ericy

I was wondering how long it would take before someone brought this up .

sirkaos

+1 on the baggie, it also depends on how sloppy it is. I like aluminum tape on the vents so I can peel a bit if I need to get a bit of air. Oversocks are nice if you want to go with something bright for safety. They aren't as cheap as a baggie, but you can trim them to fit and wash.

nkfrench 

Glad Press+Seal over the socks blocks wind and can be reused several times.

My summer Aireators are tightly knit and wick moisture. They can be warmer than heavier and loosely woven winter socks.

I’ve had success wearing my Keen bike sandals with thick Defeet Blaze socks and PI toecovers over the sock, inside the sandal. I couldn’t find toe covers that fit over the MTB soles with a cutout for 2-bolt SPDs.

SethAZ 

Aluminum foil would block the wind, but it's crinkly enough that I'd think it would be annoying. Plus, it's metal and will still conduct heat pretty well. I've used the plastic bag thing. If one wants to wrap something around the front of the foot just to block wind, I'd say Saran Wrap (cling film you folks across the pond) would be a better choice.

I've also taped a chemical warmer on top of my cycling shoe before, taped over the vent holes in the bottom of the shoe with duct tape, etc. I doubt I'll ever attempt wrapping my feet with aluminum foil.

Salamandrine 

I also used the sandwich baggie over the toes method in ye olden days. Over the sock though, and under the shoe. If it got too cold for that I broke out the full shoe covers.

Wait, people don't do the newspaper under the jersey thing anymore??? I'm stuck in a past decade. That used to happen on virtually every morning ride until about march. (when i lived in norcal.) Pretty soon you'll tell me people stopped putting bananas in their jersey pockets for long rides.

SethAZ 

I thought they put bananas in their shorts before posing for the victory photo. Was I mistaken?

I've done the newspaper thing before. I've done some rides at midnight on Christmas Eve when I was trying to get a jumpstart on the Festive 500 Strava challenge, and even here in AZ it was pretty damn cold. Newspapers, plastic bags, wool socks, taped over vent holes on the shoes, chemical warmers taped to the toes, balaclava under the helmet, several layers under the cycling windbreaker, leg warmers, you name it. When it's like 32 F out and I'm going for a 50 miler, I'll do whatever I can to stay warm. Just no bananas in the jersey pocket.

billnuke1 

Newspaper bags are a perfect size over my socks. Plus they are tall to stay up under my pant leg.

MePoocho

Yo-bad, Yo-bad,,,, Yo very, very bad... No peach pablum for you tonight and I'm gonna wash yos Blankie.

Heh, Heh.

Bill in VA

This may be easier.
https://www.totes.com/p/totes-mens-l...0408?color=BLK


I used to use these for dress shoes. They always stayed put with leather, plastic or rubber soles. Cut a small round hole for your cleats if you use them (if the hole is not round, it will tear at the corners). They are very stretchy. They used to make an over the ankle version with zippers, but they are discontinued.


Your shoe will fit as intended and the wicking action of the socks does not put the sweat moisture up against the air stream of the holes or vents to get too cold.

Altair 4

When it's really cold, I use these neoprene toe covers:


Got them from Aerotech Designs.

rumrunn6

isn't metal a conductor of heat? meaning wouldn't it dissipate heat from your toes? & would the foil get cold from the outside & then chill your toes?

canklecat

Tagging on late since I finally got a chance to try the aluminum foil trick this weekend. Usually I'll wear my heavy Herman Survivor insulated boots for cold weather rides on my hybrids or road bike, but after switching the road bike to clipless a couple of weeks ago that isn't practical. And the Scott Road Pro clipless shoes are summer weight, too much venting top and bottom for temps below 50F.

Yup, the aluminum foil works. For me, it works better than plastic. I've always had problems with painful froze-toes in winter and sweaty feet make it worse -- it just contributes to the chill.

I wore a wicking fabric anklet sock, wrapped aluminum foil around the toes (fold at the top of the feet), then a winter weight microfiber shin-high sock on top. That held everything together, although the foil tore when I removed the socks later.

Then I added thin neoprene toe covers over my Scott Road Pro shoes.

I'd worn the same rig, minus the foil, on a similarly cold day last week (32F, wind chill around 28) and my toes were painfully chilled after an hour. With the foil I was comfortable up to 90 minutes and even though the little toes were beginning to get chilled they never got stinging cold. And my feet weren't sweaty after the road, although everything else was.

The only problem? Too much thickness inside my shoes. It was a bit uncomfortable along the top of the toe. On a long ride it could cause some chafing. Folding the aluminum foil under the toes would only cause a similar risk of chafing under the toes where most of the pedaling pressure occurs. Clipless shoes with a bigger toe box might help too.

As fietsbob suggested, aluminized Mylar type material would work better. Ideally, I'd like to find toe covers with aluminized Mylar laminated inside. Lacking that, I might buy a couple of bags of snacks using aluminized Mylar and try those bags as toe covers between the socks next cold ride.

I also carry those emergency foot and hand warmers but so far haven't needed to use them. Mostly I carry 'em in case I meet any hitchhikers or folks walking in rural areas in cold weather. It's happened a few times on my rural rides so I try to carry an extra pair of socks, foot/hand warmers and energy bars to carry 'em over until they reach shelter.

justin70

My experience is you're just better switching to flats and using insulated shoes in the winter. You can still use toe covers, or aluminum foil if you find it useful. Especially if theres a chance for icy spots I prefer flats...rather not be clipped in for that. Every time I've tried upping the insulation of my clipless shoes I've run into the problem you mention of not enough space in the shoe, thus riding with cramped/pressure on my feet, which can't be good if try to keep circulation going to avoid cold feet.

I fully expect clipless fans to disagree with me.

IamAlan