Coldest Ride, 2020-2021 Winter

[Sadlsor]

Question: where does the temp come from? Meaning, weather report, or onboard ST thermometer?
We occasionally have sub-freezing temps here in Bama, but I'm under no delusions that I'll see the coldest temp this season - not even close.
Then again, there's a reason I don't live in Minnesota.

 

[the Ferret]

Well you can only use the onboard thermometer down to about 14 degrees. Below that you need to rely on a bank sign, or weather report on your phone. Remember it's all in fun anyway, just a way to challenge ourselves and keep on riding.

Example from a few years ago

rode about 25 miles that morning lol

 

[amorley]

This was two days ago in Winterpeg (aka Winnipeg, Manitoba ). It was 21 degF this morning when we left to drive south back to Texas. Never went above freezing all day through to Sioux Falls, SD. We drove through a light snow storm on I-29 from Fargo, ND.

Glad KBiK is resting at home and we are driving our Volvo XC70 AWD wagon with heated seats

 

[Larry Fine]

Insanity.

 

[sirbike]

35 degree Friday night on the Blackbird. ‘Stitch w/heated jacket liner. It’s supposed to be my warm weather fun bike but I really wanted to ride with the stock pipes that arrived replacing the after market noise.
I got to put some heated grips on that thing.
Brutus is on the lift getting ready for winter riding.

 

[jmgatlin]

I didn’t get a picture... but on Sunday I rode to church at 24 degrees In northern Minnesota. The roads were nice a clear, and I didn’t have all the cold weather gear on just yet...just jeans, my Aerostich jacket and some thicker leather gloves. It’s getting brisk out there!

 

[ST-Traveler]

 

[Oldbikefixr]

My all time low ride was while I was still working. We had a week with morning highs in the teens, coldest morning was 17F.
The last several years in my part of Texas have seen mid to high 20's, normal lows in the mid 30's. The forecast for this winter is similar but our weatherfolk are as accurate as politicians are honest.

 

[ST Gui]

rode about 25 miles that morning lol

Oh nooooooo. Just NO. The brass monkeys would be safely warmed by the hearth while I'm sipping hot chocolate - starting at 62º Unless of course Photoshop is allowed.

 

[caldercay]

our weatherfolk are as accurate as politicians are honest.

That's why I (and a boatload of other folks) rely on SpaceCityWeather ... we don't watch flash-n-glam TV news - unfortunately, SCW doesn't report on the DFW area.

 

[the Ferret]

Oh nooooooo. Just NO. The brass monkeys would be safely warmed by the hearth while I'm sipping hot chocolate - starting at 62º Unless of course Photoshop is allowed.

LOL, you So-Cal guys are so soft

Are you guys even allowed to burn wood anymore?

 

[ST Gui]

Are you guys even allowed to burn wood anymore?

I'm closer to the opposite end of the state and we've had a enough wood burning already. Maybe in a couple of months.

 

[rjs987]

Question: where does the temp come from? Meaning, weather report, or onboard ST thermometer?
We occasionally have sub-freezing temps here in Bama, but I'm under no delusions that I'll see the coldest temp this season - not even close.
Then again, there's a reason I don't live in Minnesota.

As mentioned the bike temp sensor only goes down to 14 deg F. I find that sensor is usually about 2-3 deg higher than reported on the bank sign but that may simply be due to temps on the road being a bit higher than off the road anyway from traffic. Bank signs are a good reference and there are still a few banks around that have them. I recommend against using any local weather reporting on the cell phone since all of the weather reports come from someplace other than where you are riding so you are really NOT riding in the temps reported by the weather app (If that were allowed I know I can find a home weather station on wUnderground that shows some REALLY cold temps regardless what the temp is where I am riding! And some home sensors are so far out of spec that a bank sign may show 10 F but the home weather station just down the block may show zero F! I've seen it many times on weather apps). A better idea when the temps drop below 14 F is that I've been known to carry along a small digital thermometer for temps below 14 F and tape the sensor at the end of the wire somewhere on the front of the bike (windshield or fairing) with the sensor mounted somewhere behind where it doesn't sit so much in the wind. The Aquarium thermometer I've been using was pressed into service this year as my household outdoor thermometer so is relatively permanently mounted at a window now. Will have to consider what I'll do this year if I want to replace it. Last year I simply relied on bank thermometer signs so that may still work for me.


I'd be riding this week and would have had a temp report of around 31 F BUT it snowed big time Monday. A Snow Squall alert sounded on my phone before lunch time and there was 8 inches of white slippery stuff where I was at my son's house (where I've usually been riding to for the last many months) 23 miles from my home. I saw the weather report so decided against riding 2 wheels. Refreeze yesterday so no riding then either. Low temps, but as low as the last 2 days, and rain after about 6 tonight so I might be riding today.

 

[mudduc]

1. 24° jmgatlin
2. 28° mudduc
3. 29° white_witch
4. 35° sirbike
5. 36° paulcb
6. 45° etalors

All temps in Fahrenheit.

Hey Paul, just a suggestion: If you move the top-10 list up to the top of the first post, it will show up in the hover-over feature and we can check status without opening up the post.
Later,
Kent Larson in Minnesota

 

[paulcb]

Great idea Kent, done!

 

[SupraSabre]

Ha, I might be able to add to this, this year. Once I move to Cedar City.

 

[rjs987]

@paulcb
Figured I could get on the list for at least a few days. Rode to my son's home 23 miles away and the temp this morning, late morning actually, was a balmy 44*F for the ride there. This was per the bike temp sensor. Coming home around dinner time the temps had gone up only a few to around 48*F. Was also very damp with a little drizzle part of the way home. Was dry going up there this morning.

 

[rjs987]

@paulcb
Was a nice day today for a ride... other than the temp was just starting to get a bit cool. Finally plugged in my heated gloves controller. Rode to my son's house (23 miles one way) this morning on dry pavement and the temp sensor on the bike showed 30*F during that ride. Was a little warmer on the way home this afternoon at 41*F.

 

[the Ferret]

46 and drizzling rain for today's ride. Wussed out and turned on my heated grips and jacket liner. Must be getting old. Didnt use electrics until it got below 40 in the past.

 

[Flatbroke]

Coldest day for me so far this year. Rode 50 miles first part was 39 degrees. Leather jacket gloves and jeans.