First cold ride of the winter any one else enjoy them?

andy600rr

hi just enjoyed the first winter ride today and loved it. Lovely crisp air light scattering of snow on the edge of roads, no gf moaning about the cold. Just wondering who else loves the crisp cold cycle rides?? And how do you prepare yourself for it.

flanners1

great until you hit ice and hit the deck, I am a lot more cautious this year after two offs last Winter, Rollers are being used more this year

SBezza

They are nice until you start freezing to death, one problem with a lack of body fat I guess.

Then again I have been doing them for a few days now.

Lagavulin

I love a crisp morning ride. Having had several weeks off the bike I was just getting back into my stride and had enjoyed most of November.
Then the snow started.

thel33ter

I love them if its dry, nothing beats crashing though icy puddles on an old rigid Hardrock

3 Baselayers and a long sleeve jersey up top, cheap tracky bottoms on the legs, big gloves and waterproof gloves worked for me. But then one of the guys was in shorts and a SS jersey :shock:

KnightOfTheLongTights

was out for nearly two hours at the crack of dawn yesterday

my drink turned to slush puppy

silverpigeon

Todays sportive got cancelled but not before I'd already made it to the car park meeting place along with half a dozen others.

We decided to ride the route anyway and started strongly, however ice and snow on the higher ground made for lots of wheelspinning and treacherous descents. In the end I was happy to get around in the silver standard average of 16mph. My feet were frozen by the time I got back.

**Makes mental note to buy some overshoes**

rc856

I'd been off the bike for 2 months through injury and was just getting back into it.
Out a few days before the snow and it was nice and fresh. Toasty warm so didn't mind it.
No the snow is here.......thank God for Sufferfest!!

inseine

90k today. Just three of us so not too much shelter from an icy wind. -3 when I set off, -1 when I got back. Can't say I really enjoyed it:(

sungod

i ride in it, but can't say i like it

takes ages to warm up, always watching for ice patches, wearing extra clothes, dense air, pah!

now if it were 25c or 30c, mmm

Garz

thel33ter wrote:

...But then one of the guys was in shorts and a SS jersey :shock:

:shock:

danowat

Cold is fine, but ice and snow is a different matter, its fun till you end up on your ass for the 3rd time narrowly missing sliding under an oncoming car

I aren't chancing it anymore, its not worth it.

KnightOfTheLongTights

sungod wrote:

dense air, pah!

ah good, thought it felt like I was riding through treacle yesterday!

ShutUpLegs

inseine wrote:

90k today. Just three of us so not too much shelter from an icy wind. -3 when I set off, -1 when I got back. Can't say I really enjoyed it:(

Character building

Garz

Hate them to begin with but if I get warmed up enough when the legs are spinning it soon swings into being a good outing.

pottssteve

Did about 40km yesterday around Valkenberg - Jeez it was cold. I got to Gulpen after about 40 minutes and the thermometer/clock thing was reading 0 degrees C. However, Gulpen's in a valley so back up on the tops I reckon it was 3 or 4 degrees colder. I did 90 minutes and cut it short - I couldn't feel my toes.

Very enjoyable..... :?

inseine

i enjoy it if it's a nice bright day and we're in a big group just rolling along. Helps if I actually have feeling in my fingers and toes too. Today was just cold, grey, windy and kinda depressing.

markyone

Been out sat and sun and its not to bad if you wear the right gear.
I dont mind it as long as i am warm,rather it be dry than p*****g down.

Dr_Psychlist

danowat wrote:

Cold is fine, but ice and snow is a different matter, its fun till you end up on your ass for the 3rd time narrowly missing sliding under an oncoming car

I aren't chancing it anymore, its not worth it.

It's time to head off-road then - I had a lovely ride this morning, even if the water in my camelbak tube froze up.

Theomerchant

Decided to go out last Saturday for 60miles on my lonesome (not many riders in my area).

Wore bibtights, base layer, ls jersey, wind/waterproof jacket, windproof gloves, overshoes, skull cap & cycling plus scarf freebie!!.

was good for about the first 40 miles but after that my body temp dropped and couldn't get it back up until I got home, was not fun!!, think i'll be investing in a turbo & not going out in under 3 degrees!!

Velonutter

I now no longer ride when it is under 5 degrees, I can't afford to be ill and my wife is having chemo, so I must be sure not to give her anything that can harm her.

During weather like this I try to do 100 miles on the turbo and 50 odd miles on the rollers each week, take discipline but keeps your fitness up.

Loretta Damage

Great ride today but was -3 at the start - drink froze. Wore bib tights, overshoes, snowboarding socks, helly hansen base layer top, dhb wind/waterproof jacket, buff around lower face and buff for ears and head, 2 pairs of gloves and sunnies all the way around and it was glorious in Shropshire!! Finger tips got cold towards end of 35 mile loop but otherwise very comfortable. Was actually colder in my shed while I was cleaning my bike post ride.

pottssteve

Loretta Damage wrote:

Great ride today but was -3 at the start - drink froze. Wore bib tights, overshoes, snowboarding socks, helly hansen base layer top, dhb wind/waterproof jacket, buff around lower face and buff for ears and head, 2 pairs of gloves and sunnies all the way around and it was glorious in Shropshire!! Finger tips got cold towards end of 35 mile loop but otherwise very comfortable. Was actually colder in my shed while I was cleaning my bike post ride.

I cleaned mine in the hall, next to the radiator! :oops:

sparkins1972

Cold I can cope with but snow and ice, forget it. had a freak footballing injury a few years ago that resulted in breaking both arms - had 2 months in plaster having my bum wiped by my now ex-wife - not sure if this contributed or not! So now I just don't risk a repeat - when it's icy I know I tense up on the bike and you never handle the bike well when tense, so I just don't bother.

Will.C

Sticking to the turbo when it's below zero. Did an hour on the trainer on saturday, couldn't take not going out, went out and stacked it on a corner from ice, scratched myself and my frame up pretty bad. Can't afford to brake my bike or my arm. But if there's no ice I love it, getting all wrapped up warm and zoning in on a ride.

Cleat Eastwood

Ohhh I love it, especially as theres no wind. Bitterly cold for about 20 mins but when warmed up its brill and seeing the countryside with a dusting of ice is byootiful. And i only ever take a phone with me; theres no way i'd be able to fix any fault on the bike in minus temperatures. One downside is the low sun, its like riding into a void sometimes.

clx1

Been out today, probably the coldest day so far. Really love the clear crisp weather, much prefer it to the rain. Must say though at these temperatures I don't stay out for more than a couple of hours which means between 30 and 35 miles, if I can do that 5 days a week all through Winter I'll be happy.

fastercyclist

I went mountain biking in the snow. Loved it.

Was wearing bib tights + shorts; 2 x ls jersey + windproof jacket. Felt like an early autumn ride tbh.

MrBibble

I did 16miles on sunday mid morning, mobile said it was approx -3deg :shock: ! Twas very cold, i had two pairs of tights on one close fitting the other a skin hugger, two pairs of socks, long sleeve thermal, short sleeve jersey, winter jacket and a beanie cap on. Core/head and legs where fine but face and feet really caught it. Proper cold at then end of the ride and it relly affected me too.

Looking to get a proper merino base layer, buff and poss some over shoe covers - although a decent pair of road shoes to replace my very ageing mtb spd shoes would poss stop the wind coming in :shock:

jimmythecuckoo

fastercyclist wrote:

I went mountain biking in the snow. Loved it.

+1

there was a bit of grip from the dusting of snow.

KillerMetre

Cycling around Hampshire in the snow...lovely