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| How Cold Is Too Cold To Ride? |
My thoughts turned to a ride I made from San Angelo to Odessa when the early morning temperatures were in the upper-40’s. I wore a thermal undershirt, long sleeves, and a textile jacket but by the time I got to Midland I was chilled to the bone. My teeth were chattering and I was shivering almost uncontrollably. I stopped at a McDonalds to warm-up…after two cups of hot chocolate I finally stopped shivering. Given this experience and the buzz on Google+, I decided to do a little research and find a definitive answer. Here’s what I found…
There is no definitive answer. There’s no magic temperature below which it
is unsafe to ride. Our bodies are quite
remarkable and with proper insulation and protection can withstand frigid, well-below-zero
temperatures (think snowmobile in the Antarctic). In the end, it comes down to rider
preparation and preference.
Preparation
You need to understand the hazards of cold weather riding
like hypothermia (a decrease in core body temperature to a level at which
normal muscle and brain functions are impaired) and frostnip/frostbite in order
to prevent them. I discovered on my ride
to Odessa that you can suffer from mild hypothermia even when the outside temperatures are in the
upper 40’s. I had neglected the effect
of moving through the air at 70 mph and the resulting wind chill. If the temperature is 47° F
and you’re travelling 70 mph without a windshield, it can effectively feel like
34°.
No wonder, I was shivering!
Learn from my mistake and dress in warm layers to insulate yourself
from the cold. If the temperatures are
in the 40’s and you’ll be riding at freeway speeds, you should also make sure to
cover all exposed skin paying special attention to your ears, nose, chin, and
fingers, as they’re the most susceptible to frostnip/frostbite. Remember to
consider the outside air temperature, your planned speed, and trip length when
preparing for a cool/cold weather ride. These considerations will help gauge
what you need to wear to stay warm and hopefully, comfortable.
Preference
Only you can decide when it’s too cold to ride. Everyone has his or her own opinion…and
everyone is right. After all, it is your
ride. Just keep in mind that you can
extend your riding season by carefully selecting your gear. There are lots of choices of leather and
textile to build insulating layers and you can even choose heated gear to
minimize the bulk. You don’t have to
dress like the Michelin Man to stay warm during a cold weather ride. :-)
So, what temperature is too cold for
you? What types of gear/clothing do you
use to extend your riding season? Leave
a comment and let’s see what we can learn from one another.
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Learn more
about Speed and Temperature
Learn how to
calculate Wind Chill
Learn more
about Hypothermia
Learn more
about Frostnip and Frostbite
Learn more
about the Science of Cold