Acclimating to riding in cooler temps

Today I went for a 17 mile road ride in 54 degree temps. I did have toe covers on my Mavic mtb shoes. I also had wool socks on but my feet were still colder by the end of my ride than I like. 54 degrees isn't really cold, but I do seem to get cold before others often do...

This will be my first fall really riding in cooler weather - this time last year I was off the bike with a host of over-use injuries. I do have all of the appropriate cold-weather gear that I've picked up over the last 20 months or so, about the only thing I don't have are winter boots/shoes...and I can't afford those. They also seem hard to find anyway - I've plenty to keep the rest of my body warm down into the high 20's I think...though I still need a wool buff.

I don't want to move to chemical toe warmers until at least the 40's, so I am hoping that my feet will acclimate to the 50's with toe covers...is this a common experience or is this just my body?

I can't say that 54 degrees--if dressed properly--would feel quite that cold to me. I do know that I need to maintain a pretty good clip when it's cold; otherwise I don't work up enough body heat to stay warm. Have you ever talked to a doc about whether you have a circulation problem or some other issue that might make it hard for you to stay warm? I hate to keep beating this particular drum, but hypothyroidism can make you cold intolerant. Yet another reason to make sure you're taking your meds.

It IS about time for my annual test, and I've been pretty good at taking my replacement lately... I do think it possible that I've circulation problems with my feet as I've always had a problem keeping them warm in the winter. I am probably also comparing to when I was carrying so much extra weight, this is only my second winter in a LONG time that I've not carried an extra 60-80 pounds or so...I think this is part of it.

The rest of me was warm/fine once I got going, it was just my feet - and I could certainly tell a difference with the toe covers. I didn't have my heavy-duty warm clothes on either, just a thin wool base layer, my short-sleeve wool Swobo jersey, a wind breaker jacket and my lighter-weight tights.

I think my feet and hands feel cooler than my core, even at temperatures that aren't that cold. But, eventually, they warm up. Unless it's windy...
I am not embarrassed to wear toe covers or booties or even use the chemical warmers when I've seen others wearing shorts! I've learned to tolerate MUCH colder temperatures for riding in the past 2 years.
Oh, I found my cycling winter boots on line and on sale for an incredibly cheap price. Keep searching. I think it was almost 50% off.

I have found that, if my core isn't adequately dressed, my hands and feet wwill feel cold no matter what I'm wearing on them. It becomes a balancing act of dressing warm enough to keep my toes warm, but venting often enough that I don't start to heavily sweat. Is it possible that you just need another layer?

What were you wearing for your ride?

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Originally Posted by Becky

I have found that, if my core isn't adequately dressed, my hands and feet wwill feel cold no matter what I'm wearing on them. It becomes a balancing act of dressing warm enough to keep my toes warm, but venting often enough that I don't start to heavily sweat. Is it possible that you just need another layer?

What were you wearing for your ride?

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I agree -- the whole outfit can affect your hands and feet. Sometimes my feet are cold with temps in the 50s because I'm wearing capris instead of long tights. Also if the socks are too tight, the toes will be cold. I gave away two pairs of wool socks because they were a size too small, and I can't wear the Woolie Boolies in my road shoes because they're too thick.

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Originally Posted by Catrin

. . . I am probably also comparing to when I was carrying so much extra weight, this is only my second winter in a LONG time that I've not carried an extra 60-80 pounds or so...I think this is part of it.

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I am carrying 30% less weight and I find that I am much, much colder. I have heard that from others who have lost weight as well.

I'm contemplating switching my pedals back to platforms in winter so I can wear shoes with thicker socks, because I'm certainly in no position to buy winter cycling shoes!

My feet get cold, but provided my core is warm, my hands and feet are generally okay. For those temps, I'd prefer to have an extra layer of sleeve (either a long-sleeve jersey or arm warmers).

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Originally Posted by Becky

I have found that, if my core isn't adequately dressed, my hands and feet wwill feel cold no matter what I'm wearing on them. It becomes a balancing act of dressing warm enough to keep my toes warm, but venting often enough that I don't start to heavily sweat. Is it possible that you just need another layer?

What were you wearing for your ride?

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I had on full Gore head cover under my helmet, not just ear-warmers. On my upper body I had a long sleeved Smartwool base layer, short sleeve Swobo wool jersey, and a convertable windbreaker - I left the sleeves on. For my lower body I had on my Terry liner with chamois and Sugoui mid-zero tights - these go down to my ankles, so they aren't too short. On my feet I had on a pair of short Smartwool socks and toe covers on my bike shoes.

I don't think I was under-dressed. Of course I was chilly when I started but quickly warmed up. It is also true that when I turned west on the return leg of my ride I was riding straight in a pretty stiff headwind, it was all I could do to ride as fast as 10 mph! Guess I've been spoiled with all of the mountain biking, no wind to worry about :) Hmmm, this may have been a large part of the problem.

When I got home of course my clothes were sweaty, but I didn't seem to be drenched, so I don't THINK I was over-dressed...I have much warmer wool layers for colder temps.

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Originally Posted by goldfinch

I am carrying 30% less weight and I find that I am much, much colder. I have heard that from others who have lost weight as well.

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Thank you for this, last winter I noticed that I was a lot colder during the winter - even in the office where I had burned up before I lost the weight. THIS winter I am getting a space heater for my office :cool:

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Originally Posted by Owlie

I'm contemplating switching my pedals back to platforms in winter so I can wear shoes with thicker socks, because I'm certainly in no position to buy winter cycling shoes!

My feet get cold, but provided my core is warm, my hands and feet are generally okay. For those temps, I'd prefer to have an extra layer of sleeve (either a long-sleeve jersey or arm warmers).

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The problem I've found with this approach is finding shoes for my bikes that have BMX pedals that aren't overly ventilated...my hiking shoes are great for my mountain bike and my beloved meat-tenderizer pedals but they are just too ventilated & I've yet to find shoe covers that will fit them. I do not think that thicker socks is going to help overly much if the wind is blowing through them :eek: I am thinking that boots would be a better approach, but that is also expensive.

I am hoping I can get by with toe covers, assuming I can get them large enough, and chemical warmers for the mountain bike. I will mountain bike deeper in the season than I will road ride - my speed in the trail is much slower and less likely to get my asthma's attention :eek: :rolleyes:

Have you tried plastic bags in the shoes over the socks? That usually works pretty well.

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Originally Posted by Catrin

The problem I've found with this approach is finding shoes for my bikes that have BMX pedals that aren't overly ventilated...my hiking shoes are great for my mountain bike and my beloved meat-tenderizer pedals but they are just too ventilated & I've yet to find shoe covers that will fit them. I do not think that thicker socks is going to help overly much if the wind is blowing through them :eek: I am thinking that boots would be a better approach, but that is also expensive.

I am hoping I can get by with toe covers, assuming I can get them large enough, and chemical warmers for the mountain bike. I will mountain bike deeper in the season than I will road ride - my speed in the trail is much slower and less likely to get my asthma's attention :eek: :rolleyes:

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True. I'm mostly on tree-lined MUPs myself, so the wind factor isn't as big a problem.

For me, that would be too much clothing at those temps, but that's a very individual thing. I wonder if you were sweating a lot and your body was pulling blood from your extremeties to overcome the cooling effect of sweating? Maybe try less clothing next time?

In those temps and condition, I'd probably have on a wool long-sleeve jersey, a windblocking vest or jacket, knickers, a wool cap, wool socks, toe covers, and lightly-insulated gloves. YMMV.

Toe covers aren't enough if the temps are too cold for your feet. Try some good booties. They can be pricey but much cheaper than winter boots. After a miserable ride when he got caught in the rain on a cold day last week, my husband got some Mavic booties that even have some sort of pocket for warmers. I have some lightweight neoprene ones that are much warmer than toe covers. Still, my feet got too cold in the 30s and low 40s even with booties last year. Doesn't help that the cold tends to slow you down. I found winter road boots steeply discounted and splurged. I think warm shoes are the best solution. It's just too hard to ride with cold hands and/or feet.

+1 on the plastic bags. It's amazing how well they work. I've had zero luck with toe covers - I can't see how they would even stay on if they weren't constricting your shoes and the feet inside - but some people use them successfully.

Just make sure you can actually wiggle your toes. If you can't, it's likely you're losing circulation and warmth.

I can't have my shoes or fingers uncovered on the bike if it's below 60°F.

Head covering makes a lot of difference too. A thin knit cap will fit under a helmet without too much readjustment of straps, or a balaclava in cooler temperatures.

I did a 65-mile ride this morning. When we left the house, it was right around 34 degrees. I had on a pair of Gore windstopper bibtights, an Under Armour Coldgear top, a Gore windstopper softshell jacket, DeFeet Blaze wool socks, toe covers, a Sugoi Coldout helmet beanie, a Smartwool neck gaiter, and Gore Windstopper lobster gloves. By the time we hit the midway point of the ride, I was feeling way overdressed. Fortunately, my Gore jacket has pit zippers for ventilation...my only saving grace! And I did ditch the neck gaiter and stuffed it in one of my rear pockets. For tomorrow's ride, I will opt for some lighter weight layers even if it means being a little chilled at the start of the ride...and I'll carry a pair of light weight gloves to swap out, because my hands were cookin' in those Gore lobster gloves by the end of our ride today.

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Originally Posted by Blueberry

Have you tried plastic bags in the shoes over the socks? That usually works pretty well.

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No I haven't, but will give it a shot. It makes sense...

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Originally Posted by Becky

For me, that would be too much clothing at those temps, but that's a very individual thing...

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Yep, I get COLD and pull out the tights at 63 degrees...I don't think I was overdressed and didn't see any signs of sweating overly much. My sinuses even start giving me problems in the low 60's, I am just cold-natured I guess. I just need to get the mix right for my feet. My hands were fine, I wore my full-fingered mountain bike gloves,

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Originally Posted by Marquise

Toe covers aren't enough if the temps are too cold for your feet. Try some good booties. They can be pricey but much cheaper than winter boots...I think warm shoes are the best solution. It's just too hard to ride with cold hands and/or feet.

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I've considered this and will probably get a pair once I return from my trip home and my finances recover a bit, and they are pricy but not as bad as winter boots. Right now I am stuck trying to decide if I should get them for the road or for mountain biking (very different shoes, same booties wouldn't fit both) - I will ride the trails deeper into the season than the road...

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

+1 on the plastic bags. It's amazing how well they work. I've had zero luck with toe covers - I can't see how they would even stay on if they weren't constricting your shoes and the feet inside - but some people use them successfully.

Just make sure you can actually wiggle your toes. If you can't, it's likely you're losing circulation and warmth.

I can't have my shoes or fingers uncovered on the bike if it's below 60°F.

Head covering makes a lot of difference too. A thin knit cap will fit under a helmet without too much readjustment of straps, or a balaclava in cooler temperatures.

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I could tell a difference with the toe covers, though I had to cut out most of the bottoms to get them to fit over my Frog cleats so I could clip in/out. I was just surprised at how cool my toes were at the end even though it wasn't that cold. It may be that my shoes were too tight as well, I've got to watch that.

I did get a Smartwool balaclava during a spring sale last year but the face seems really loose, so I may have wasted my money...

My Gore head covering was a great help as well, and it didn't seem to be too warm, I think my hair would have been drenched with sweat if it had been, and it really wasn't outside of the usual places at the back of my neck. I almost stayed with the ear warmers but glad I chose the full covering.

Thanks everyone! It helps to know that I am not the only one who gets cold.

All the smart ladies here have said all the smart stuff already, but I'll still pitch in with one observation:

my summer shoes are not tight, just as normally snug as they have to be. I have broad feet so my toes are always pushed somewhat together. That makes them a sitting duck once the temperature drops. I have full shoe covers in neoprene that don't really help a lot against cold (but rain and wind, yes) because they're snug too. Even very lightly constricted feet get cold fast. My winter boots are a lot better because they're really roomy and the sole barely flexes at all. When it gets colder I add loose Goretex shoe covers, that cut the wind and create another layer of air. They're a lot thinner than the neoprene ones but work much better. And when it gets really really cold I've folded and taped a layer of newspaper around the toes of the shoes before putting on the shoe covers, works beautifully.

Pre spd pedals and winter boots, I rode several winters with large, worn-out running shoes, medium socks inside and cut-up old thick socks outside, and platform pedals.

if you don't care about the fashion side, even finding a large pair of socks and making toe covers helps for shorter rides. Also we us the thin foot warmers that you peel and stick to your sock, not enough coffee so the name is escaping me. they can be too hot sometimes but as they last for 4 to 5 hours you can certainly take on and off as needed. We often put them on top of our feet for more comfort than on the sole

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Originally Posted by Sky King

if you don't care about the fashion side, even finding a large pair of socks and making toe covers helps for shorter rides. Also we us the thin foot warmers that you peel and stick to your sock, not enough coffee so the name is escaping me. they can be too hot sometimes but as they last for 4 to 5 hours you can certainly take on and off as needed. We often put them on top of our feet for more comfort than on the sole

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Does it keep your toes warmer if you put them on top of the foot or does it matter? I do have some toe warmers but waiting for the temps to get colder before I try them out. I think they would be too hot right now.

I think you have to stick them to the top, where the vents are. If they're like other types of chemical warmers, they need oxygen to work.

Just make sure you open the package and let them sit for a few minutes and that activates them before you put them on.
I used to put them on the bottom of my sock; now I put them on the top of the sock. It doesn't interfere with the fit of your shoe, no matter what kind of shoe it is. I do the same when I x country ski, too, although it's usually below 20 before I use them for skiing.
I wish the chemical hand warmers were flat like the toe ones. It would make wearing them for riding so much easier.

I put them on the top for comfort. Also use them in my downhill ski boots and haven't had an issue with oxygen. I think I by the time I get the package open and positioned on my foot in a comfortable fashion a few minutes have passed so apparently they are activating. I confess though if it is below 25 degrees I am usually going to opt for walking over riding. and if there is a chance of ice, i am for sure walking.