I don't have proper footwear and can't get shoe covers fast enough.

What can I do to keep 'em warm and dry?

Thanks y'all !

Find the largest pair of stretchy black orlon or similar socks you can find (Walmart or the like is a good place to look). Get a pair of bread bags or plastic shopping bags. Put the bread bags over your shoes and then pull the socks on over the bread bags. The cleats will still engage (and probably cut the socks and bags eventually but what the heck). This was my go to set up for quite a few century rides and tours in the days BSC (before shoe covers).

You don't say what you have, only that you do not have proper footwear. Thus, my answer is sort of generic.

Most bike shoes have very good venting with mesh panels that work against your attempts to stay warm and dry. A plastic bag (shopping bag, bag from the produce aisle) over your socks but inside your shoes is not breathable so it is not a great remedy for all day, but works quite well for an hour or two. After a couple hours your feet will however get damp from sweat, so this is not a good all day solution.

I ran across a used pair of bike shoes a couple years ago for cheap, they were one size too large. I bought them for winter riding with my heavy wool socks. With the plastic bags over the socks they work great for a few hours down into the 20s.

For colder than 20s or longer than a few hours, I use lightweight hiking boots. For winter I switch to pedals that take cleats on one side, platform on the other. I use both Shimano A530 and M324 on differnet bikes. That allows me to use the hiking boots on the colder wetter days.

Are you out on a tour somewhere?

No, I'm just trying to be last minute prepared for a ride tomorrow with the group if it goes down. Less than premium weather is expected and the ride may get cancelled. But. I have decided to go out anyway as part of my htfu training. One must be somewhat acclimated to the elements, imo.

Thank you both. I'm going to try hilltowner's idea tomorrow.

Great idea hilltowner. I've used the bags, reinforced with duct tape, but like your way. Simpler. That even might work for light hiking?

The nice thing is the socks look like aero shoe covers. Duct tape might be as good but this looks better.

If it's just a one day ride, let your feet get wet and htfu...

Wear wool socks and don't worry about wet feet. I tour in sandals and wool socks, when it rains my feet get wet, but my feet are comfortable. They dry pretty quick when the rain ends.

When you get a chance check here: //www.benscycle.com/c-106-booties.aspx

I wear LL Bean rubber shoes , a casual commuter .. the moccasin model

It won't help you for today's ride, but I've picked up a set of Shimano neoprene SPD shoes (SHIMANO SH-MW02), similar to the MW-81. They are excellent wet weather shoes, and very comfortable...

A shoe dryer is also great... for those moments when you return with wet shoes (or wet gloves).
MaxxDry Silent Shoe and Boot Dryer-MX00206 - The Home Depot

So that hack worked perfectly. My toes weren't cramped by thicker socks, they didn't get cold at all but I also didn't have to rain test them. And they slip in and out just fine. Amazing, really.

Yes, I do need to get some booties for these bontrager mtb shoes as they will likely be my "speed" shoes for the road bike when i get my cadets.

I'm familiar with Ben's cycle, rarely go to their site for ordering though. Should check in more often.

Boot dryer for gloves ! Perfect for my LG lobsters. Gawd they get sweaty. And they were getting funky too. Today I threw them in the wash and they're hanging dry now. I can't believe how much more biking crap I still need to get.

I personally dont agree with the htfu view, soaking wet feet in cold or cool weather sucks. If camping , your shoes wont dry out for the next day. But thats just me, coming from my experiences without rain booties.

Showers Pass makes a pair similar to waht I use, great for cold weather too.

The ski gloves that I use on my bike in winter, I occasionally hand wash them with woolite. But they take forever to dry out, there is a waterproof but breathable layer in the glove and the innermost part does not dry quickly. I hang them to dry outside (in winter) so it is cold enough that they do not start a mold colony, might take a week to dry but they are like new after that.

My regular (summer) bike gloves, the velcro can stick to other clothing if I wash them in the washing machine and that can really mess up a jersey where the velcro stuck. So I started hand washing my bike gloves to prevent that too. It only takes a few minutes, it is so fast and easy to do that I wash them quite frequently when at home. And they dry fast, but I have a couple pair so if they take a couple days to dry (the padding slows drying process), not a problem.

I have bought too many pairs of booties on line that do not fit, I now only buy them in the store where I can try them on.

Also look at toe covers, the ones I have have a hole in the bottom for the cleats to engage the pedal. They do not offer that much warmth but they cover the vents in the front of the shoe to keep the wind out.

I need to get a pair of medium weight gloves. All mine are fingerless barring the lobsters.

Usually I can get most of my biking stuff to dry overnight by opening the vent in the closet and closing the door. My lobs are already almost dry.

Booties are getting skinny this time of year. But I agree it's better as an off the shelf purchase. I'll probably go full boot and spare the toe covers.

I do love having a pannier to take spares with, or a place to put stuff I've shed. Knew I would be sweaty so i brought spare tee shirts.

Have a super ruggged set of PI MTB Neoprene shoecovers I'm not using ,, ( my big tour is done, I used something else)

I am currently touring in Switzerland. It rained all day yesterday. I rode using my water bottle shoe covers and while my shoes and socks got a bit damp, they didn't got soaked. My feet got cold as the day wore on, but not uncomfortable. These will improve when I get back home and work on them some more.

Winter boots? They work well for rain and or cold. Either low winter boots and flat pedals or clipless, like Shimano, NorthWave, 45 North or Lake.