24 degrees f

[Rob S.]

Alright, that's with windchill. But it's predicted to go all the way up to 26!

Could some of you Canadians convince me that it's not unreasonable to go for a short ride today?

Who takes the cake for lowest-degree-ride today?

[BigD_83]

Ride in 24F? We barely see those temperatures here in our tropical northwet coast.

When I did live out east, I think the coldest I EVER rode in would have been around 28F without windchill, but that was as a dumb 21 year old. Might do it still, but I'd have to be geared up to guard against frostbite, as repeated episodes are not good for the extremities.

As long as you don't have black ice or snow to deal with, have a good ride!

[bccap]

70 above (+19 deg. Celsius): Texans turn on the heat and unpack the thermal underwear. People in Canada go swimming in the Lakes. 60 above (+14 C): North Carolinians try to turn on the heat. People in Canada plant gardens. 50 above (+9 C): Californians shiver uncontrollably. People in Canada sunbathe. 40 above (+4 C): Italian and English cars won't start. People in Canada drive with the windows down. 32 above (0 C): Distilled water freezes. Lake Superior's water gets thicker. 20 above (-6 C): Floridians put on coats, thermal underwear, gloves and woolly hats. People in Canada throw on a flannel shirt. 15 above (-8.5 C): Philadelphia landlords finally turn up the heat. People in Canada have the last cookout before it gets cold. 0 degrees (-18 C): People in Miami all die. Canadians lick the flagpole. 20 below (-26 C): Californians fly away to Mexico. People in Canada get out their winter coats. 40 below (-36 C): Hollywood disintegrates. The Girl Guides in Canada re selling cookies door to door. 60 below (-46 C): Polar bears begin to evacuate the Arctic. Canadian Boy Scouts postpone "Winter Survival" classes until it gets cold enough. 80 below (-56 C): Mt. St. Helens freezes. People in Canada rent some videos. 100 below (-66 C): Santa Claus abandons the North Pole. Canadians get frustrated because they can't thaw the keg. 297 below (-164.5 C): Microbial life no longer survives on dairy products. Cows in Canada complain about farmers with cold hands. 460 below (-246 C): ALL atomic motion stops (absolute zero in the Kelvin scale). People in Canada start saying, "Cold 'nuff for ya?" 500 below (-266 C): Hell freezes over. The Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup.

[Rob S.]

Good stuff!

[TooManyToys]

The only time I've ever been in a hypothermic condition was on a motorcycle. Went for a ride with my future/ex wife up into the Catskills leaving from North Jersey. Once the sun went down the temps dropped way more then was forecast. Could not get warm no matter how much we stopped or how many hot drinks I had. Remember that my fingers got so cold through the gloves that they started to not work too well, making clutch use really hard. Judgement also got really poor.

When we got to her apartment I stayed in a hot bath for two hours and even after that I was cold all night.

But hey, even after that I had ridden some times getting caught in a little snow, to the point of now knowing I can ride faster in 1-2" of snow with the skinny tires of a GS1100E better then an older Corvette.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Coldest temp I ever rode in was about 22 degrees at about 70 mph. Don't know what that is with wind chill?
I was on my way to Death Valley National Park and going through the Mojave Desert area. I left about 5:00 in the AM. After 100 miles I had to pull over and get off to walk around some.
I dressed well enough up top but only had Levi's for my legs. Cold doesn't describe it. I was on my '07 ZX14 and the bodywork channels some heat to your lower legs but I felt nothing from the motor. Just cold! Didn't warm up much until I got into Death Valley about two hours later. Still had to go over a pass at about 5,000' that bit me one more time.
I would NOT do it the same way again.

[habsdoc]

Come on, if the roads are good, just gear up and do it. I have and still do ride at that temperature as long as roads are clear and dry. Snow and road crap is here now in Winnipeg, so I can only wait for March or April to roll around now in order to ride the bike. But now we just change over to our snow mobiles and enjoy that riding till spring is here.

[Rob S.]

Come on, if the roads are good, just gear up and do it. I have and still do ride at that temperature as long as roads are clear and dry.

I ride year round here. No electric clothes or heated grips either. Long johns and a pair of gloves are the only steps I take in my old age. (I rarely wore gloves in my teens and twenties - I liked to "feel" the bike with my bare hands.)

PS I lived in that part of NY State that is now under yards of snow. I was there for the blizzard of '77 that has now been surpassed. "Lake effect" snow, they called it.

[bccap]

I ride year round here. No electric clothes or heated grips either. Long johns and a pair of gloves are the only steps I take in my old age. (I rarely wore gloves in my teens and twenties - I liked to "feel" the bike with my bare hands.)

PS I lived in that part of NY State that is now under yards of snow. I was there for the blizzard of '77 that has now been surpassed. "Lake effect" snow, they called it.

Following that story on the news. Hope all of our members who live there are okay. Pretty wild stuff......

[dorkburger]

I ocassionaly ride in the cold, but not if theres a chance of ice patches....as in not below 32º.

[Crankthat]

I remember the year all I had was a bike.
45 min each way to work and back.
Even on the coldest nights a few degrees rise in temps as you go down in the low areas is very welcoming.
Worked outdoors in the winter so always have had much gear.
Fingertips would never stay warm on the bike.
On the really cold nights making snow I would soak in a tub for over a hour when home, constantly adding hot water to try and raise my core temp and to stop slurring my words as on the verge of hypothermia.

I actually kinda miss that job.




Contemplating going for a ride this afternoon not sure what the temp is or what it will be.
Been parking the bike in front of my door as the bike barn is getting a addition and waiting for the carpenters to finish up.
Cannot have my freedom blocked in!

[Rob S.]

I actually kinda miss that job.

Contemplating going for a ride this afternoon not sure what the temp is or what it will be.

I think most miss the trials and tribulations of their early days.

I'm going to try and hold out till tomorrow - supposed to be ten degrees warmer than today. But I zipped the liner into my leather jacket last night. I imagine it'll be there till April or May.

[rustybronco]

15 above (-8.5 C): Philadelphia landlords finally turn up the heat. People in Canada have the last cookout before it gets cold.

Works the same way here...

[chuck hahn]

My coldest was an actual air temp of 4 degrees above zero at about 40 MPH Chaps, jacket with liner and gloves...game on for about 6 miles. thats was far enough though.

[Crankthat]

I think most miss the trials and tribulations of their early days.

I'm going to try and hold out till tomorrow - supposed to be ten degrees warmer than today. But I zipped the liner into my leather jacket last night. I imagine it'll be there till April or May.

You can feel the cold here in Pa.

Miss the setting and the people the most.
To be on top of one of Pa. small mountains when the air is devoid of moisture because it is so cold and smoking a joint with other crazy, play hard people who love the outdoors, watching the stars and sharing stories, grilling food on top of the mountain, playing football on deep snow, snowboarding without any light but the moon, jumping the resorts snowmobiles over everything while the skids do not touch the ground as it is just to steep, living it!

Snowmaking can be a very grueling job as it is always below zero and the snow is constantly burying things that need dug out.
The whole time you make snow the breeze and most nights wind blows ice crystals in your face.
Goggles just coat over with ice to fast to be worn, the ice on your clothing helps insulate you. (going inside I hang equipment outside to keep it icy)
Whenever snowmakers have a easy night with marginal snowmaking temps everybody makes the best of it.
You work so hard that when you have a few days off your muscles start to hurt because you are idle. (have worked 42 days straight 12 hour shifts with good weather)

The resorts give the snowmakers lots of slack as it is very difficult to find good snowmakers.
To put up with such conditions you make the best of it.
You have fun every chance you get.
Snowmakers have a reputation.
If you are not on the crazy side you do not last.
If you are on the crazy side you fit right in.

I still snowboard when I can.
I still hang with snowmakers past and present.
Just love the resorts.

And Rob, women at resorts tend to be very healthy and adventurous.
A hot chick is hot, but a hot chick on a snowboard......................................... ...........