Cold Feet

[annie]

! I recently purchased some neoprene shoe covers but they aren't doing the job. I saw some wind blocking shoe covers and am wondering if they would help. Does anyone have any experience with these products? My other problem is wicking, or lack there of. I had a long sleeve wicking base layer under a wicking jersey, with a windbreaker jacket on top. I stopped for a well deserved hamburger on the way home and while inside unzipped my jacket but didn't take it off. Did that stop the wicking fabric from doing it's thing? I was soaking wet and freezing by the time I was ready to go. Luckily I had a small hill to go up right away so I warmed up fairly quickly. I still had plenty of energy to finish the ride but was just too darn wet and cold. Bikerhen

Hmmmm, the neoprene shoe covers should do the job of windblock. Are your shoes at all tight? Or did you wear extra thick socks that made the shoes tighter? Too tight shoes will always, always cause feet to freeze. You need to keep every bit of circulation going. Your foot, through the bottom of the shoe, is connected to a cold, metal pedal. It is going to transmit that cold up to your foot eventually, unless you find a way to prevent that. This might sound silly, but what I've done is to put a thin layer of folded aluminum foil, shiny side out, under the insole of my biking shoe, over the area where the cleat is located. I also wear Wooly Bully socks (cushy wool socks) and the neoprene shoe covers. I am able to ride in temps in the 20's without my feet suffering too much. If it's colder than that, I add the chemical toe warmers to the mix. Fortunately, my shoes that I use in the winter are roomy enough to do this.

Wet and cold are the worst! Generally, I just make it a point not to stop when on a cold ride. No matter what marvel of wicking material I've tried, I still sweat enough to become chilled when stopped. It's just not worth it. So I go out and ride and don't stop till I get home. Then take off the damp stuff and hop in a warm shower. I am NOT as brave or determined as some who do really long miles in the cold. 30-40 miles is more than enough and then I can do it non-stop and keep moving and not get too uncomfortably cold. Maybe not how you want to do it, but it's the best I could come up with.

annie

[Geonz]

I agree - make sure your blood can *circulate* out to those extremities. It helps me when I pretend I'm in yoga class and "open my chest" to let blood to my hands, and basically flex things a lot and try to talk the blood into getting out there. My left foot got cold after 7 miles at -1 F, but I'm good for 30+ miles if it's over 20 - but I also try not to stop! (It could be that I'm better insulated than most people, though - oh, and the genetics are NOrwegian and Celtic and German...)

[DeniseGoldberg]

When I ride in temps in the 20s and 30s, I add toe warmers to the mix. My cycling shoes have just enough room in them for my normal (admittedly lightweight) SmartWool socks plus a toe warmer stuck to the bottom of my feet. I cover my shoes with Pearl Izumi AmFib shoe covers. I suspect that your neoprene covers should provide the same level of insulation. The difference is really the toe warmers.

I get mine from REI - Heat Treat Toe Warmer. There are other brands out there too, but these work for me so I haven't looked any further. There is a 20% discount if you buy 10 or more pairs. And since one of my co-workers also insists on riding in cold weather, we usually buy 10 at a time & split them.

--- Denise

[salsabike]

When I ride here in Seattle and the temp's under 40, I wear SmartWool mountaineering socks--the warmest socks REI could show me, since my toes get really cold. Those seem to work, and you can always add the neoprene shoe covers over such socks if you need to--they will also help.

Re wicking layer: I also got this from the women cyclist/employees at REI---Ibex makes great jerseys from fine merino wool; to quote the REI gang precisely, "Wicks great; doesn't stink". They're not cheap but they're well worth it. Before you buy full price from the Ibex website, try Sierra Trading Post--they often have some kind of ibex top on sale at a great price.

[sydney_b]

When I ride in temps in the 20s and 30s, I add toe warmers to the mix. My cycling shoes have just enough room in them for my normal (admittedly lightweight) SmartWool socks plus a toe warmer stuck to the bottom of my feet. I cover my shoes with Pearl Izumi AmFib shoe covers. I suspect that your neoprene covers should provide the same level of insulation. The difference is really the toe warmers.

Me too. I bought my shoes a little large so I can put the toe warmers in. With my wool socks, this makes for a very a-ok ride. I also use wind-blocking toe covers on my shoes. This seems to be working very well for me here in the midwest with long riding temps from 20-35 degress F.

My work commute is only about 30 minutes, so I don't use the warmers for that, just the covers.

On top, I start with a wicking long-sleeve underlayer on top of which I use either a light wool sweater or even nothing but my outer jacket. The outer jacket is a Louis Garneau cycling jacket with good venting in the back and highly breathable. I keep raingear in a bag, but don't need it often.

Legs get PI winter weight tights + shorts for the padding. If really cold, I use some Marmot poly pants on top of those. Combo works great. Went for a 2h ride last night with temps ~25 F in comfort.

/s

[RoadRaven]

I have posted last year sometime in another thread about this

Probably because i am a scrooge, and in NZ we also have this mentality that we can come up with solutions on our own, I have resisted all ways of keeping my feet warm (such as neaoprene booties) and still use plastic bages.

I cut the corners off the ends of bags, slip them over my toes (no bag is visible outside of the shoe) and I find the plastic reduces the wind chill 100% and my toes do not freeze. i do not have to resort to thick uncomfy woollen socks or spend money I am reluctant to anyways...

However, that being said, it snows about once every seven years where I live, and I have never biked in snow or sleet... maybe then I would be getting both neoprene and wool!

[SalsaMTB]

You'll be amazed at the difference toe wamers make. I feet used to freeze before I tried them. Since using them, warmth is no longer an issue for me feet! Let us know your experience with them if you give them a try!

[pkq]

Gaerne makes some nice winter cycling shoes. Some riders in Pittsburgh swear by them. They ride year round and try all kinds of stuff.

I wear SmartWool and lighter weight cycling socks with winter shoe covers over the shoes.

Hands are covered with Patagonia glove liners with PI winter gloves. Don't remember the PI model.

Torso covered with tee, thermal top, long sleeved cycling jersey, and old Performance rain jacket that is breathable and vented.

Bottoms covered with padded shorts, tights, and bottoms to Performance rain jacket.

This does just fine in temps down to lower 20's. Chemical warmers work, too. I have found riding the mtb makes staying warmer easier than road riding. You are going slower thus have less air flow to remove body heat especially from extremities.

When you go inside, you really want to delayer to prevent your clothing from getting too wet with sweat.

Glad to read you are riding in cold weather. It is invigorating.