What's the coldest you've ever ridden in?

geoff_ss

It's not the temperature so much as how dry it is. I fly RC planes and last week I was up at the field stripping off in about 2degC because it was bone dry windless and sunny. Airfields are not known for balmy conditions! Went out yesterday on my bike and it wasn't freezing but the damp certainly was cold to the face - and most of mine is covered in whiskers. I always think it's cold if I brake going down hill to limit the chill factor

One winter in the early 80s IIRC it was so cold that RR couldn't run the test beds because it was still colder than -10 at midday. I was still cycle commuting 13 miles each way starting out a 06.30. That was the year I started triking because it was warmer and there was less chance of sliding off.

Cold as it was it certainly wasn't up to Graham and Roy's hard men ride in '63. I was still motorcycling then and that really was chilly

Geoff

pb21

Geoff_SS wrote:

It's not the temperature so much as how dry it is. I fly RC planes and last week I was up at the field stripping off in about 2degC because it was bone dry windless and sunny. Airfields are not known for balmy conditions! Went out yesterday on my bike and it wasn't freezing but the damp certainly was cold to the face - and most of mine is covered in whiskers. I always think it's cold if I brake going down hill to limit the chill factor

One winter in the early 80s IIRC it was so cold that RR couldn't run the test beds because it was still colder than -10 at midday. I was still cycle commuting 13 miles each way starting out a 06.30. That was the year I started triking because it was warmer and there was less chance of sliding off.

Cold as it was it certainly wasn't up to Graham and Roy's hard men ride in '63. I was still motorcycling then and that really was chilly

Geoff

yeah.

-4 is the 'coldest' I have ridden in but today felt colder beacuse the air was so damp/foggy, it was probably around 1-2 degrees.

Graham Webb

Geoff,

Roy Cromack and myself often cycled into the Derby Dales in the winter and the whole of the Solihull C.C. would ride to Dovedale YH for the bonfire party in November. I knew a Derick Woodings very well, he worked for R.R., and I see that he is still racing with the LVRC. I still do some work, abroad, for the LVRC, TLI, and read their news letter on the web.

geoff_ss

Graham Webb wrote:

Geoff,

Roy Cromack and myself often cycled into the Derby Dales in the winter and the whole of the Solihull C.C. would ride to Dovedale YH for the bonfire party in November. I knew a Derick Woodings very well, he worked for R.R., and I see that he is still racing with the LVRC. I still do some work, abroad, for the LVRC, TLI, and read their news letter on the web.

I know Derek Woodings slightly and have ridden with him. He lives in Belper, near us. I'm a member of Derby Mercury RC (my wife is the treasurer/membership sec) and the club used to organise the Dovedale Dash, a cross-country running race in ... Dovedale believe it or not. It used to start at Ilam YH but moved later because of its popularity (1500 runners). There's still a prize for the first cyclist. It still takes place on the nearest Sunday to November 5th but organised by the Thorpe villagers.

Mick Potts (1991 24hr champ) was a very good friend of mine and I've done many miles on his wheel. He died of cancer last year, sadly. He rode with Derek when they won the 100 mile team TT champs IIRC.

Geoff

OffTheBackAdam

In my youth, many a merry winter's morning on the bike. Did one, very much like today, freezing fog, ice building up on the front of the handlebars, bonk bottle's contents like a slush puppy, feet numb, despite overshoes, in the end, I was shivering so much, I stopped at a phone box and did an ET! I was crying with pain as my feet and fingers thawed out. No idea how cold, just bloody cold!
MTB'd in the snow a few times, quite fun, except when you find there's a frozen rut under all that snow and the stuff's so deep, that your pedals disappear into it at the bottom of the stroke.
Good to see a "real" & "famous" cyclist posting here, great interview of yours in the recent ProCycling edition. You'll have to spill the beans about your short-lived life as a pro!

SteveR_100Milers

Most unexpected lowest temp was about 3 Deg C at the end of May riding the Cymru Gran Fondo. Have ridden in -2 or so, but having seen what can happen in icy conditions I dont go out unless the sun is out and defrosts the road

Graham Webb

OffTheBackAdam wrote:

Good to see a "real" & "famous" cyclist posting here, great interview of yours in the recent ProCycling edition. You'll have to spill the beans about your short-lived life as a pro!

Thanks Adam,

I might just put it all down for everyone to read one day; it's far too long for a forum. Basically cycling was only a part of my life, very important part yes, but I guess that it just wasn't the be all and end all of what I wanted out of life. That and some other hitches made my 'pro' life very short, short but very sweet!

pdstsp

You shouldn't put pannier bags in the oven.

Graham Webb

pdstsp wrote:

You shouldn't put pannier bags in the oven.