Riding in single digit weather.

[Mike P]

The arctic blast has finally came my way. May be strange but I'm looking forward to the morning commute in the estimated 9 degree weather in a few hours.

I'm gonna love taking money from 3 co-workers that bet me I wouldn't ride to work in the morning. :yahoo:

They tried to scare me off by emailing this to me today.....

 

[Mike-H]

Just remember that ice can form @37.5 degrees F.......what's your health worth? :blink: .......

 

[SPORT]

Mike,

Cool!

I was looking forward to riding today also (high of 15F), but I'm not up with tackling ice on the road.

Have fun and stay safe!

Report back about your experience so other can see that it just ain't that bad.

 

[FJR Flyer]

It is 15 deg F here this morning. No ice, completely dry roads. Ride in is about 32 miles, 1/2 hour. Widder gloves weren't keeping up and the toes were getting really cold.

Time for a new battery. Garage was 28 deg F but I needed to jump the FJR with the FJ.

 

[SPORT]

It is 15 deg F here this morning. No ice, completely dry roads. Ride in is about 32 miles, 1/2 hour. Widder gloves weren't keeping up and the toes were getting really cold.
Time for a new battery. Garage was 28 deg F but I needed to jump the FJR with the FJ.

The Widder's aren't keeping up?

The coldest my fingers can handle without heat is in the upper teens. However, the new pair of Gerbing gloves and insoles purchased last week are my attempts to ride in the single digits. The assumption being that cold fingers should be a thing of the past, even in single digit temps. Is this assuming too much?

 

[FJR Flyer]

The Widder's aren't keeping up?
The coldest my fingers can handle without heat is in the upper teens. However, the new pair of Gerbing gloves and insoles purchased last week are my attempts to ride in the single digits. The assumption being that cold fingers should be a thing of the past, even in single digit temps. Is this assuming too much?

Not impressed with the Widders. They get nice and warm, usually, on the back to the hand, but never more than luke warm in the fingers when its above 20 deg. This morning, my finger tips were getting cold, and had my commute been much longer, probably would have started to get a little numb.

Haven't used Gerbings, but tried them on at the bike shows, after I got the Widders, and the Gerbings seem to get really toasty.

 

[Mike P]

Ride wasn't bad BUT.....

Garage was 50 degrees, let it idle until 4 bars on the temp gauge were lit up. Took off, as soon as I hit the HWY 2 bars on the temp gauge was all it would show. So I rode easy. After 14 miles I got to the off ramp, downshifted all the way to first rolling up to redlight. When I went to take off nothing, looked down and had "Shift 48" showing. Even though it was showing 1st gear it wouldn't move. All I did was cycle the power, it cleaered the code and proceeded to let me start it in gear.

Other then that 9 degrees wasn't so bad.

What is "Shift 48" anyway? I've started doing a search but havn't found an answer just yet.

 

[mmonroe]

It was 14ºF at home when I rode in this morning. Was 16ºF as I pulled into the parking lot at work. I still need to get some heated gear and/or some heated grips but my heavier gloves and Aerostich do pretty good for the short commute in.

Mark

Harrisburg NC

 

[MEM]

Hey! cool chart (no pun intended). I checked it out against actual temps here this morning. It's -34C (-29F). Wind is SW 5Km = -40 WC.

-40C = -40F.

No riding going on here !! :assassin:

 

[jekirby]

Rode last night 16 deg. Short trip 20 minutes +/-. Warm and toasty.

 

[Checkswrecks]

It is 15 deg F here this morning. No ice, completely dry roads. Ride in is about 32 miles, 1/2 hour. Widder gloves weren't keeping up and the toes were getting really cold.
Time for a new battery. Garage was 28 deg F but I needed to jump the FJR with the FJ.

The Widder's aren't keeping up?

The coldest my fingers can handle without heat is in the upper teens. However, the new pair of Gerbing gloves and insoles purchased last week are my attempts to ride in the single digits. The assumption being that cold fingers should be a thing of the past, even in single digit temps. Is this assuming too much?

If you've not tried them out already, you're going to love the Gerbings!!!

Bob

 

[odot]

You guys are so kewl that ride in cold weather. I just can't do it.

 

[Mike P]

I've ridin all winter except I did miss a few days last month due to all the rain and ever changing temps we had. I don't mind the cold and I don't mind the rain but mix the two then I'm out.

It is priceless at peoples reaction at red lights and walking into a conveinance store when it's this cold.

 

[Tenchi]

I've been committed to riding the bicycle in to work no matter what. Even when it dropped into the low 20's I was doing the same thing. Single digits around Redmond? Probably not going to happen...The last time I rode in was the 14th of November.

I'm not sure what's worse - riding a bicycle, where you're constantly working hard and keeping blood flow going but have to layer down a bit so you can still move, or riding a motorcycle, where the wind chill factor is higher but you have the luxury of layering up and keeping warm that way. I'd say bicycle, because there's no heated grips, no heated vest... nothing...

 

[odot]

At least yer wearing yer brain bucket......that should help.....you......feel safer.

 

[Old Michael]

...temps here this morning. It's -34C (-29F). Wind is SW 5Km = -40 WC.
-40C = -40F.

No riding going on here !! ...

Pffffft. Sissy.

 

[chrisflock]

I wanted to ride to work this morning, but it was -26 F.

That, and the fact that the roads are all covered with ice. That too.

Maybe next year when the glaciers push the Mastadon herds south, I'll follow...

 

[SPORT]

How do you define single digit?

11F this morning with a -3F windchill factor. New Gerbing heated gloves did well. Coldest part of the body were my cheeks & nose. After raising the windshield up that also subsided. Chest got cool, but never really got me cold. Due to the Schampa head cover and the inner liner for my winter jacket, I'm beginning to feel a little like the Michlen man. Toes were cold and am still waiting on Gerbing heated insoles to be delivered. Overall, not a bad ride.

 

[user 213]

Maybe next year when the glaciers push the Mastadon herds south, I'll follow...

Yeah, that's what your ancestors said too. Apparently they never quite made it...



Oh, and it's a balmy 29F here, sunny and dry. Wish the bike was back together so I could ride today. I better get back to the garage and get busy.