Too cold to ride?

Contador\'sbutcher

The forecast where i live (http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/tom ... ipcode=al3)
tomorrow is bitterly cold but dry: is that safe to ride? I have a 25 mile commute, which I have not done for a week, and want to get back on my bike. Any advice?

Cleat Eastwood

but for the cold, excellent conditions. i let a bit of air out of the tyres, avoid grids and stuff, rides i've done since the arctic blast my feet and finger tips have been lke ice for the first couple of miles, one thing i found warms me up is spinning in a lower gear more for a mile or two.

porlyworly

I've been out tonight and it was absolutely fine, just layer up well

Escadrille Ecosse

It's only -4 degrees, stay off the shiny bits and MTFU

Contador\'sbutcher

Escadrille Ecosse wrote:

It's only -4 degrees, stay off the shiny bits and MTFU

I knew someone would say that...

petemadoc

Contador\'sbutcher wrote:

Escadrille Ecosse wrote:

It's only -4 degrees, stay off the shiny bits and MTFU

I knew someone would say that...

Just in case you didn't get that

Seriously though. For me it's all about hands and feet, if you can somehow keep them warm you'll be ok.

cwm

mtfu,wtf?
had to google that to find out what it meant :shock:

donkykong

minus 4 is that all,


i did 2 x 80 mile rides last week it was minus 8 both times i went out, no cafe stops, take a flask with ya and some malt loaf, and get some neoprene overshoes on, and spin a low gear, oh watch out for the shiny bits
last night here was minus 17

Escadrille Ecosse

donkykong wrote:

minus 4 is that all,


i did 2 x 80 mile rides last week it was minus 8 both times i went out, no cafe stops, take a flask with ya and some malt loaf, and get some neoprene overshoes on, and spin a low gear, oh watch out for the shiny bits
last night here was minus 17

Respect, if nothing else but for overcoming the wind resistance of the beard icicles :shock:

pauldavid

donkykong wrote:

minus 4 is that all,


i did 2 x 80 mile rides last week it was minus 8 both times i went out, no cafe stops, take a flask with ya and some malt loaf, and get some neoprene overshoes on, and spin a low gear, oh watch out for the shiny bits
last night here was minus 17

This photo provides more compelling evidence than I thought existed for why beards are just so wrong, nice helmet though

Escadrille Ecosse

This photo provides more compelling evidence than I thought existed for why beards are just so wrong, nice helmet though [/quote]

Oi, it's the only hair on my head that is in remotely the right place :?

nweststeyn

Be super aware of the bits that look slippy. Be aware of the bits that don't look slippy. But wrap up warm, get out there and ride. No excuses. MTFU.

DrKJM

Never thought of ski goggles to keep the cold off. Been using my cycling glasses on my commute. Goggles too much for a quick tootle into the city when it's cold and snowy? I bought crap ones so frankly they're not much good for skiing and need replacing anyway.

Twostage

Yes I've been having frozen eyeball syndrome going downhill these mornings. Hadnt thought about ski mask. I was just going to break out my sunglasses now the mornings are light.

Contador\'sbutcher

In the end I rode to work and back today - just under 50 and was fantastic - roads were bone dry

AndyD2574

Its never too cold to ride............just wear more!!

ChrisSA

donkykong wrote:

I think you've blown a seal...

briantrumpet

ChrisSA wrote:

I think you've blown a seal...

Is that legal?

On the plus side, we now know what the result looks like.

Scrumple

Fall off on the ice, and break a bone, and realise that it isn't worth the risk.

Not about staying warm, more about staying safe. If it is below zero then the roads will be lethal if you stray off the main routes.

For the sake of that gamble, I'm not risking it.

Lost track of the number of threads on this subject - if you are having to ask ,you are worried. If you are worried there is a risk. Make your own bloody mind up on the risk, just like you have to do with every other gamble in life.

Every year I know someone who falls off, and someone who doesn't. The odds will get you.

OffTheBackAdam

Anyone lower than this today?


It does say -16C, wish this bloody board would auto-resize photos! :evil:

cornerblock

bigjim

Not worth the risk. I came off a couple of weeks ago on black ice. You can't always see the danger bits. 2 years ago I came off and broke my arm. I've now got unrepairable damage to that arm even after an op for the trapped nerve. I hate being off the bike but I hide in the boring gym or go for long fast walks until it improves.

t.m.h.n.e.t

Went out one of the coldest days last week,coming across a road width icepatch fairly increases your heart rate

NWLondoner

you should also factor in could you afford the financial implications of fall??

My finances at present are as tight as a scotsman so any damage that put the bike out of action would mean no riding for many weeks if not months.

Also could you afford to be off work for however long it would take to heal??

My company recently abolished 100% sick pay and it is now at my managers discretion,

Trying to explain that i came off on black ice while riding in sub zero temps would probably result in little sympathy and NO sick pay!!!


yes it is annoying looking out the window now to see bright sunshine and clear blue sky and the local roads do look safe, but all it takes is one frozen patch and you'll be hitting the tarmac faster than Cavendish in the final stage of the tour of qatar :oops:

dirtymonkey1985

Got out for a few miles this morning, the average temperature was -4 so we knew it'd be a slow steady one . Luckily we only came across a few spots that were dicy and everyone managed to stay upright (despite our back wheels often slipping out from under us).
I think in this weather as long as you take it steady and can spot the risky parts in advance it can be very enjoyable

sungod

even london was so cold that the water turned to slush in the bottle, must be really nippy out of town

did the first lap of my route slow to see if there were any dodgy areas, aside from a spot with a water leak where the road had a huge amount of salt spread over it, things were nice and clear, just had to keep going hard enough to avoid freezing

stopped for a snack and a coffee, sat outside in the sun, lovely and warm!

Escadrille Ecosse

If you are really worried about falling off, then either don't go or get yourself a set of spike tyres. They work brilliantly on ice, are fine on the road if a bit hard work and make a really odd sound, like riding on rocksalt.

Frank the tank

Been out off road on the cross bike today, it was cold but it was a great ride/workout snow drains your energy reserves, and just use a bit of "cocum" where icey patches are concerned.

A little common sense goes a long way.

roypsb

It was -7 at 0930 round our way today. Itching to get out because it was absolutely gorgeous clear blue sky but checked the forecast for tomorrow and decided that was a better bet as it'll be a fair few degrees warmer.

You guys should drop the MTFU crap - it's not big or clever, a very neanderthal thing to say!

ryan_w-2

Went out in -15 today on the MTB. Had to come back after 30 mins since the oil in the forks started to freeze! Every bearing had frozen too, not good!

MattC59

RoyPSB wrote:

You guys should drop the MTFU crap - it's not big or clever, a very neanderthal thing to say!

oooooh, get you !!.......... handbags at dawn !!!