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Went out today for my first bike ride in almost freezing weather. I had a good multi-layer going except for the cycling shorts. Legs got a little cold but not much of a problem as long as the red lights were short enough.
I also got my hands freezed a bit but I got gloves for that. Just decided not to take them this time.
I can get a balaclava for the hear. Got to buy that and rain pants so I don't get as much mud stuck behind my legs.
But the worse problem was my feet. It was raining, sometimes hard, and really cold. My socks turned into sponges that kept the cold water. I like my cycling shoes and use clip pedals. Wnhat do people do in that situation? Plastic bags or is there a better way? I would prefer a way that allowed me to keep my cycling shoes. I'll never ride in freezing weather. As long as it's rain I'm ok. For snow I'll stay on the trainer.
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But the worse problem was my feet. It was raining, sometimes hard, and really cold. My socks turned into sponges that kept the cold water. I like my cycling shoes and use clip pedals. Wnhat do people do in that situation? Plastic bags or is there a better way? I would prefer a way that allowed me to keep my cycling shoes. I'll never ride in freezing weather. As long as it's rain I'm ok. For snow I'll stay on the trainer.
Wool socks plus toe covers or booties.
In pouring rain, and close to freezing. I wear a thin wool sock, a medium weight wool sock, a gortex sock, all stuck into a clipless sandal (these rock) and then a set of those fleece lined thin booties. (not the thick neoprene ones).
If you can keep the rain from getting in thru the top of the gortex sock, your feet will be pretty dry. My feet dont sweat a lot so i can handle the gortex socks. If its not pouring, i dont even need the gortex socks. The booties stop the wind and 3/4 of the water.
mec also sells a vaporbarrior sock. Basically an expensive bag with a tie system that a lot of people like.
Booties.
I've got two pair: a lighter nylon pair for warmer rainy weather (above freezing), and a heavier neoprene pair for colder weather (below freezing).
Booties.
I've got two pair: a lighter nylon pair for warmer rainy weather (above freezing), and a heavier neoprene pair for colder weather (below freezing).
Completely agree. In fact, if you are at a good speed more often then not or if you shoes have front facing vents, I would go with the heavier sort. I have not had much luck with "cold weather cycling socks" for some reason. Rather, I wear a mid-calf skiing sort sock under my bibs and the booties over my shoes and the base of my tights - all decently priced and durable PI AmFib gear. So far, I am comfortable down to -10F and in inclement weather.
T
I have been bike commuting for 20 years, but until 2 years ago, I rode in winter boots on platform pedals. I started to ride with clip bike shoes and the first winter it got to minus 30 degrees celcius, and I thought my feet would fall off. Cycle shoes are so conveniently vented. I now ride wih Merino wool socks and zip up booties that are made of the same material as wet-suits. The booties are made with a template mark to show cut outs for different shoe clips.
I ride in minus 35 degrees celcius and have had no problem with cold feet since. The booties do let water and spray in the opening at the base, so your feet can still get wet.
I mounted my look cleat OVER the bootie sole for this reason..and sealed the screw holes with silicon... the rubber bootie sole between the cleat and sole also helps insulate the transference of cold from pedal to cleat to sole of cycling shoe.. means the booties stay on, but I have multiple pair so I can leave a pair bootied long term..
Gator Booties
Silk Sock liner under your Wool Sock
In cold wet conditions I don't even try to keep my feet dry. I use wet suit socks (not the kind that have soles attached that scuba divers wear, just the sock!)that provide great insulation and in fact the wetter they get in the inside the more comfortable they become. You can get them at any place that sells kayaking stuff. They are cheap and dry fast. Best between -5 to +5 celcius. Any warmer and they become sweaty and clamy as they don't breath at all. Fantastic for cold wet rides. I use them with cycling (clipless) shoes. You may need to take out the shoe insole to get the extra rom you will need.
My feet sweat so much that no matter what combo of wicking liner socks and wool socks I wore, they would get damp, and at 15 degrees fahrenheit I just couldn't keep my feet dry with damp socks. So I started putting my feet in plastic bags and then putting socks over. This worked perfectly for keeping my feet warm, but felt a little yucky and my feet felt pretty wet. So then I bought Vapor Barrier Liner socks from Stephenson's Warmlite (http://www.warmlite.com/start.htm). Eight buckazoids.
Compared with riding with my feet in plastic bags, the VBL socks are considerably more comfortable. My feet feel a little damp but not wet. The VBL fabric has a little bit of wicking capability that helps them feel dryer.
FWIW, they were way too roomy so I outlined the shape of my feet inside them and then sewed through the outline on my sewing machine and cut off all the extra. Now they fit with just enough slack to take on and off.
With VBL's on the inside, and Burley rain covers on the outside, my feet stay warm and dry regardless of conditions.
I just got a pair of these and a pair of cheap pedals that I use when it is below freezing.
http://www.kamik.com/kamik_winter05/images/product/nationplus-0-dpb-l1.jpg
Kamik Nation Plus (http://www.kamik.com/GenfootWeb/servlet/webProductDisplay.webProductDisplaySrv?currentMode=DETAIL&curCatalog=WINTER2005&curRow=12) $49.00 US
I wear a pair of Bikers Comfort in Action Goretext wind/waterproof socks, my Carnac Elipses and a set of C-dale wind/water resistant booties. The socks i got at the local BMW motorcycle dealer. This combination has proved to be the best comprimise of warmth, comfort and sweat wicking.
For platform pedals, wool socks and Gortex lined hiking shoes work great. Also, keeping your legs warm will help your feet.
The brain regulates the amount of heat that it sends to your extremities according to how well it can keep your core warm. So no matter what you do with your feet and hands, if your core isn't staying warm enough, you aren't going to get as much blood flow into those extremities as you will likely need in the cold. Just FYI. Think core, then use the suggestions here. There are plenty of good ones.
FWIW,
In the search for drier feet, i put my old Lake 300 winter boots aside and tried some low-cut,insulated fisherman boots with battery powered socks and foot powder.
It was minus 6 windchill that morning.....my feet were cool but dry.
Lastweek, i tried the same configuration but i used a polypro sock with the battery powered socks and no powder.
My feet were damp and very cold.
Lake 301's and wool socks have served me quite well. I usually leave them over a heat vent at home so they're pre-heated.
In any case, if your extremities are cold, it's generally a good idea to increase your core temperature in some fashion in addtiion to re-examining whats covering the cold parts. You're body is nothing more than a huge radiator. If the core is cold the valve won't open to send the warm blood elsewhere.
I used to see winter cycling shoes advertised with little venting and light sheepwool interlining..This was 20 years ago..Now I dont see them sold anymore.. Does anyone know of any cycling shoe company that makes a winter shoe ? My LbS's answer is to buy a heavier mountain bike shoe and use it in the winter..
I presently put on wool cycling socks,cover my toes with a baggy on each foot.. Use my regular cycling shoes covered with neoprene booties.. Yet when its below forty my toes start to get cold by 50 minutes into the ride and start to numb up after an hour..
Lake 301's ARE a winter shoe. Road and MTB flavors available.
Lake boots are expensive but fabulous. They take cleats and keep your feet warm & dry. You can get the 300's and the 301s on sale, e.g. at http://www.lickbike.com/searchsite.asp?SEARCH=Lake+shoes
these are what i use with battery powered socks and foot powder to keep the digits dry.
Product Description (Men's Bogs Tillamook Bay)
The Tillamook Bay is a fisherman's favorite! They feature a 5mm 100% waterproof SBR upper. They have a full length contoured EVA sockliner and a lightweight blown rubber outsole that offers traction and slip resistance. They have a full slip-on construction with pulls that make putting them on, even easier. They are comfort rated down to -20 degrees.
Fit: True to Size
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