Hi,
Does anyone out there ride when the weather is very cold? I'm thinking 5am, frosty (-1 to -5)?
I do shift work and will be biking to work for 6am, 2pm and 10pm so my question is does the cold weather have any effect on the ebike battery or motor? range/power?
Yes - I ride in the cold no problem. With appropriate tyres will happily do ice too. I bring my battery inside the house to charge it in these temps (the garage is too cold for it to be efficient trying to charge it in there now). The range doesn't seem to be affected much, if at all.
yeah man, I love it! Well last year I was riding to the sorting office every night well into winter until it started getting icy.. that's when i won't ride. I need like 3 coats though, woolie hat, gloves, everything..and I'm still whining like a b*tch about how cold it is.. I dunno what it is, but I think riding electric in the freezing winter is just...fun..very different to riding a normal bike..you don't notice the cold as much, prolly cuz you arrive A to B so much quicker..and don't think so much about pedalling and shivering
I absolutely love cycling when it's cold and dry too. Far prefer it to when it's damp. Morphix, the 3 coat thing is terrible ! I think you just need some proper thermals from Santa. Don't much like cycling in even my smock (Paramo), let alone 3 coats as I wind up damp, cold and clammy underneath - which means I get cold when I stop cycling for sure as I have to 'vent' a lot to get rid of all the excess heat build-up - and feel like the Michelin man when cycling
Been wearing this combo when it's really cold (i.e. when I go out late at night) and can't recommend this gear enough... yes they're a bit more but these things last for years and years. Let's face it if you spend lots of time on your bike your comfort is really important and if you're comfortable on your bike you'll want to ride it more (the old chicken-and-egg thing !) :
1st :
Wiggle | Craft Active Extreme Wind Stopper Base Layer | Base Layers
[Obviates the need for a windstopper layer on the outside - I actually use a short-sleeved version but a L/S means warmer arms)
2nd :
Helly Hansen Mens Lifa Warm Freeze 1/2 Zip Turtle: Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors
[
incredibly warm and lightweight - double up if you're really worried but you'll wind up taking one off if it's above -3 degrees and you ride any significant distance or hills ! Critically for me, it has long enough arms in small / x-Small sizes to work as most don't and looks good / 'normal' as a top when you take your outer layers off]
3rd : Smartwool "mid-layer" cycling jersey (Montane - discountinued)
Usually that is all. If it's really windy a lightweight shell on the outside seals you in but I find it too warm and dampness builds up inside - the windstopper baselayer underneath keeps out the wind chill plenty.
Obviously you need decent gloves, socks & footwear else your fingers and toes will freeze even if your core body is warm. Because the thermals are close-fitting they keep your core really warm. It took me ages to "trust" this gear and was putting coats / jackets over the top for a while trying to pluck up the courage to risk them without when the wind was so icy.
Personally wear the above stuff with thermal roubaix shorts just covering my knees and overshorts (not being one for exposed lycra !) even down to sub-zero and do not feel cold or uncomfortable but a lot of people would likely opt for tights / trousers instead. To be honest you don't really need them and if you don't wear them on the bike it means you can put them on fresh when you arrive at the other end if you need to.
Should say I am only 55kg, have next to no body fat for insulation and am very susceptible to feeling cold normally - so if these clothes keep me warm and dry they should keep most people warm and dry ! You can find those thermals at discount prices by shopping around .... found it extremely hard at first to swallow the cost of these baselayers even at sale prices and thought outer jackets which cost at least as much, felt "substantial" and were a must and had to be worth more outlay. Until I actually tried them and realized how worth the money they really are - and far nicer than putting on a bulky Winter jacket (imho !)
Feel so much more comfortable and happy to ride more actively wearing lighter clothes on a bike in cold weather, once I got over the mistaken belief that the thicker the jacket the warmer it must keep you. You don't have to be riding fast for it to work either - on the contrary, the faster you ride the greater the windchill.
PS - a merino balaclava or one of these 2-part kits is a lovely little present for someone who rides in the cold ... when you put them on they feel blooming gorgeous, you can pull down the neckwarmer or pull it up to make a full balaclava in the coldest blasts and if your neck and head are toasty it helps avoid those Winter colds too :
Helmet Hat & Neckwarmer Pack - Socks + Hats - Embers Merino
