Would you cycle at -4C

alihisgreat

went out today and it was 0C in town and -2C out of town...

my lungs and cheapo winter gear can't handle it! especially the windchill on the big hills! have to hit the gym instead or i'll be coughing all day...


so no i won't be riding at -4C.

jgsi

I am now on the 15th day of sticking to a training plan, mostly on the turbo... went out on Friday for a 4 hour ride... sunny but roads as damp as cold air keeps tarmac that way , so you still expect a cakked up bike to clean afterwards..
At -6c, this morning, was on the turbo... I am not going to ruin some (small) BUTvery hard earned gains by a silly slip sideways on simply treacherous roads .. I am already putting teeth marks into the stem as it is.

jgsi

... why can't I delete double posts??? most annoying

Pseudonym

Full Merckx wrote:

Wasn't -4C so cycled. Pseudonym you're a bell end

if you say so fella - but I'm not the one asking stupid questions about the weather...

glasgowbhoy

Left the house at 8am this morning and it was minus 3 on the Garmin. Temp never got above freezing for the 4 hours we were on the road. You guys down south get it easy most of the time.

sexysi

Commuted to London from Eynsford this morning, it was -5 so yes I would. lol.

si

squired

The thing is that you don't just have to worry about yourself. I remember riding along quite happily last year when it was about -5. I had been sensible and chosen to use my mountain bike with studded tyres, so had that little bit of extra security on ice. However, the car that lost control as it was overtaking me, thanks to ice, gave me one of the scariest moments of my life. Thankfully it didn't hit me, but it was a big reminder that you can't just take yourself into account in such conditions.

amaferanga

The point that several have tried to get across, but some seem to be missing still is that the temperature is only one element of the conditions. At the weekend it was cold, but the roads were dry so it was fine to cycle. If it had rained or snowed at the end of last week such that there'd be frozen puddles, black ice, etc. then I suspect many of those that did go out on there usual ride probably would have thought twice (myself included).

fish156

amaferanga wrote:

The point that several have tried to get across, but some seem to be missing still is that the temperature is only one element of the conditions. At the weekend it was cold, but the roads were dry so it was fine to cycle. If it had rained or snowed at the end of last week such that there'd be frozen puddles, black ice, etc. then I suspect many of those that did go out on there usual ride probably would have thought twice (myself included).

The risk is greatly reduced with dry roads. Despite this some of us still chose not to ride since the risk of ice (be it frozen run-off, black ice, or whatever) is increased as the temperature gets near or below freezing. Much as I want to ride my bike I don't have to, so I avoid the risk.

mclarent

If you're worried about ice, just go out later.

Velonutter

I suffer from Neoropathy in my feet due to Diabetes, so riding when it is cold is painful, so I stick to the turbo.

Is there another consideration to weigh up the fact that cold muscles can get damaged a lot quicker in the cold that when it is warmer, or am I incorrect?

cyberknight

-6 this morning and i cycled in .
It was a freezing mist though so the bike was coated in frost , the back brake stopped working after about 5 miles as it had got covered in this ice and was solid .Toes were fine even though the overshoes had a nice layer of frost on them.
I was fine apart from my knees were a bit cold , time to add 2 layers to them methinks.

Mettan

Just got back from a 36 miler. - 3 to - 4 , frost on the backroads but the mains were adequate-ish - quite picturesque out there this mornin (with the C3's on the backlanes). No leaning in bends, no accelerating out of them, and back brake only seems to lead to an uneventful (and safer) ride in these conditions. No traffic as usuall either, apart from a few taxis. Gotta feel sorry for Roadies in Northern Finland (and similar) though :?

Ron Stuart

Times like this the Gym membership is a real boon I can do lots of cardio, some light weights, abs, and spin classes, stretches after in steam room, jacuzzi and or swim. Much, much safer as well, shall be out on bike for longish ride tomorrow forecast 12C might be a bit damp though here in Shropshire (cycling heaven) well, as far as England goes in winter.

briantrumpet

Interesting - I got caught this morning and did a bit of horizontal cycling. Had been looking at the temperatures VERY carefully, and although it apparently didn't go below 2C, there were still some stretches of ice. I seemed to go down where there wasn't any though, and on a road in town that should have been salted. Grrr. Twelve months since the last one. Grrr grrr. Maybe an even bigger safety margin is called for.

Ron Stuart

briantrumpet wrote:

Interesting - I got caught this morning and did a bit of horizontal cycling. Had been looking at the temperatures VERY carefully, and although it apparently didn't go below 2C, there were still some stretches of ice. I seemed to go down where there wasn't any though, and on a road in town that should have been salted. Grrr. Twelve months since the last one. Grrr grrr. Maybe an even bigger safety margin is called for.

Another thing that might be wise to bear in mind is that the grit (rock salt) is mixed these days with a plasticizer to help stick the salt to the road and reduces the risk of it being blown on to verges etc by passing traffic. This stuff is slippery; I know I have lost traction honking up some hills after they have been gritted. Works a little like diesel on the road, not good for two wheels, better than ice of course. :roll:

Bozman

Out at the weekend and today around the lower peak, today was the cold cold one, the main roads and roads leading off them were greasy but as soon as i went down the country lanes it was fine, dry roads with great grip apart from two hills that had frozen run off from the fields.
I think that the salt creates a problem when you haven't had any precipitation, the unsalted country lanes were boarded with ice and frost but the roads were fine.

briantrumpet

Ron Stuart wrote:

Another thing that might be wise to bear in mind is that the grit (rock salt) is mixed these days with a plasticizer to help stick the salt to the road and reduces the risk of it being blown on to verges etc by passing traffic. This stuff is slippery; I know I have lost traction honking up some hills after they have been gritted. Works a little like diesel on the road, not good for two wheels, better than ice of course. :roll:

I have a suspicion that that might have been the case here - the road looked greasy rather than icy - there was a lot of moisture in the air this morning, and that moisture seemed to be sticking to the road surface - just enough to mix with whatever was on the road already to make it do what it did. I'm quite glad that the lorry behind me stopped.

keef66

I've been going stir crazy with a nasty little respiratory virus for the past week. Eventually cracked last night and ventured out. Temp was hovering around zero; despite the specs and 2 buffs I thought I was going to freeze my face off going down hill. Took me half an hour to warm up, but after that I was comfortable. Had to go easy on the smaller lanes as they never get gritted and I could see the frost twinkling in the moonlight.

Great to get out, and it certainly got the residual snot & phlegm moving!

Now according to my weather widget it's 10c out there and the rain's stopped, so I might have to go out again tonight

anto164

If it's icy out, i get onto the mtb.. You can get as loose as a goose without worrying.

Muffintop

Full Merckx wrote:

I may be a woos, but it's -4C tonight and I'm due for a long ride tomorrow. Would you cycle ?

You'll be fine. Take your time round corners, wrap up warm and eat plenty during, and if at all possible find a cafe/pub stop with an open fire. I've cycled through a snow blizzard and it was one of my best cycles ever!

doyler78

Muffintop wrote:

Full Merckx wrote:

I may be a woos, but it's -4C tonight and I'm due for a long ride tomorrow. Would you cycle ?

You'll be fine. Take your time round corners, wrap up warm and eat plenty during, and if at all possible find a cafe/pub stop with an open fire. I've cycled through a snow blizzard and it was one of my best cycles ever!

I think tomorrow has come and gone

Muffintop

doyler78 wrote:

Muffintop wrote:

Full Merckx wrote:

I may be a woos, but it's -4C tonight and I'm due for a long ride tomorrow. Would you cycle ?

You'll be fine. Take your time round corners, wrap up warm and eat plenty during, and if at all possible find a cafe/pub stop with an open fire. I've cycled through a snow blizzard and it was one of my best cycles ever!

I think tomorrow has come and gone

Aye, alright smart @rse. :P

doyler78

Muffintop wrote:

doyler78 wrote:

Muffintop wrote:

Full Merckx wrote:

I may be a woos, but it's -4C tonight and I'm due for a long ride tomorrow. Would you cycle ?

You'll be fine. Take your time round corners, wrap up warm and eat plenty during, and if at all possible find a cafe/pub stop with an open fire. I've cycled through a snow blizzard and it was one of my best cycles ever!

I think tomorrow has come and gone

Aye, alright smart @rse. :P

Pokerface

I used to cycle to work in -50. But that's with the wind chill. It was late at night also so couldn't see the roads. But never had any problems. (This was in Montreal).

Full Merckx

-50 in Montreal ? Wasn't even that cold in the winter ice storms in 1997. Winnipeg, now that's cold

Pokerface

Full Merckx wrote:

-50 in Montreal ? Wasn't even that cold in the winter ice storms in 1997. Winnipeg, now that's cold

With the wind chill it was regularly that cold. Especially at night.

JamesB

and although it apparently didn't go below 2C, there were still some stretches of ice.

but as many above have pointed out it`s combinbation temps and water on roads to watch for.

One of scariest moments driving was a couple of years ago, car thermometer showing +2 c and slight long dip in road came up; entire road surface was glazed ice, virtually no control on steering, turned round very carefully came home. Remember cold air falls so slight road dips can be frozen up

Full Merckx

BTW it's chanking