How cold will you ride?

[HikerToo_imp]

As we approach the fall season, and I start to think about cold weather riding, and possible gear I may need to ride in sub 40/50 degree weather, I was wondering now that I'm not 20 years old any more, how cold I'll even ride my CB1100, even with the proper gear?
Do most people lock up their bike for the winter or try to ride on "nice" days all winter long, what are your limits?

[Buffalohead_imp]

When I was young (and stupid), I caught a ride about 50 miles to Tulsa to pick up my bike that had been repaired after an accident. I "thought" I was tough enough to ride it home. I was layered with all kinds if cold weather gear. I was so cold when I got home, I had to let the bike lay down on it's side because I couldn't hold it up. To this day I can't stand to ride in cold weather, at least not below freezing. I have learned not to EVER ride on a naked bike when it's 11 degrees F, no matter how much gear I have on

[CIP57_imp]

Hiker,

I live in a similar climate as you ( lower NY State ) I ride all winter when permitted. These damn salt brine trucks make it harder lately. They put down brine sometimes with no precipitation. I will be putting on a fairing when weather gets cold. I'll ride as long as the temp is above freezing when ice would be a problem.

[furious_blue_imp]

I have done sustained rides at around 32-34 on a blackbird, but found that it was not fun. I put my enjoyable threshold at about 42 F.

[Randy_S_imp]

About 40 degrees is my limit, but the big thing for me is that the roads are dry - no slush or ice. I've managed to ride every month of the year even if the trip only lasts 20-30 minutes.

[dailyrider_imp]

I used to ride ice out to ice in and good days in between. Three years ago I went down on a corner at low speed with a new cold rear tire on my F4i. It was thirty degrees out. I just accelerated lightly out of the corner.
I am getting older and not feeling so immortal like I used to when I was younger. I'll probably use forty five degrees as a lower limit for my commute now.

[The Spaceman_imp]

Sometimes temps here plummet into the 60's. That's when I take the car.

[ChipBeck_imp]

Gentlemen,

Where I live we have the opposite problem. How hot will you ride? All summer I can only ride at night as 110+ degree summer temps are so miserable that it's unbearable. In June through August I'm a vampire and only come out at night when it's still upper 90's. but in the winter it's wonderful here. Dinner outside by the pool on Christmas Day.

But to answer your question, about 50 degrees is my limit. Cold roads and tires have very little grip so extra caution is required. Cheers.

Chip

[the Ferret]

Here in Ohio, winters can get bad, but we can generally ride from March 1st up until the first week of January. I will ride as long as there is no ice or accumulated snow. It is a tradition for my brother and I to ride on New Years Day weather permitting. My record for cold was in January 1982, with an ambient air temp of -9 and windchill of - 37. It was actually difficult to breath at that temp. I was wearing a snowmobile suit and had a windjammer fairing.

Here I am leaving for a Jan 1st ride in 2009 ... Temp probably in the low 30s

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Jan1-2009_zpsc7c581f0.jpg.html]

My brother and I on a December ride in 2007 ...again, temp probably in the low 30's

[url=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/theferret111/media/Dec22-2007_zpsb59830c6.jpg.html]


There are some years where I too have ridden in every month of the year, and about 20 months straight.
Chip my record high was was strangely enough in your neck of the woods, Sept 2004 my wife and I were touring all the National Parks in Utah and Az, and stopped to visit a friend in Mesa. it was 113 that day and it was just unbearably hot. We don't get too many days over 90 here in Ohio ( ironically 92 this afternoon) ... But if I were picking ideal temps to ride in it would be between 60 and 85.

Either hot or cold, you have to have riding gear to cover it.

[buck80mph_imp]

Sometimes temps here plummet into the 60's. That's when I take the car.

Lol! Burrr!