When is it too cold to ride?

[buellbabe]

Wouldn't have a clue temp wise, the other morning it was only 3ºC riding in from Sth Auck to the city and that was sweet...( you folks down Sth would call that tropical! ) but I think the only thing that would put me off would be road conditions, not keen on ice at all...

[Pwalo]

It's only too cold if there's ice around. You can always wear gear to keep you warm, but it's no bl$#%y fun slipping off on black ice.

As has been said previously ambient temperature isn't the problem. The real decider is ground temerature.

Not really a problem in Wheelytown, as it's usually not still enough for a real nasty frost (although today seems very non windy).

[John]

when the engine is encased in a block of ice.

[miSTa]

Don't care so much about the temperature just the road conditions.

[number33]

Beware bridges on frosty mornings. Wise up and get a cage for winter.

[Oakie]

It's never been too cold for me. It's just the slipperiness of the road I take notice of.

[yungatart]

I feel the cold really bad, doesn't seem to matter how many layers I put on I just freeze, even going pillion on Mstrs' bike at 10 degrees is almost too cold for me! The colder it gets, the less control I have over my brain - reaction time, responses etc all go out the window. I'm a danger to myself and anyone else on the road when its cold, so I don't ride during the winter! Mstrs says that I must be reptilian!!
And for those smart arses comments that I just know are coming, rest assured, I can be just like a crocodile - hard shell and sharp teeth!

[paturoa]

zero - below that is ice

[Jantar]

zero - below that is ice

No. For ice to form there must be moisture either in the air or on the ground. Dry roads and dry air and the temperature can go down to extreme cold, but no ice.

[fishb8nz]

We've had -3 & -4 for the last 5 days. the army has an expression "There's no such thing as too cold (substitute wet, etc), just inadequate dress.
One of my mates on another shift, on his way home from Huntly to Ngaruawahia came off on an icy bend and ended up in hospital. I came in the next day and there were large warning signs and grit on the road. An obvious reaction to the fall. Now, a couple of days later, all the water has evaporated and the fine grit is almost as bad as the icy. I had a major shimmy on my way to work, tonight.
Until we have a good day's solid rain, I'm staying off River Road until the sand and grit has been washed away. Definitely, it's road conditions that make the call, not the temperature.

[fishb8nz]

When I got my shimmy, I was doing less than 60 km. Taking it very easy.
Just 10 minutes earlier, I got pulled over by a Traffic cop for doing 70kph in a 50 limit in Ngaruawahia - AND he let me go with a caution. Never had my licence on me either. Ridden my luck tonight!
To finish the night, I hope both Argentina and Germany lose. A difficult result as they play each other!

[Highlander]

Never. Just put more gear on.

I'm with Dave, but then I moved to the winterless north before buying my bike.

[Jantar]

I'm with Dave, but then I moved to the winterless north before buying my bike.

-7 when I left home for work this morning. Our back patio was so icy it was difficult to walk on, so the bike stayed in he shed, and I took the cage. Sure enough, Brandy Hill (half way to work) was covered in black ice.

Overall I agree with the comments about road conditions being more important than a simple temperature as a decision point, but at low temperatures you often don't know what the road conditions are until you are already out there. I have learnt from experience, that in Central Otago, light frosts are usually associated with dry roads and good grip, but very low temperatures are caused by a high pressure system following a moist cold front, and that means ice.

[Highlander]

Good to know who the opposition is.

Road conditions are the key. Went through Pyes Pa rd about mid day yesterday (because I could) and there was still frosty bits on some of the corners, and grit on some others so I nana'd more than normal.

[thehollowmen]

It is never too cold.
That minus four morning we had the other week when it was snowing.. I went to work on the motorcycle.

And I've seen people race on lakes overseas. Ice racing used to be a big thing on frozen lakes. If they can do 200+km/h I don't see why I shouldn't be able to tootle off to work.

On saying that, if all my gear is wet from the day before I might not head in. If you've got the gear you can do 200km/h on ice, otherwise play it safe people.