I've never been stopped from riding by snow, sleet, ice, road salt, or sub-freezing temperatures. But then, we don't see any of that stuff in S. Florida.

 

I ride when its real cold too to keep my bike charged up and to feel it purr. But if you have to wrap up too much it really is less fun and prolly more dangerous as to restricting your movements and such, I dont ride in ice but I rode in snow before.

 

I'm tired of cHarley always bragging about his nice warm Florida riding climate..geeze, give us poor ****** up here in miserable new england a break already!

To answer the original post, the key is dressing warm enough but retaining as much flexibility to move your arms, neck, etc. I wear a hat under my half helmet, a fleece (Polar Tek) neck warmer, Under Armor thermal pants and shirt, HD winter gauntlets (also Polar Tek lined), sweatshirt under my insulated leather jacket and jeans. A windshield is a must. For me, low 30's is doable, for a couple of hours.

But, the roads around here are a mess - icy spots at sundown and early morning, slush on the edges all day, TONS of salt, - - no way is it rideable in my estimation, at least here in CT. What a shame.

Hmm, maybe cHarley is on to something..........

 

Coldest I have rode in was 23 out. Rode 20-25 miles all hwy doing 65-80mph with no shield. I had chaps,sweat shirt, leather jacket, gloves,face mask and 3/4 helmet. I did spend half the time holding my crotch with my left hand though. Had to keep moving my fingers to keep them warm and had some frozen snot. Other than that not to bad.

 

33 out and getting ready to head out for the ride to work. At least it's above freezing.

 

PIB, I had the same problems last year in the cold. Just couldn't keep my fingers warm. This year....HEATED GLOVES!!! They work great.

www.gerbing.com

www.cozywinters.com

 

Hypothermia has the same effect as being drunk. Your vision gets blurry, you begin to slur your words and your reactions slow down.

Once I rode about three hours to visit someone in college and it was like 40 degree F when I set out. Sun went down and it quickly dropped to high 20's F. When I got to where I was going, Iwas so chilled my coordination was so shot I could barely walk. I kept dropping my keys and nearly fell over trying to pick them up. I realized I had hypothermia - fortunately there were showers in the dorms so I immediatelytook as hot a showeras I could standuntil I returned to normal.

So...how well can you dodge cagers and other road hazards in that condition?

PS On the ride back home it was a lot warmer but rained the whole way...

 

There's still hope for a New Years Day ride here in Boise.... The snow and iceis melting off the roads! [sm=bounceybounce.gif]

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...n/IMG_0155.jpg

 

I typically don't ride below 40. That means that I am pretty sure there won't be ice and the windchill won't be much below freezing. The biggest problem that I have run into is that (like has already been stated) your reflex time slows down due to the muscles becoming stiffer and the brain functions slowing down. Then the effects of a little tail wiggle from loose rock are greatly increased. Of course mynormal cold rides are about 90 miles one way so I have to be extra careful. I try to take a few stops on the way.

 

I forgot to check the temp yesterday riding to work. 13*F and 9*Fgoing to work and 12*F going home.
Safe, yes.
The thumbs of my gloves are not as insulated as the rest of the gloves and I would tuck them under fingers to warm the backs with heated grips.
The HD heated grips still put out noticable heat at temps arround 10*F and speeds over 60mph.