Road Cycling - where are their socks?

I've been noticing more and more that a lot of roadies...aren't wearing socks? :confused:

Maybe they're secretly wearing their socks beneath their ankles but I don't see em. Is this a new style? Is this how you look "extra" cool while on the roads?

I was wondering if they got blisters on their foot from going sockless so I tried it for a 3hr ride today and my feet were fine..hmm


Can anyone shed more light on this?

Hmmm... I might have to try this myself. In the past with other shoes, I've found that not wearing socks makes my feet feel uncomfortable but my Sidis fit so nice and snug that maybe I won't get any chafing.

Same here.....my Sidis fit like gloves, I stopped wearing socks years ago. Besides, it is so retro not wearing socks. I noticed the trend also.

I never wear socks with any of my shoes, except when I'm running. I hate socks!!!!:crash:

EEK. Dont your feet/shoes absolute reek?

think of the weight savings!!

I only wear ankle socks. It looks much cooler, shows off those legs more and emphasises a lot on the lower leg. I'm not sure about people not wearing socks but I don't think I will try.

Never worn socks ,the only 2nd hand cycling shoes I could get were a size too small , no room for socks , dont like socks any way :rolleyes:

Originally posted by RiPHRaPH
think of the weight savings!!

yes... i think it's a trend started by the weight weenies... good point.

i don't like wearing socks either, but socks are important for wicking the sweat and helping keep odor at bay.

i'm keeping my socks on, thank you.

I would think that your shoes would get really damp...and that means athlete's foot!

i got socks on here! I need the socks to wick so I'm not swimming by the end of the ride.

Socks for me ... they feel more comfortable to me.

Originally posted by Aggressor
EEK. Dont your feet/shoes absolute reek?

Not at all....my feet don't sweat a lot.

I usually wear socks but sometimes don't, usually when I'm in my triathlon-training mode. Takes valuable time in transition to put on socks.

I can't and don't want to imagine myself without socks. Let me ask you a question. Have you ever ridden in the rain with your feet soaked wet? Did you like the feeling? If yes, go ahead and don't wear any socks! It’s the basics of hygiene, that’s why they were invented.

Originally posted by greywolf
Never worn socks ,the only 2nd hand cycling shoes I could get were a size too small , no room for socks , dont like socks any way :rolleyes:


second-hand shoes i'm ok with (both my pairs of cycling shoes are previously owned). but then to not wear socks in them??! eeeeuw.... that's like playing sopping wet footsies with total strangers.

To add to my earlier post: Bottom line is my feet don't sweat but the rest of my body does. People with sweaty feet should wear socks. I'm able to wear my Sidis which fit like gloves all day with no socks!

Low cut socks that cannot be seen w/ my Sidis. I have never liked the look of socks with shoes.

Sometimes wear bike ankle socks,sometimes good old tube socks... Both work fine for me... I couldn;t go sockless.. it would get swampy in the shoes pretty fast.

cAPSFOOT

Originally posted by rippo
second-hand shoes i'm ok with (both my pairs of cycling shoes are previously owned). but then to not wear socks in them??! eeeeuw.... that's like playing sopping wet footsies with total strangers.

*Uhk* Gonna..churg...Ngah! :eek:

Socks, please!

i have not worn socks, casually, since highschool..

I used to play tennis a lot but didn't wear socks then, i guess i carried on the habit.

I only had socks on when I used to work as a Process Engineer in a big Paper Company , it was compulsory to wear safety boots, and thier a pain to have on w/o any socks...

I don't wear socks when cycling. It feels as if my foot could not breathe..

Okay... I tried going sockless today and while I didn't chafe, it just felt weird and... damp. I think I'll stick to wearing socks.

Apart from wearing socks for all the normal reasons, comfort, sweat absorption etc. I also wear them to protect my ankles in a crash. They are a Nike sock just long enough to stretch over my ankles, and will hopefully give a bit of protection in case my ankle takes a slid across the bitumen. This is all theory of course.

CHEERS.

Mark

SPD Sandals - NO SOCKS! :D

Originally posted by Dutchy
Apart from wearing socks for all the normal reasons, comfort, sweat absorption etc. I also wear them to protect my ankles in a crash. They are a Nike sock just long enough to stretch over my ankles, and will hopefully give a bit of protection in case my ankle takes a slid across the bitumen. This is all theory of course.

CHEERS.

Mark Your right about the protection, the last crash I had the skin over the ankle bone ground off by the tamac & although it was the smallest area of roadrash incured , it took the longest regrow skin again , but would socks have made much differance??

originally posted by Richard D
SPD Sandals - NO SOCKS!
Funny that - in Ozzieland a surefire way to tell a Pom is to look for the guy wearing shorts, sandals and socks.

Last year I posted a poll asking who did and did not wear socks. I was the only person who was riding without socks and now it looks as though I have some new joiners, except......that after the poll I got hooked on DeFeet socks and have not gone sockless again. The irony!

OK......the official count from this morning's weekly Montrose training ride:

Riders w/socks.....92

Riders w/o socks.....47

Margin of error.......5 sprockets

i wear socks, always.:D

I have decided to go....SOCKLESS from now on :)

I'm going to stand by my judgement that it looks a helluva cooler without socks and heck, lots of the hardcore roadies I tag along with before I get dropped (including a former 4 time olympian) go sockless.

It must make them go 0.02mph faster or something.

he...he...he.... I figured if I'm not as strong and fast as some of these guys I ride with, at least I can look fast merely by my cycling attire (or lack of) and the equipment I use...