BikeMech

Ok,first off i know it's not a huge aero benefit or time saver (Me and my co-workers argue about that regularly) but the tests show that they do help some. My question is simple: Will standard insulated lg covers be worth it? I plan to get a pair of pearl izumi that are designed just for being aero but haven't had the extra cash.

Hida Yanra

check the "TT" sticky thread, this is covered in there.
nothing's certain, but odds are those LG shoe covers will be somewhere between "not helpful" and "they slow you down"

kensuf

yeah, and let me just say that the current line of PI barrier lite covers stink. The lack of a zipper makes their longevity questionable at best, but at least they have a good replacement policy (I'm on my 3rd set).

Hida Yanra

ken - thanks, I had wondered, but was holding off on buying a set of the new style.
can you elaborate what the "replacement policy" is?

I figured they were like buying TP, "shreds easily and is then gone, you hafta keep buying more"

Nate552

I hate the new ones. Mine fell apart after a few TT's. If you have skinny ankles they are loose around that area too. I quit using those awhile back and went back to the old zipper style.

Hida Yanra

trouble is, finding the zipper style is getting tough.

kensuf

my experience has been that when we show up at the PI outlet store in Orlando with a pair of the broken covers, they just replace them, no questions asked.

Nate, you have skinny ankles too? Huh, Hammy's probably going to have to go see a counselor when he reads about this...

Nate552

Yep, pretty skinny. To get the new PI covers to go on without zippers I think they made the ankle opening a bit larger. One reason I didn't like them. Here there they are on my ankles.

Racer Ex 

The zipper always fell down on mine, so I duct-taped them. Now I duct-tape the pullovers because I got da bony ankle syndrome too.

Nate552

I use electrical tape on the zipper, or a single number pin just below the zipper.

brianappleby

FWIW, specialized makes a shoe cover that's airtight.

Airtight = no way for your feet to breathe = sweaty effing feet. Not worth it IMO, but maybe for short and/or cool TT's?

kleinboogie

I was faster with them and other devices so not sure how much they helped. I do know that all the guys who crush me in the ITTs have them. I'd rather error on the side of faster. GL

Nate552

Make sure you know which side you're erring on.

Hida Yanra

plenty of guys who are faster than me have sloppier positions, or race without powermeters, or any number of other things... justsayin

kensuf

I'll probably be rocking my last years teams shoe covers at my current teams stage race this weekend. How fredly is that?

jsutkeepspining

i want a set of my teams shoe covers from like three years ago, but keep forgeting to ask our sponsor rep persons! and yes this is my most fussed over/biggest issue. i enjoy my easy going life.