cycling in shorts in 10 degrees?

[satans worm]

Looking to dust off the bike this weekend and explore my local surroundings for the first time(just moved to Bratislava) weather forecast is 10 degrees sunny intervals, I only have shorts and a long sleeve fox top, am I mad? Are my legs going to go numb?
If its tights only temp then I will scrap the idea and go out another time as I will need to mail order some from the UK.
Actually I've got no gloves either (spot the fair weather cyclist!)
Thanks

[JFReturns]

It was two degrees yesterday morning when I left. Bit nippy at first, but you soon warm up.

[wades]

15 miles this morning in shorts. Certainly didn't need my red rear lights on my...my legs were literally glowing!

It certainly motivates you to put a bit more effort in though.

Edited by wades on Friday 22 October 23:06

[BliarOut]

Hat, warm socks and gloves are more important than tights IMO.

[CerbitonFlyer]

It depends on the sort of ride you are going to do IMO. I usually wear shorts for anything down to a few degrees on my 8 mile commute, but if I was on a longer ride with a tea stop I'd go for 3/4 or full length. There's nothing worse than being cold on a bike, but also I hate being to hot!

[b2hbm]

10 deg is fine in shorts providing you're riding all the time, it's if you decide to stop for a bit of sight-seeing that you'll get cold. I've been out in shorts this week in similar temperatures, but with gloves instead of mitts & a cap under the helmet to keep hands & head nice and warm.

(anyway, you should be going so hard that the lactic acid in your muscles over-rides the cold...... )

[Parsnip]

Pretty stupid IMO.

You aren't doing your knees any favours wearing shorts when it is cold - 10 degrees is probably the warmer side of the daft spectrum, but even still, why bother?

Knee warmers cost £15 or something and do the job perfectly.

[BliarOut]

Parsnip said:

Pretty stupid IMO.

You aren't doing your knees any favours wearing shorts when it is cold - 10 degrees is probably the warmer side of the daft spectrum, but even still, why bother?

Knee warmers cost £15 or something and do the job perfectly.

Actually knee warmers damage my knees...

[Moose.]

I suspect shorts wearing in lower temps is a personal preference really. I've only ever worn shorts on the bike, even in sub-zero temps with snow on the ground. Yes the legs go a little red but provided I've got a decent jacket, gloves and hat (for the ears), I've never felt cold

Oh and legs are easier to clean than clothes

Edited by Moose. on Saturday 23 October 10:19

[Parsnip]

BliarOut said:

Parsnip said:

Pretty stupid IMO.

You aren't doing your knees any favours wearing shorts when it is cold - 10 degrees is probably the warmer side of the daft spectrum, but even still, why bother?

Knee warmers cost £15 or something and do the job perfectly.

Actually knee warmers damage my knees...

I would love to know how? Are your perhaps from the new Assos BDSM range?

[ewenm]

Legs will be fine. Keep your core warm though.

[936ADL]

Could you not give it a try for yourself, and see how it feels!!!!

[Chicane-UK]

My LBS also said something about keeping my knees warm once even into the Autumn months, let alone winter. I went in there in winter only wearing shorts and they did (politely) lecture me about the longer term damage it can apparently do.

Certainly whenever I see them out riding in their shop jerseys, unless it's really nice and mild out, they generally have full or 3/4 length tights / trousers on.

[Pothole]

but you can look well 'ard in your shorts in the driving snow, so that makes it all worth while!

Bit of deep heat, OP?

[zebedee]

ewenm said:

Legs will be fine. Keep your core warm though.

I think this might miss the poster's point - its not about whether you feel the cold in your knees or not, its the fact that cycling with cold knees, even if you can handle it, which most people can as they aren't particularly sensitive areas, can apparently damage your knees. I'm on for 4000 miles this year and have noticed that my knees have been much better with tights on than without, for most of the year so I can possibly believe it now. Going out for 1 ride shouldn't be an issue, but prolonged cycling at less than say 12-14 degrees without covering up might not be wise.

Edited by zebedee on Saturday 23 October 22:01

[coupeboy]

Once it drops below 15-16 deg C, it's arm warmers and at least knee warmers for me.

You might get warm with exercise but it's a lot harder on your body as you have to heat all of that cold blood from your extremeties.

[john_p]

What sort of damage can be done to knees from the cold?

[JFReturns]

john_p said:

What sort of damage can be done to knees from the cold?

Good question...

[okgo]

You can feel it though.

I went out the other night with summer gear on, it was 1 degree. I was out for an hour/20 miles and it was a very stupid thing to have done, arms went numb, legs went numb, knee's felt very stiff and I couldn't feel my ass for twenty mins when I got home.

I don't agree that anything below 16 is tight weather as I was out today for a few miles in the same summer gear and it was fine, as were the hundreds of others in Richmond Park, but you can feel your knees getting achey a lot quicker when they're cold.

I feel a prendas order coming on this week

Out of interest, why arm warmers instead of a long sleeve base layer under your shirt?

[spikeyhead]

Once, many years ago when I was young and foolish, I was out cycling in shorts and it was properly cold. Cycling along a long straight lane with a ditch either side of me I was enjoying the fresh air when I realised that a large vehicle was approaching from behind with an amber flashing light on top. I also noticed the brackets for teh plough on the front of this truck and as it approached I realised that it was gritting.

Since then I've learnt that if it's cold enough for a gritting lorry to be out, then wear anything other than shorts.