To Cold To Ride?

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phil4snow

New member
So I called a few local people around my town in SW Wisconsin to ride and they were going to pass because it was too cold last night!!!!! I have a few miles on so far this year and they had zero and didnt want to ride when it was 5 above. It got to -5 at midnight.
I have suited up at -30. Especially early season arnt people eager to ride?
 
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fusion

Guest
I'd be curious to see what the majority opinion is on this subject. Personally, I've ridden one time in the last 3 years when it was -15 during the day. I was wearing a Ski-Doo Modular and got frostbite where the breath holes are on the cheeks. Typically, I won't ride when it's below zero, especially when you factor in the wind chill. I used to be more interested in riding when it was really cold with carbureted sleds, they ran better (leaner). Fuel injection changed all that.
 
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ezra

Well-known member
mid jan every year I go south forget that -30 stuff. any one planning a trip riding around mid jan is crazy .I do have a touring windshield that I love when it is anyplace around 0
 
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Hoosier

Well-known member
I normally get up to the Northwoods for 2 long weekends year - riding 4 days at a time. Because of this, I normally ride regardless of the conditions - we've been out 20 below to 50 above. We were up in Wisconsin one year though when it was thunderstorming, and we stayed in the hotel until that let up - that's one thing I can't stand, riding in the rain. We'll make adjustments when it's extremely cold - leave a little later and come in a little early, but we'll definitely still get out there. I like extreme cold better than 30+ though. The extreme cold cuts down on traffic and I hate watching snow melt. Nothing depresses me like snow melting.
 
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440_chazz

Member
We rode last night and we knew it was going to be cold but that didn't stop us. We rode 60 miles. By the time we got in my butt was really cold. Still worth it.
 
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zimmbob

Member
We've never avoided riding because of the temp. Did trips from Gogebic to Copper Harbor when it was -25 all day long. Many times even had to unzip to cool down. Just have to dress right and find a way to stay warm. Ride harder!
 
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illinijeff

New member
Never too cold!......

Funny cold story (for us)

Three or four years ago during Super Bowl weekend we were up for our annual trip when there was that incredible cold spell...-30/40 air temps... Well we set off late morning (too late we now know) from Conover area to Lake of the Clouds for an up and back trip. We had a new rider with us but thought he could handle the trip as we'd already been riding a couple days. On the stretch of trail 11 heading to Silver City it was cold and snowing very hard. Had to wait multiple times for 'Skippy' to catch up. Group finally made it to Silver City for a pit stop and learned that he'd been riding pretty much the entire way with his visor open as it was freezing over...cheeks were very red (had a bit of frostbite later). He let us know that the last hour or so "Was one of the top five worst ever life experiences!"

We offered for him to stay at the hotel and we'd come get him the next day but he soldiered on and we eventually made it home around midnight. Needless to say he hasn't been able to make the trip again...

We still joke about the worst life experience for him while snowmobiling but it did teach us some hard lessons about being out there in the elements. New helmets and better warm gear being one and being much more careful when heading out in that kind of cold!
 
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tman

Member
I always tell people (non-snowmobilers who think we are all nuts anyway) that I have never been cold on a snowmobile. Dress for the weather and stay outside. It's the in and out stuff that makes you cold. Fall and winter, the best time of the year to be outside.
 
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skidooking

New member
-25 or above!

We wait for it to get up to -25 below before we go, otherwise you need ice scratchers to keep them cool, the trails are rock hard. Above -25 below you can usually get enough snow in the tunnel if your sled is studded. Last year we did a 880 mile saddle bag trip with only minor frostbite, we all wear Ski Doo Modulars and the reason for the frostbite was I left the front vent open. Vent closed no more frostbite. You can almost bet Jan. 20th a week before or after it is -25 below degrees in the AM when we start our rides. Keep doing the snow dance in the UP and Northwood’s of Wisconsin!
 
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chadlyt

Member
Trails here in SE MN have been very quiet. Not that great of trail riding to be had, but not even ditch bangers are out.

I was in Lutsen, MN the last weekend of Jan last year. Temp was -10 for a high. The trails were MINT no one was out. Loved it.

Other than going 80 across devils track lake....i was completely frozen.
 
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G

Guest
We have never had better equipment for use in cold weather. 30 years ago there were no handwarmers or thumbwarmers and the clothing generally sucked compared to what we have now. We rode then and didn't know any better and had a lot of fun. Nowadays, temp is a non-factor if you buy the right stuff. I am not going to put together a 5 man trip planned months in advance and then cancel because it may be too cold. It's winter folks. Sometimes it gets cold in the winter. No biggy.
 
bearrassler

bearrassler

Well-known member
We don't change our plans because of the temp, have ridden at temps below 40 below, but I have a Polaris Edge and wonder how some of the newer sleds will be when I upgrade
 
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dafalls

Member
Rode from Alpena to Newberry last winter. Got to Millersburg and the bank sign showed -16. That was too cold for me. I was doing jumping jacks at every stop sign to try and get warm.
 
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