking), down here in Northern Alabama we don't see much (if any) snow. Last year being the exception with things covered up for over a week. It does get cold with lows into the 20-30's and sometimes down to the teens. Nothing a good layer of Pearl Izumi AmFib can't handle.

No snow = time to ride for me.

[rsutton1223]

Same here as with SS. I've ridden down in the teens before. Uncomfortable but it was riding!

[jaydub]

I think there's an inverted bell curve for perfect temp. At just ABOVE freezing I wouldn't ride. But below freezing, when all the mud freezes up, and pretty much anywhere below that, riding becomes great. Of course around here temps would never get below zero, so I can't say much about that.

[Jigger]

I think I've found a formula that might work for me: Ride until the temp drops below the level of my IQ! Better buy some more warm clothes - it could be a long winter....(-;

[chazpat]

I'm also around Atlanta and will ride all winter long. I try to hit the warmest time on the weekend, I think right around freezing is the coldest I've ridden. I'd go a little lower. The local trails tend to close often as they freeze at night and then, if it gets above freezing they close them so that they don't thaw and get damaged when people ride. So if this is the case, I grab my road bike.

[wwwfabien]

I think there's an inverted bell curve for perfect temp. At just ABOVE freezing I wouldn't ride. But below freezing, when all the mud freezes up, and pretty much anywhere below that, riding becomes great. Of course around here temps would never get below zero, so I can't say much about that.

i agree, in winter i prefer with temperature fall above freezing. Frozen mud is easy to ride than mud. I also like riding on snow.
Until -5°-10°c (23 to 14°F) it's ok for me to ride.
And what pleasure to drink a big hot chocolate after ride !

[energetik]

I don't own any cold weather gear. The lowest I've ridden with my regular shorts and jersey was around 40 degrees or so. I was cold to be sure but once I got going it felt pretty damn good. If I ever get any money I plan to buy some good cold weather gear and see what frozen singletrack feels like.

[thinkbikeminded]

I've ridden in the snow before, but it was around 38 degrees. The coldest I ever went was my first foray into night riding and it was about 30 degrees. I didn't have the right gear and ended up turning around after about 15 minutes worth of riding. Now I know I need to carry two pairs of gloves: a thicker pair to start with and a thinner pair for the rest of the ride.

[Kurt Kurtz]

Dressing for the ride, something that wicks moisture next to the skin and a thermal layer over that. I have used a variety manmade and natural products silk, wool, polartec etc. If your going to ride even a sedated pace can warm up your body, toes and fingers can suffer though. Thin wool, thinsulate or nitrile examinatinon gloves under you riding gloves will serve you well. Thin nylon (pop socks) or ladies tights (pantyhose) foot to ankle part only, cut off worn under wool socks will keep your toes toasty. I ride year round on my Mountain bike and motorcycle I work outdoors too.