Commuting - At what temps do you retire the clipless shoes?

Just realized, what's different this fall from last fall is the clipless shoes. At about what temps do you need to stop using the clipless shoes cause it's too cold on the feet? [ 5 mile/25 minute commute ]

Just trying to plan ahead. Thanks.

???????

Not being a clipless rider, I don't understand. Why would you need to stop wearing them because of cold weather?

Wouldn't warmer socks do the trick?

I ride clipless year round in the DC metro area.

Metal in the foot clip can conduct cold temps, and some have reported unease in unclipping when you get freezing and snow/ice.

I ride clipless year round in the DC metro area.

+1

Windproof socks and ski boot liners!

Everyone feels cold differently and has different sock/shoe/bootie combos. The time of the exposure to the cold changes things too.
At some point you may be able to feel the metal cleat bringing in the cold to the bottom of your foot. You will have to try it to know.

I don't go below freezing.

i can use booties and wool socks down to about 20 degrees. could probably go lower than that to tell you the truth.

Everyone feels cold differently and has different sock/shoe/bootie combos. The time of the exposure to the cold changes things too.
At some point you may be able to feel the metal cleat bringing in the cold to the bottom of your foot. You will have to try it to know.

I don't go below freezing.

Its about that time i break out the neoprene shoe covers.

I ride them year-round in Denver (12 mile each way commute when I'm around to do it, and 25-50 mile weekend rides). I use Egg Beater pedals with Sidi shoes, and have never had a problem with transfer of cold temps or unclipping, even in snow. I usually wear a pair of woolen hiking socks on the colder days, and occasionally some sort of wind-proof shoe cover.

thanks Stu, guess I need to look at shoe covers Clipless help so much it would be hard to give them up.

i remember feeling the cleats once on a mtb ride but i think the high that day was in the 20's... on your commute i'd say if yor feet don't get cold the metal will never be a problem.

only reason i could see to retire spd's is really sticky snow that makes clickin in tough... but i'd still rather have poorly working spd's than boots/flats for riding anyday.

I have sucess wearing Shimano SPD Sandals in snow with 25 F daytime temps in Flagstaff, AZ.

I wore two wool socks (one inner thin, on very thick) and an outer waterproof sock. My feet were warm. My riding parters feet in mtb shoes with thin wool socks and shoe covers were freezing.

Al

I have sucess wearing Shimano SPD Sandals in snow with 25 F daytime temps in Flagstaff, AZ.

I wore two wool socks (one inner thin, on very thick) and an outer waterproof sock. My feet were warm. My riding parters feet in mtb shoes with thin wool socks and shoe covers were freezing.

Al


What he said :)

Shimano clipless sandals, expand to allow all the pairs of socks you would ever need. Cold and wet ? They adjust enough to allow a wicking sock, then a thick wool sock, then a gortex sock, all encased in a bootie.

Then in summer, bare feet and sandals. Honestly , they cant be beat. Only time i'll go back to my fancy expensive clipless shoes is if im racing.

i remember feeling the cleats once on a mtb ride but i think the high that day was in the 20's... on your commute i'd say if yor feet don't get cold the metal will never be a problem.

only reason i could see to retire spd's is really sticky snow that makes clickin in tough... but i'd still rather have poorly working spd's than boots/flats for riding anyday.

Once in a while when the air, and your pedals and cleats are well below freezing, the traffic on the road keeps the road above freezing and it is wet instead of ice. When the moisture from the road hits your bike it turns into ice. Stuff gets frozen once in a while. It only happens to me about once a year. But, it can happen.

Metal in the foot clip can conduct cold temps, and some have reported unease in unclipping when you get freezing and snow/ice.

Try an insulating insole. Shoe covers will insulate the rest of your foot also. I use clipless all year long because I find it easier to get my foot onto the pedal while wearing shoe covers then when using clips.

As for the snow and ice, it's not much more of a problem than mud. Just whack your shoe against the pedal before clipping in if you happen to step in snow. It usually clears the cleat.

thanks Stu, guess I need to look at shoe covers Clipless help so much it would be hard to give them up.

You may want to get another pair of "winter" shoes. I don't mean isulated ones but ones that are one size bigger than you would regularly wear. It gives you room for thicker socks (which help a lot in the cold) and it allows a bit more room for your toes to move so they don't get as cold. Get ones with smoother soles than mountain bike shoes if you can. Saves hassle getting the booties on.

For socks I use crosscountry ski socks that come up past my knee. Adds a bit of insulation at the knee joint where circulation is poor anyway. Again get thee to REI!

I used clipless all last year with a mtb shoe that's a size too big for me. I wore a thin poly sock, a thicker wool sock, and then a gortex/waterproof sock. I rode in temps as low as -2F. I can't say my feet were warm, but I still have all my toes.

This year I'm going to get shoe covers and see how that works.

Never thought of adding an insole... that would put some insulation between my foot and the bottom of the shoe. That's a great idea.

great idea to get a pair of road shoes. I love the suggestion of getting a size bigger for sock room
.cyclo-co..REI in boulder sucks and it's a longer drive to main store. More of a weekend trip than a quick evening trip.

great idea to get a pair of road shoes. I love the suggestion of getting a size bigger for sock room
.cyclo-co..REI in boulder sucks and it's a longer drive to main store. More of a weekend trip than a quick evening trip.

I don't know if I'd go for road shoes but a less lugged moutain bike shoe like this (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17517&subcategory_ID=2120) would work well. I've toyed with the sandal idea too but ... it looks a bit goofy. Thinkin' about it but...I don't know.

While you are at Performance, look at their shoe covers. They're pretty tough and cheap.

. I've toyed with the sandal idea too but ... it looks a bit goofy. Thinkin' about it but...I don't know.
.

Once you have shoe covers on, no one can tell your wearing goofy looking sandals :p

The biggest advantage of sandals is the 'expandability', they allow anything from barefoot to 6 pairs of socks.

The second biggest advantage to sandals is their dry in 10 minutes. My mtb shoe takes 2 days or 5 trees worth of newspapers to dry.

The disadvantages are a little less stiff, little less support on the upstroke, and no wind resistance. Wind can be cured with the shoe cover/bootie, and the other 2 are not a concern to me if im not racing.

http://www.sugoi.com/consumer/product.aspx?sectionStyleID=6997&color=BLK

Thats the style bootie i wear, stretch fit, fleece type lining, nice and wind proof.

Once you have shoe covers on, no one can tell your wearing goofy looking sandals :p

The biggest advantage of sandals is the 'expandability', they allow anything from barefoot to 6 pairs of socks.

The second biggest advantage to sandals is their dry in 10 minutes. My mtb shoe takes 2 days or 5 trees worth of newspapers to dry.

The disadvantages are a little less stiff, little less support on the upstroke, and no wind resistance. Wind can be cured with the shoe cover/bootie, and the other 2 are not a concern to me if im not racing.

http://www.sugoi.com/consumer/product.aspx?sectionStyleID=6997&color=BLK

Thats the style bootie i wear, stretch fit, fleece type lining, nice and wind proof.

I'm still thinking about it. I do some trail bashing on the way to work and that's one of my concerns (I have delicate feet :o ) May try it yet this winter.

I'm still thinking about it. I do some trail bashing on the way to work and that's one of my concerns (I have delicate feet :o ) May try it yet this winter.
I've ridden quite a bit of desert single track in SPD sandals, complete with rocks, cactus, etc. Other mtbs when they stop and talk think its nuts, but I've never had a problem. The footbed sticks out quite a bit beyond the big toe the way mine are sized and works as a bash guard quite well.

Al

Just realized, what's different this fall from last fall is the clipless shoes. At about what temps do you need to stop using the clipless shoes cause it's too cold on the feet? [ 5 mile/25 minute commute ]

Just trying to plan ahead. Thanks.
Never!!!
Well I've never had to, down to 10 F. When it gets cold I wear a road shoe that has a double layer sole that keep the cleat away from my foot. A pair of booties over and a pair of heavy socks with sock liner under. My feet have not been a problem for my 8.5mile 45min commute.
Now when I rode a cheap MTB shoe the cleat felt like it was freezing my foot at 35 F even with two layers of socks.
Craig

I ride year-round in mine... You can get some really good booties at MEC. -26° .. the clipless are still on the bike.. I don't even think I own a pair of flat pedals. ;) My commute is 20k, 35 minutes each way.

i can use booties and wool socks down to about 20 degrees. could probably go lower than that to tell you the truth.

Same. I've been thinking of getting some of those fancy thin GoreTex socks too but they were OOS when I placed my huge Performance order today. Don't need 'em for another couple of months anyway...

I've not had to ditch the clipless ever. Plus for a 25 minute ride (OP's commute) I think I could stand just about anything old man winter has to offer around here. :D I don't know about chilly mile-high Colorado, though!

While you are at Performance, look at their shoe covers. They're pretty tough and cheap.

I looked last year. Size 12 feet, they don't carry big enough covers.

I looked last year. Size 12 feet, they don't carry big enough covers.

You are not working at all with me here ;) The good news is that with tuna boats like those, you should be able to find all kinds of shoes in the Flush bin. Not the slim pickin's that us people with normal feet have :D

What flush bin?
I asked the store manager and he said they ran too small for my feet. Labeled size was not actual size. It might be just an issue of store stocking and not stocking certain items from the perf. inventory list.

I looked last year. Size 12 feet, they don't carry big enough covers.

I have size 13.5 a Size 48 in Answer Palisade shoe fits perfect!

I just got these "Gator" booties last night, used them this morning coming to work (38 degrees F)
Nice to have warm feet!

http://aebike.com/site/images/library/catalogs/soc/p350X350m/CL2065.jpg

I got mine on eBay for 12.99 (14.50 w/shipping)

http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=CL2068

What flush bin?
I asked the store manager and he said they ran too small for my feet. Labeled size was not actual size. It might be just an issue of store stocking and not stocking certain items from the perf. inventory list.

Man, you have got to get out of Boulder! :D The Performance stores down here have clearance tables and the one at Colorado and Yale have the "Flush Bin" which is where they put all of the stuff they can't sell. Then they mark it down until they hit the 75% off marked price at which point I think it evaporates. They always have either really small sizes or large size shoes(48 or 49 are pretty common). They have lots of other stuff too.

Come on down to the Big City! We try to treat you country bumpkins right! ;)

ok, I'll give a different store a chance, thanks for the info. all boulder has to flush is old jerseys

Yep, booties here too. All the way down to 4 F last winter.

I have size 13.5 a Size 48 in Answer Palisade shoe fits perfect!

I just got these "Gator" booties last night, used them this morning coming to work (38 degrees F)
Nice to have warm feet!

http://aebike.com/site/images/library/catalogs/soc/p350X350m/CL2065.jpg

I got mine on eBay for 12.99 (14.50 w/shipping)

http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=CL2068

Are these at all water resistant?

I stopped using clipless (Frogs) a couple weeks ago. Temps are in the mid-80s. Not because it's cold, but because I'm lazy and using MKS Touring pedals with regular shoes works just fine for my commuting needs.

I would think an open design pedal like the ritchey v4pro or the eggbeaters would be the choice for hardcore winter riding....but I've never used clipless in the snow, so I could be wrong here....it just seems like it would work though.