Acclimating to riding in cooler temps

[Catrin]

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

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

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

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,

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.

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...

+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 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.