Originally Posted by
north woods gal
Don't know if it helps, but one of several reasons why so many of us up here in the north country use flat pedals is the cold feet thing. You can buy very expensive insulated Lake boots for going clipless, but flat pedals let you use just about any kind of boot or shoe you want. You sometimes have to adjust seat height to accommodate the different footwear you use, but no big deal. This time of year, I use my thinsulate hiking boots, but in sub-zero stuff, have even used pac boots.
Another issue with clipless in cold winter is that they lock your feet into one position for the whole ride. That's asking for them to get cold. With flats, I move my feet around and that helps circulation. And, of course, if you do have to walk the bike home, hiking boots sure beat typical bike shoes with those neoprene bootie covers. I used the covers one winter and gave up on them. They lasted about a month of hard riding and were way short of having enough insulation for really cold weather riding. If you are going to ride, do it right and get insulated winter clipless biking shoes/boots or go flat pedal.
As for the rest of my outfit, I use bicycle specific winter clothing for all my outer layers. Crazy expensive, but it does reduce that dreaded bulk and, for me, doubles nicely as XC ski wear. My insulated leggings are windproof in front, but breathable in back. My outer coat is also windproof and insulated, but the fit is fairly trim. A layer or two of poly, underneath, is all I need to handle zero kind of cold. Bulk is minimal.
In serious cold as in single digits and sub-zero, overdressing and too much bulk is very dangerous on a long ride. if you start to sweat, that moisture can later freeze on you. It's a balancing act. I know I have it right if I'm a bit chilly for the first couple miles and then okay warm after that.
When you get back, indoors, take your bike outer layers off, immediately, and hang them to dry. You'll be amazed at how much moisture they have picked up.
One more thing and I'll shut up. That wet cold, of the type your described, NY, is the most dangerous. It's the closest I've come to getting a very dangerous case of hypothermia. Would rather take my chances in dry sub-zero air. Be careful.