Cold Feet

[DeniseGoldberg]

Did you add the extra socks inside your shoes or outside of your shoes? If inside, are you wearing the same size shoes that you do with your warm weather thin socks? If so, then you are probably causing part of the problem. You need some air in there to help keep your feet warm! 3 pairs of socks likely means you need a larger size shoe.

For winter riding, I use a slightly heavier wool sock (I use SmartWool socks, ultra-thin for summer, next level up but still not bulky) for winter), and I use shoe covers. If it's really cold, I also usually add chemical foot warmers. The ones I use are Heat Treat Toe Warmers, usually pick up a bunch at REI at the beginning of the season - http://www.rei.com/product/405012.

--- Denise

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

For a commute, can't you forgo the clipless setup in favor of insulated winter hiking boots on regular platform pedals? You can get large enough boots to put 3 pairs of wool socks and a ziplock bag too in there. Even with all that it's hard to keep toes warm in temps in the teens F, but with this gear I can do 25 mile rides in 25 degrees ok. Perhaps you'd manage the 13 mile commute ok.

You might try the toe warmers too, but at $1 a pair it would cost $2 a day to commute with them.
I wish they made toe/hand warmers that could be re-used and reheated in the microwave or something.... the one-use thingys are too expensive and ecologically wasteful in my view.

Below 25 F, I actually wear two glove liners AND two windproof gloves, all piled up. Still has more dexterity than mitts.

[twin]

Lake winter boots work well with wool socks.

[Starfish]

For feet, you might try a very thin silk sock, then a thinnish wool sock, then, on the outside, neoprene shoe covers that go up your ankle, with a wind & waterproof thin shoe cover over that. I find that works pretty well. I also try to remember to actively wiggle my toes and lighten up on the balls of my feet regularly, from the start, to keep circulation going.

For hands, I'll wear silk glove liners, neoprene gloves, and wind/water proof outter glove covers.

The glove covers I found were PI. Naturally, they don't make a women's version , but the men's small size was still huge enough to cover the big neoprene gloves.

[sundial]

I wear windproof/waterproof booties over my shoes along with thicker socks and it seems to work.

Both Sidi and Specialized make a winter shoe.

[bikerHen]

My feet are the only things that I can't ever get warm. I took my clipless pedals off for riding in the snow and am wearing a pair of insulated/waterproof snow boots. I bought a size larger so I'd have room for extra socks. Last Saturday morning I rode my 13 miles in 5 degree weather with 4 inches of snow. My feet were cold when I got to work but at least they have some feeling. Riding without my clips however, is driving me nuts! I switched back to my clips these last few days of slightly warmer weather but had totally numb feet this morning when I got to work so I guess it's back to the snow boots. I have a feeling my pedal wrench is going to see alot of action this winter. bikerHen