How cold is too cold?

[TooBama]

My weather tomorrow according to Weather.com:

Leave for work: Sunny / 40 (feels like 36)
Lunch: Sunny / 54 (feels like 51)
Going home: Sunny / 54 (feels like 51)

Winds about 11 to 12 mph.

Sunny makes me wanna take the 2 wheels, "feels like 36" makes me wanna take the 4 wheels. I work 45 miles from home.

What to do, what to do.......

[Wrider]

I leave for work at 5:30 when it's 25 degrees out, hit up to 65 or 70 before getting there... Just bundle up and you'll be fine!
Wrider

[qwerty]

If I have good riding attire, 30-70*F is the most comfortable range. Colder than that and some means of heating my hands is necessary. Warmer than that, time to start opening vents.

[CajunBass]

I rode a Yamaha Majesty scooter, 78 miles one way, a lot last winter. The coldest temp I remember off the top of my head was 24 degrees, Christmas Eve. The trip would take me about two hours, giving me time to stop to warm up if needed.

If you have good warm clothing and something to break the wind off you, windshield, farings, etc., it's nice to ride in cold weather. A snowmobile suit is great, as is a full faced helmet. The two big problems I had were my hands getting cold, and my visor/glasses fogging up. When you're moving, cracking you visor open a little will solve the problem of fogging, but at stops, you have to watch for it. I've found a few things that help, but none that stop it compleatly. If you don't wear glasses, just open your visor when stopped, and close it when you get moving again.

Good, leather, inslulated gloves or mittens are a lifesaver, but the best of all are heated gloves.

I'm almost looking forward to the first cold ride on my BMW K1200LT now. I was out this morning at 40 deg, with a T-shirt, a sweater, my First gear jacket, and a pair of jeans and a pair of thin leather gloves on, and didn't get cold at all. I did turn on my heated grips and seat for a while just the check them out.

[TooBama]

I GOTTA get me some winter riding gloves. I think that is the key thing with me and probably why I am not so gung-ho about tomorrow. I am good all over except for the gloves....

My good leather ones are worn out from last year and I've been using my regular riding gloves up to this point of the year.

[VermilionX]

this is too cold....

i'll never ever ride in this kind of condition ever again.

[TooBama]

Oh damn...that's funny !! New wallpaper !!

[Posthumane]

I rode from calgary to medicine hat all the time earlier in the year, about 300km one way. The coldest I think was -7 celcius (about 19* Farenheit). The bike i was riding had some diy heated grips (which I might transfer to my 599), and I bundled up. The most important thing is you cover all skin and close off all points of wind entry (ie, around the cuff openings, waist, etc). But, you have to be careful of condensation at these temps. Any dew buildup on the road will freeze quickly and turn real slick. Also, I rode in heavy fog once right around freezing temperature, and it built up 1/4" think on my helmet and visor.

[Skier]

I voted "Ride," but it you're not comfortable doing it, don't. If you want to stay warm and do it, find out what gets cold the most and fix that. Still, protect your neck first and chest second.

this is too cold....

i'll never ever ride in this kind of condition ever again.
[img]Wussy chains required[img]

Wimp! If those tires you bought are so awesome, they should have great winter traction.

[sharpmagna]

I'm riding into work tomorrow. Weather will be comparable to what you described. I have riding pants that are insulated, jacket with an insulated liner, insulated/waterproof gauntlet gloves, full face helmet, balaclava around my neck to keep it warm. I've done it in 40*F weather and it wasn't bad at all.