Cold feets baby

[nhiker]

Hey how do you guys keep your feets warm during winter riding?
I am looking at some pear izumi fleece lined booties but my wife already uses them and she still complains about her feet still being cold....any other ideas?
The other night i am out riding and my toes were so cold they was throbbing like I hit them with a hammar. :o
This just plain sucks and the older I get the worse this seems. ???

[Tim]

I ride flat pedals with high top sneaks and wool ski socks. My toes are pretty chilly the first mile or so but then they come around. And of course the old trick of putting on a hat to keep your feet warm also works.

I have tried road riding with conventional bike shoes with duct tape over the vents -- it was better than nothing, but still pretty cold.


Tim

[digger]

Neoprene booties are a PITA to walk around on but they do keep tootsies from freezing. Performance always had some cheap ones. Tried neoprene socks but eventually chilled from retained dampness (sweat).

[AA]

Lake winter shoes. Rode in single digit temps last winter with no problem

http://www.lakecycling.com/mxz_300.html

[Slider]

I buy whatever good closeout deal I can find on shoes, one or two sizes larger than what I wear in the summer. Under them, I wear two, three or even four pairs of socks.

The fourth pair, reserverd for temps below 10 degrees, are thin, wicking type, polypro, I think. They go next to my skin. Above those are traditional wool socks, the thicker the better, as long as they fit in the shoes.

I also bring along a pair or two in my Camelback pouch, in case I dunk a foot.

Slider

[Slider]

Oh yeah - taking out the innersole lets you fit another pair of socks. Be sure to seal off the cleat-hole with duct tape if you do that.

[C.P.]

This one is gonna be real hard to base on others experiences, as each persons feel for what's "cold" is so varied...example, rode last night in low 30 temps, and a guy arrived to ride wearing shorts, lightweight jersey and summer weight gloves - he said he was "comfortable" - while I rode with winter jersey, legs covered, wool socks and full finger gloves, I thought I was "comfortable" too...

I've had Good luck with booties over my regular riding shoes - coupled with wool socks.

To take it to the next level, (more cost) you could try Lake or Sidi Winter boots. a high top water resistant riding shoe with fleece inside - and you keep your clipless pedals.

If your still cold, and you NEED clipless, I suppose you could try booties over the Lake/Sidi Winter shoes - but that would be clunky to say the least.

When things get down around the single numbers and I NEED a ride, I change my bike to flat pedals and break out the winter boots. I'm sure the Lake winter shoes would work fine for me in these temps...

[Slider]

Lake Winter boots: $ 189.99, but probably discounted.

Shimano El Cheapo's: $29.99

OK, that's not the real style name, and they are orange, but I'll happily spend the $160 difference on the drivetrain or brakes, which take a beating in the winter.

[AA]

I hear you on the price, it's a bit much. For years I used oversized shoes, booties, over socks, under socks, you name it. I'm still glad I bought the Lake shoes. I believe that I paid $130 @ bikeman 2 seasons ago.

For people who can ride effectively on flat pedals (I'm not one of them) hiking boots/flat pedals is the way to go.

Early Xmas gift this year. Goretex socks.

Should work well with Smart wool, etc.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=15765&Store=Bike

Nashbar has em for $20 less.... I bet you could also try Cabela's or anywhere there is hunting stuff.

All of your advise is good and based on experience. However, the science behind your suggestions is based on a premise which not all people share.

C.P. is wise. His observation of personal differences in cold weather tolerance are astute. There are averages in which most people fall but there are those who dwell in the extreme as well.

The common factor in all your suggestions is insulation. Hold in the heat and you will stay warm. Great advise for almost everyone. But it never works for me. My feet are cold. Not just in the winter but all the time. For whatever reason there just is no heat to hold and so all the insulation in the world wont help. People like me need these

http://www.cozywinters.com/hotronic/?source=ov

and if i get my frame fixed i'm getting them. Then i can switch them from my work boots to my bike shoes to whatever. Expensive? i guess so, but so are those Lake winter boots (that are just big insulators and will not work i am sure of it)

bill
p.s. after i posted this i relized the irony of cold feet and my avatar ;D

[Slider]

Can't ride on flat pedals, myself. Clipless work fine in the snow, as long as you make sure to stomp the snow off EVERY time you dab. I use the chainstay, and tap the sole against it a few times before I clip in.

The problem is cumulative - a little more snow gets packed in with every click-in. Eventually, it turns into a solid block of ice, which is a pain to clear.

I also spray a little PAM or WD40, or any other very light lubricant onto the pedals when it is real cold, but religiously stomping off the snow every single time you click in is the only real way to keep the pedals working right.

PAM or WD40 on the derailleurs helps, too.

[nhiker]

Yeah I hear you folks about personnel differences.....I typically run hot constantly. As I sit here in work I have my little desk fan blowing right on me. I don't typically get particullarly cold, but last night I had to stop riding about 10 mins before everyone else because my feet were just throbbing! So I decided right there Smart Wool just ain't enough. I am on a quest for warm feets during winter riding. All of these suggestions are great. I am leaning toward some pearl izumi booties.
I think maybe my shoes might be a little tight with the socks on....so I will try to remove the liner also. Tight shoes I am told equal cold feet.

[If_Rider]

Booties work well until you dab or have to walk. Then the toe portion slips off of your shoe and requires removal of your gloves to pull it back into place. It gets annoying in a hurry. I was thinking of modifying mine by making 2 small holes in the toe of the bootie for the toe spikes on the shoe to slip through.

Also, removing the shoe liner places a big chunk of cold metal, the cleat, closer to your foot which may make your feet colder.

If you try flats, shin guards are a good idea too so you don't rip up your pants and or shins.

[T Grimble]

I own a pair of the Lake boots and they work very well. My feet get cold when the temp. drops into the teens but not so bad that they throb. Before I got the Lake boots, i used to use those toe warmer things that stick to your feet. They are a little uncomfortable because they sit right above your pedal but I managed with them on the real cold days. I like Bill's assumption that you only have two choices, insulate or add heat. I am convinced that leggings play a role. This is not scientific but it seems to me that if your legs are cool your feet may be cold. Another factor with bike shoes is to keep add insulation over the spd plate. The steel plate does not have a thermal break so it conducts cold right into the bottom of your shoe.

[grayghostss]

I find that my problem is circulation. I curl my toes while I strap the velcro on my shoes. It allows effective blood-flow, which is what heats your feet.

-Ghost

[MMcG]

Booties work well until you dab or have to walk. Then the toe portion slips off of your shoe and requires removal of your gloves to pull it back into place. It gets annoying in a hurry. I was thinking of modifying mine by making 2 small holes in the toe of the bootie for the toe spikes on the shoe to slip through.

Also, removing the shoe liner places a big chunk of cold metal, the cleat, closer to your foot which may make your feet colder.

If you try flats, shin guards are a good idea too so you don't rip up your pants and or shins.


I second IFs recommendation of wearing shin guards if you opt for flat pedals with pins in em! I speak from experience here..........was riding my hardtail doing some "suburban" stuff off of curbs stairs etc. and slipped a pedal and whammo got a nice wide nasty gash on my left shin that bled like a mofo! :(

[jsb2dc]

I had a pair of Pearl Izumi neoprene booties that popped off of the toes of my shoes when I walked. They wore out and I got Preformance booties with a smaller hole in the bottom and that no longer happens. I use layers to help keep my feet warm. For the coldest temps I wear a pair of light bike socks, heavier socks over them, Gore-Tex type socks, then a worn pair of my regular shoes (Sidis) with the booties over. My feet only get cold in the coldest weather. (coldest ride: 1F)

Swinging your leg back and forth brings blood back to the toes by centrifugal force. Warms up the toes pretty quick. Another tip that I read in Mountain Bike mag a bunch of years back is to get off and walk a bit. The pressure of the pedal on your foot cuts off the circulation and walking lets the blood flow again. Both of these work for me.

[Mr_Cheeze]

Nobody seems to have mentioned toe warmers. Take them out of the package about 15 minutes before you get to your riding locale, and voila, they are ready to keep your little piggies toasty for up to 5 hours. I just bought a whole shitload at Home Depot for $1.29 a pop.

And on the really cold days, which would be temps below 20 degrees F, I cover all of the vents in my shoes with duct tape.

As far as socks go, I prefer fleece over wool.

[bike187]

expensive way would be to get winter riding shoes, but i ride flats all year round so i just use boots in really cold temps. normally i just use my reg lake flat shoes. cooler temps = smartwool or merino wool socks (super comfy, no itch, softer than cotton) for even colder days, those toe warmers heat packets mentioned earlier. have no experience with those gore-tex socks or booties. also wiggle your toes alot.

great cheap way= small chip bags. eat the chips, clean them out a bit to get rid of some of the smell, and slip them over your socks and heater packets. they reflect your body heat and are wind and water proof. you could even go a step further and get one of those emergency foil blankets and cut out a form to your foot (or cut it out of a larger chip bag).

[keram]

did anyone try a drop of cayne pepper? works for me.

[nhiker]

did anyone try a drop of cayne pepper? works for me.


And where would you be putting this pepper? ???

[Mr_Cheeze]

I like to take one of those... linoleum knives, and slice the area between my toes... and then put on a little of that... tabasco sauce. Oof... Talk about a hot foot! I hate when that happens.

[MissJean]

cayne pepper...hmmm...

I do recall hearing that sprinkling a little cayne pepper powder on your toes will heat them up and keep them warm. Does it really work?

[I Are Baboon]

I wear wool Smartwool socks (hmmm..."wool Smartwool sounds redundant) and cheapie Performance booties. They work. :)

[turch]

Cayenne does in lact warm the tootsies. Unfortunately it also increases perspiration which is detrimental. Plus if you manage to inadvertantly cross contaminate certain other body parts (eyes, privates) you get one hell of a rush and instantly learn new dance moves.

Be prudent about cold weather cycling and stick with the basics. Proper layering of the upper body. Prevent excessive heat loss through the head. Wind block the feet (be it booties, non-meshed shoes, or something like newspaper as an insulation (an old school technique that works splendidly), etc. Come up with an effective thermal block on the footbed (as the galloping moose identified. Short of reverting to non-clipless I have no answer here.). Ensure that you have ample room in the shoes to retain heat and to avoid restricting blood flow.

The chemical warmers are pretty effective. If you don't care to use them, consider stashing a few in your pack. They may become important someday to avoid a crisis or otherwise save a ride when either you or your buds come up short.

[johnbryanpeters]

Flats or 545 type pedals with insulated shoes like LL Beans snow sneakers.
I spent two or three winters trying to kick ice out of my cleats before I learned. ::)
Getting rid of the cleats also eliminates the thermal path to the balls of your feet.

J

[MtnBikerChk]

They key for me is twofold - 1. Start with warm feet and shoes - if that means putting them by the heater in your car for 10 minutes then I do it. 2. Keep your feet dry and insulated.

I've always had this issue with my ski boots too. I really find that if my feet and shoes are warm when I start, then I'm good to go!

[nhiker]

Yah I already wear the Smart Wool.....usually a great thing!
And now I have invested in a pair of Neoprene over-booties.
Thanks for all your input and will let yall know how it works out.

Oh and MtnBikerChk... Yah your advise makes sence too...I will try that heater thing on the cold days.

[jsb2dc]

Performance has neoprene booties on sale today. These are the same ones I use and I love them. You cut the hole for the cleat yourself. They never flip off your toes. $19.98 is a screamin' good deal:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=17558

[radair]

I buy whatever good closeout deal I can find on shoes, one or two sizes larger than what I wear in the summer. Under them, I wear two, three or even four pairs of socks.


This is my method also. I bought a pair of cheap hightops that I can wear 3 pairs of socks and still wiggle my piggies. I've only had one day, when it was below 0F, that my feet got cold. Even then they were just uncomfortable and not icy blocks that felt disconnected from the rest of me.

A Canadian friend of mine offers this valuable advice: When your feet get cold, get off the bike and run for 5 minutes. It works. Don't run away from your bike, eh?

[dmw010]

If you don't mind spending about $120, try Northwave Grizzly winter shoes. They seem to be a bit less expensive than Lake or Sidi, and my feet NEVER get cold in them. I wear a pair of Woolie Boolie socks, maybe with a wicking liner, and I'm all set. Just remember to buy a size up from your regular riding shoes to fit a thicker sock. Yeah, shoes cost money, but if you've got the cash it seems like a lot less hassle than the 4 pairs of socks/plastic bags/potato chip bags/neoprene booties/chemical heat packs/cayenne pepper solutions.