[Closed] how cold is too cold to commute on the bike?

never too cold in the uk.

No fear of icey side roads?

Never too cold, wrap up warm and enjoy the frost, you can't beat a snowy commute through the woods. Even better is the smug feeling seeing cars slipping and sliding in the snow as you pedal past!

-10 last winter and I still rode in. Only 4 miles each way though.

too cold ! pah, wimps.

All year round men here in Scotland

an old lady trundles past my house every morning at 6:50 on an electric wheel chair thing to go and open her shop which i might add is at least 6 miles away.
the only days i didnt see her last year was when the snow was to deep.
she is old and she cant pedal to stay warm.
dont be a big shandy drinking girl. 😀

All year round here as well.

Its very rare you get anything nasty on the road IME

endura make winter ace....... 8)

I'm going to risk it in the morning, -1 here earlier, they've had the gritters out. it's not wet though roads are dry as a bone, as long as I take it easy on the downhill off-camber roundabout of death in the morning, should be fine.

never too cold in the UK.

yes we get ice but just take extra care and ride according to the road conditions.

Woah there chaps !

Cold off road no worries,

but on road ice.....

Shirely time to leave the skinny wheeled thing at home?

MC

It's not the cold you get put off buy, in fact the colder the better more times than not is the best.

What grates are high winds and incessant rain.

Are you on gritted roads or back lanes?

Never had a problem even in the Snow last year, but it was an urban commute and when everything went tits up traffic was slow and I rode in the tracks made by them (28 mm tyres).

However I would be cautious if I had some big hills on my commute in a rural area. Shaded areas under trees can be terrible when really cold as ice will persist. I have a friend who was in a small group, he was just behind and watched three people drop on a sheltered bit of ice under some trees. I think one them broke a bone.

If you are urban though I definitely would not worry, just take it easy and be sensible.

Mixture of back roads and mains /train/ and then in London mains and then quite a way along the South Bank

PS Endura'd up as well..

When your bike looks like this...
[img] http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSnImMLXmGxf7k5CGBOZeMGvjlv_BpwSoKhw1WT9LqbuKxTffWY [/img]

I think there was one day last winter I didn't get to work and I live in the Pentlandshire Alp.

Roads are tricky though - I have the Ice Spikers on order for the Onion.

Gritted roads in cities etc - fine, but as seemingly forgotten by the city boys above, country roads could easily have you off on black ice.

I came off a couple of times last year on ungritted back roads, even when carefull and holding off the brakes I still went down. Luckily I didn't have a tipper wagon following. Hard to judge but I'd keep to the verges and look to land a foot on the grass rather than riding more centrally if in doubt.

cynic-al - Member
Gritted roads in cities etc - fine, but as seemingly forgotten by the city boys above, country roads could easily have you off on black ice.

That was my point too. Urban no worries, different judgement rural depending on the road.

I had black ice have me off last year but worst thing about it was landing in great big frozen puddle. Was truly frozen. Did find ice a great skills test after that. just makes it slow going. Was easier at times to get back on the mountain bike and go off road.

I wouldn't risk it if it's icy, but the cold isn't so bad so long as you have good enough gloves/socks to stop your extremities going numb.

Already had an off last week on a country lane. 0645+mud&ice= me sliding then my mates bike landing on me 😆 i was stupid in the snow earlier this year. I will never do that again, but i do commute on countru roads that never get gritted.

It's not the cold its the ice. You can still get it in the cities you know. 🙂

I've had hypothermia twice. MTFU

No such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.

Never too cold but watch out for ice. I cycled to work most days last winter. It was so cold that my wet hair would be frozen solid after a ten minute cycle to work.

The only problem I had was with a section that hadn't been gritted at all and was icy.

Never too cold- when the roads get dodgy for the motorbike that's when I switch to cycling

nedrapier - Member

"No such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. "

And what clothing is it that you're wearing that melts sheet ice? 🙂

Had some great -5 or -6 rides in sunny Suffolk last winter, including one highly enjoyable one round Alton Water as the sun went down, racing a muntjack deer which was the only other creature out enjoying the crispness. Lots of impacted snow turning into ice sheets though, so some good sideways drift. As others have said, beware of black ice!

I did my 15 mile narrow country lane commute in minus 5 or 6C back at the start of the year, the cold wasn't a problem it was the worry of sheet ice round the next bend.

I overtook the snowplough on the way to work last year. It's only as good as the car it's stuck behind.

Use your own judgement, you can ride when it's cold enough for ice, but it can take you by surprise.

Rode gingerly I suppose and beware of a sudden lack of sound from your tyres which can be a sign you're riding on ice.

when the polarbears ask for a ride...........:-x

Depends on the bike a lot too

A skinny tyred road bike with drops is a bigger handful than fat tyres & MTB bars
There's was loads of early morning icy roads last year & during that spell of really bad weather, on the road out side my house we had a 6" layer of solid ice for about a month & with a big crown on the road it was unrideable, I had to push to the main road before I could get going

Temperature no problem, but ice gives me the willies. Layhams Road is my nemesis, the rest is in the 'burbs and town and no problem.

Wait, I've just remembered I read years and years ago that vigorous exercise in very low temperatures damages your lungs, but I think they were talking about -15. I will go and look it up.

I'm back, looks like I was talking rubbish: here's a link from Runners World

[url= http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267-269-7442-0,00.html ]Running in severe cold does NOT freeze your lungs[/url]

Depends on your commute - I wimp out severely when it's icy. Country roads are treated around my way but they are also very busy and cars drive even more like total retards in bad conditions. Have come off a couple of times on ice just lucky there wasn't a lorry full of rocks from the quarry on my tail.

Also, cold has quite an impact on reactions, once you get proper cold even pedalling hard won't warm you up. According to my mate you might have well have a couple of pints of wife beater before you leave.

Put your saddle down a bit to ease foot down stylings and dismounts? I've commuted on my Brompton in the snow, just more slowly downhill.

minus 3 in sunny leeds this morning when i set off in.
roads gritted, cracking morning for pootling to work.

-6 in town. Forgot the skull cap. Ears felt normal again 24hrs later.

Out of town tend to stick to the MTB if it's icy as the road bikes are just a bit 'skittish' for me. Maybe I should MTFU.

When it's icy

Just TTFU 😉

[url= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3363/3248403336_15e86a1cfa.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3363/3248403336_15e86a1cfa.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/simondbarnes/3248403336/ ]Snowy Commute 1[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/simondbarnes/ ]simondbarnes[/url], on Flickr

Cold isn't a problem, ice can be.

This was half way round my 15m commute a couple of years back...

[img] [/img]

As others have said it's never too cold but after coming off in the ice a couple of times last year then I give riding a miss when it's icy.

-10 was the coldest last year. Can't say I'd ever think it was too cold to be honest and fresh snow is fine to ride on, black ice is the worst and pretty much impossible to predict though knowing your route well helps as much as is possible.

I've just put some cross tyres on the Airnimal and taken off the slicks so I've a bit more confidence in the wet and ice...

It's never too cold in the UK, as the others have said. As far as ice goes, it's just a matter of leaving early and taking your time, and not being afraid to get creative with route choices.

I can't wait for the super cold, beats the wet every time.

Never too cold for me. Its an adventure!

Last year when it got really snowy I switched to the SS mtb and took my time. The ice on the canal path was interesting - came off a couple of times but never at speed, so it was more comical than anything. Ended up making a snow tyre with an old conti vert, some wee screws and some gaffa tape. Worked a treat. The only time I remember having to walk some of the way and get the train home was the day my chainring snapped in two. That was a cold day.

Around me Ice prevents me from riding all the way - untreated roads, so I do the country lanes in the car and then ride the remainder into town.

acjim - I think I may be doing the same thing.

Those saying you can commmute on untreated roads when it's icy are talking through your aerosols.

Are you saying that you know where the ice will be? Or that you can ride on it safely?

Sounds like you've never hit any proper black ice...you only need to think about changing direction/speed and you are DOWN.

Ice
Ice
Ice

It's not nice

When you fall
On

Ice
Ice
Ice

I actualy commute more when it's icy/cold/snowing/gritty! As there's less alternatives (car is downright dangerous/rusting, busses arent running, train is packed).

When its nice I'm on the road bike or tourer. When the ice and snow comes it's usualy some sort of hardtail mountainbike with mud tyres (specialized storm dual compound is a perenial favourite, closely followed by maxxis swamp things when it gets really bad).

Not stopped me yet 🙂

when the snow is deeper than the brompton wheel.... then it is time to stay in doors... train will be cancelled anyhow

I have to admit I normally commute a lot less at this time of year, combination of the missus wanting a lift (she has to take the bus when I cycle) and me worried about ending up on my face after sliding on an icy patch.

I'm more determined this year to commute more through the winter. I commute on an old Stumpjumper hardtail with completely slick Schwalbe Kojaks, if I switch to fat offroad tyres is this a better option on icy roads?

If its too cold / dangerous on a bike its too cold / dangerous on any vehicle.

If its too cold / dangerous on a bike its too cold / dangerous on any vehicle

BS I have never fell off my car because its too icy

If you google you might find instructions on how to make your own winter spikes. People on here did it last year.

As above really, it's never too cold but ice can be a problem, stick to gritted roads if at all possible or stay offroad. I switch to my mountainbike when it's snowy and icy (As opposed to a 26" racy commuter). It's no better on ice but fat tyres help on snow. The flat pedals wide bar and relaxed geometry make it more controllable and in the worse cases, easier to ditch.

Those saying you can commmute on untreated roads when it's icy are talking through your aerosol

Funny, did it pretty much every day on untreated or gritted country roads and lanes last year throughout the winter, snow, ice and all. If I want to get to work then I don't have a choice unless I want to get up even earlier to face a 6 mile walk...

Just had to take it very slowly / carefully in places - I'd be lying if I said I didn't end up on my arse more than a few times but it was certainly doable. I was more confident riding about on the bike than I was in the car on the same roads.

Really? Black ice?

I have been commuting in London village about a year and generally it's been better than rural stuff. As everybody has said it's not the temperature or any snow that causes a problem, but it's the ice. In London you'll be able to worry less than in other areas as heat from buildings etc helps but you should still watch out on back roads and in the suburbs. I've fallen from an Mtb hitting some black ice. It flippin hurts. Now I commute on a cross Nike with road tyres. Eek.

Falling on black ice is in another league to most 'offs'

All of a sudden - from nowhere - you're thrown to the floor like someone has picked you up & slammed you down as hard as they can

You've absolutely no chance to react or do anything about it, it certainly isn't a gentle slide off sort of crash

falkirk-mark - Member

"If its too cold / dangerous on a bike its too cold / dangerous on any vehicle"

BS I have never fell off my car because its too icy

But you are at least as likely to crash and when you do you have a tonne of metal out of control into the scenery / pedestrians / cyclists.

I agre black ice is hard to avoid falling on ( but not impossible) but what youcan do is look out for it/ know when and where it is likely

When there is ice on the road outside our house and on the car windscreen then the backroad i use is unsafe. Hilly, twisty and never gritted. So my sensible option is the busy main road sat in a car.
Its all down to your route choice, ive used the main road very early at -7 when there is no traffic and it has been gritted. On the other hand if its snowy the backroad is fine regardless of temp.
To be fair i am tired of commuting and so i am getting a 2nd hand car tonight, to ease thing a little. 5000+ miles commuting this year has dissolved my love of riding so hopefully a choice to drive will help things. Might make me less tired to get out and run more to. hopefully!

-4 this morning on the cycle in

Lovely

It's only too cold to commute when you run out of extra layers. That hasn't happened to me yet.

Haha I wouldn't rely on city roads being gritted, riding in Manchester was hilarious last year! I gave up when I started braking for red lights and ended up sliding straight through with one foot on the floor to stop me stacking it. Suddenly became unenjoyable, especially when the buses decided to follow 6ft behind.

My advice is if you worry about it, you crash, if you don't and stay loose you'll probably be ok. you get numb bits but its not bad once oyu get going. One day it was -16! that was cold..

Don't kid yourself - when you hit black ice and stay on you might start believing that was down to experience and skill. But it was luck.

At the very least you need a good margin for error and mishap when you're riding on the road, and icy roads reduce the margin to next to nothing. Even if you accept the odd slip and hitting of the deck, one day that's going to be on a left hand bend with a car coming the other way, and that very car is also operating without the usual options for safety, so it can't swerve and it can't brake quickly. Which means (for me anyway) if there is [i]widespread[/i] ice the back lanes aren't good enough for road cycling.

But you are at least as likely to crash

Really?

I must have slid on ice in my car hundreds of times last winter but managed to avoid crashing at all
I fell off my bike at least 4 times on ice over much less mileage

It's never been too cold around here, cold enough to freeze my water bottle a few times, but never too cold.
I've hit the deck once from black ice but just had a bit of a slide down the road before picking myself up and getting on with it.

WARNING
I switched to the MTB last year when the roads were snowy, which was fine until 2 weeks later when I discovered my drivetrain badly corroded from all the salt that I never washed off - Doh!

I've hit the deck once from black ice but just had a bit of a slide down the road before picking myself up and getting on with it.

We had freezing rain last year, couldn't walk let alone ride, 900 people treated for fractures at the hospital before 9am, hundreds of car accidents in the same period

[url= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/4215715764_6dcbba3d07_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/4215715764_6dcbba3d07_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

But you are at least as likely to crash and when you do you have a tonne of metal out of control into the scenery / pedestrians / cyclists.

"whoosh"

Really? Black ice?

I've come off on black ice a few time, does that count? I'm sure if all 15 miles of the ride to the station was black ice from verge-to-verge then I might give it a miss but generally that doesn't tend to be the case. As mentioned before I know the route reasonably well so I'd hope I was aware of the areas likely to be prone to ice.

Going back to the O.P the point being that there wasn't a point last winter where I've thought "bugger this for a packet of biscuits, it's too cold to ride to work", more along the lines of "it's cold and icy, best be careful today and set out earlier, take it easy etc"...

Keep on truckin!
one of the -18 mornings last January,great fun and it got better once the gritters ran out of salt and roads were just ploughed and snowpacked nice and firm.
Problem with a snow bike is you always get to work!
[img] [/img]
drifts were good fun...4 psi in the 4" tyres, i took a normal mtb in one morning and it was ok with tyre`s at 18 psi for a comparison and it got through most of the drifts but was alot harder work.
[img] [/img]
Ice on this wee hill was dodgy but just road up in the gutter,
[img] [/img]
great fun and preying for more this winter!, spikes going on a spare Endomorph tyre 😉

Sounds like you've never hit any proper black ice...you only need to think about changing direction/speed and you are DOWN.

I have a drive at around a 30 degree angle, onto a slightly less steep road, with a hard left hand bend. I usually launch out of the garage batman stylee , legs a-flailing as after I'm round the corner the 'main' road kicks up fairly steep.

Guess where the black ice was.

Can still feel the bruising on my hip 🙁

I try and go offroad as much as possible, but the rest of the commute can be pretty lethal on virtually unused backroads.

WARNING
I switched to the MTB last year when the roads were snowy, which was fine until 2 weeks later when I discovered my drivetrain badly corroded from all the salt that I never washed off - Doh!

Surly stainless singlespeed chainrings for the win!

Or a hose pipe and a bit of shivering when you get home.

But you are at least as likely to crash and when you do you have a tonne of metal out of control into the scenery / pedestrians / cyclists

I do not agree with the first part of the statement (for a car to skid and lose control you need at least 2 wheels to lose traction,only one on a bike and you are on yer 4r$3) so the outcome could be worse in a car but I think driven sensibly it is not near as likely to happen. It is also very much a journey specific decision i.e when I go to work there are a lot of cars about but very few pedestrians and if I am hitting another car I would much rather be ncapped up ta very much.

[i]-4 this morning on the cycle in[/i]

um I take you don't live in Shawlands anymore then bob. It was above zero in Glasgow and around zero in Kilmarnock.

Riding on proper black ice is just crazy though, the slightest move and you're down and sliding. If the pavement outside the house is slippy then I don't ride - it's no fun, I will fall, I will slide a long way and it does hurt. Patches of ice are fine but riding when there is a proper covering of ice is way too dangerous.

Are people confusing ice with frost?

I biked all through last years winter, but just 5-6 miles each way. on an old orange clockwork with 1.5 armadillo's. i must have had about 4 slips/crashes on icy roads and paths, and already two this year. but still beats getting the bus.