Too soon to be thinking about this but… (Comments: 11)

11 comments to “Too soon to be thinking about this but…”

Doug, August 29th, 2009 at 5:13 pm:

• They’re big + bulky, but I finally solved the cold feet problem by getting a pair of Sorel boots (rubber bottom, nylon top, felt liners). You can likely find them in your area, though a trip to nearby Ontario would likely net you a much wider selection.

Ed Huyer, August 29th, 2009 at 5:33 pm:

• This seems like the best time to start thinking about it.

  I found some great winter hiking(?) boots at DSW last year. They were Columbia brand, waterproof, and Thinsulate-lined. I’m not sure how they’ll do riding, but they worked great walking. They kept my feet warm and dry through daily 2-mile walks in the dead of winter even with ordinary socks. They didn’t even get uncomfortably hot indoors.

  The only down side was that they were gray and bright orange.

brucew, August 29th, 2009 at 7:44 pm:

• In my first year of winter riding, I used the same regular winter (waterproof, thinsulate, etc.) hiking boots that had kept my feet warm through the previous four Rochester winters riding the RTS.

  My feet froze.

  I’m not sure why it is, but everything I tried that had been successful when on foot, failed when on the bike.

  My second year, I knuckled down and bought cycling-specific winter boots. Holy cats! What a difference! I’ve had toasty tootsies ever since–and I’ve ridden down to +4°F, the coldest it’s gotten in R-Town these past two winters. I don’t even need a second pair of socks until well down in the teens.

  I chose Lake’s Winter Cycling Shoes. They’re bloody awful expensive–and worth every penny. I ride clipless, but you can leave the plug in the bottom and use them on platforms too.

  They also seem to be the winter boot of choice among the TNUA riders, even for the women. Order them from any LBS, and a size too large to accommodate extra socks when you do need them.

Stephen, August 29th, 2009 at 9:35 pm:

• I commuted all winter in Rochester last year (10 mi. each way) with the following:

  100% worsted weight wool socks – handmade by my lovely wife.

  Specialized BodyGeometry Taho MTB shoes.

  Louis Garneau XTR shoe covers – Warm but very poorly constructed. I will buy another brand this fall.

  A few times I did the TNUA rides too. My hands got cold at times, but never my feet. I think the heavy wool socks are the key – wool insulates well even when wet with sweat.

Adam, August 30th, 2009 at 3:04 am:

• I have a really weird system in the winter – non-insulated wading boots with a double layer of socks underneath.

  I feel most strongly about making sure one’s winter footwear is completely waterproof – nothing worse then soaking your foot in a slush puddle at the start of a long trip. My first few solutions kept my feet warm but only kept them dry if I didn’t step in a Rochester pothole.

  I picked up the waders years ago for walking through manure pits when trespassing on egg farms, and they’re also amazing at keeping out rain, slush, and snow. I had to repair the right one this year because the crank wore completely through the rubber!

  They look a little funny when I get to where I’m going, but also I’m never cranky when my feet are dry.

  But I found my dry feet were getting too cold, so I started wearing a comfy pair of Hanes Double-Tough socks over my feet and a heavy pair of ski socks on the outside of those. That always seems to keep my feet at the perfect temperature, even during 15 mile trips. I found that I wear through an average of 3 pairs of ski socks over one season.

  I’m sure you’ll work out something with all these different ideas!

Doug, August 30th, 2009 at 11:41 am:

• I commute by bike everyday, all year round in Northern Minnesota. It took me a few years to figure out the foot thing. I use clipless pedals down to about 10 degrees with Lake Winter Boots. Below those temps I use platform pedals and insulated hiking boots, (Northface Lifty GTX 400)that are two sizes too big for me. You have to have “Wiggle Room” or air space for your toes. This helps circulation. I wear a thin ploypro liner and a Smartwool hiking sock. Prior to this method I couldn’t get out in anything colder than 30 degrees without my toes freezing. I’ve ridden in -28 degree weather (not including windchill) with the hiking boots and that was a 10 hour ride. More socks don’t always work, often extra layers cut-off circulation. It’s the air space surrounded by an insulated boot that keeps your foot warm. For longer rides below zero I add a vapor barrier (you can use the bread bag for this)between the liner sock and wool sock. Plus I use Boot Glove neoprene downhill ski boot covers on the outside of the boot. When you have an air space you can also add chemical hand warmers inside the toe box of your boot.

jodycb, August 30th, 2009 at 6:36 pm:

• Thanks everybody for your feedback. It’s great to get such a variety of thoughts. I will look around and see what makes sense in my budget. I’m definitely going to try to remember to buy something that is a little big to have the extra airspace. I think part of my problem, riding with hiking boots last year was that they were too tight with the extra sock layer.

Dottie, September 11th, 2009 at 9:51 pm:

• I’m a bit late to the party, but I’ll throw in my advice. In Chicago, I wear two pairs of Smart Wool socks and these super heavy duty leather ankle boots that I bought when I was studying abroad in Russia. The outside is thick leather with a rubber sole, the inside is some sort of thick fake fur, and there is a zipper on the side. My feet never got frozen with this combination. Cold fingers are my issue. I never did find a good glove combination that worked for me, so I blew on my fingers at every stop light. I would actually put my fingers inside my mouth and blow – the only way to keep them warm. I’m sure I was quite a sight. I’m going to try lobster gloves this winter.

  And yes, my mom wrapped sandwich bags around my feet :)

jodycb, September 12th, 2009 at 8:40 am:

• Dotti,
  Regarding your cold fingers.. have you seen bike pogies? http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/18/pogies/

  There are surely cheaper versions out there. I haven’t tried them but they seem like a perfect idea. I used to be in to whitewater kayaking and we used pogies on our paddles to keep the wind off our fingers while retaining some dexterity. It worked great, even paddling in January. If they work in that kind of situation it seems like they’d be perfect for the bike.

KT, September 20th, 2009 at 2:59 pm:

• Depending on how far you’re riding, overshoes may be ok. I’ve got two kinds of neoprene (wetsuit material) booties. One just slips over the toes (windproof, so they warm and stop wind chill), and the other that zips over regular shoes. Both have holes in the bottom if you use clipless. I regularly ride the toe covers only between 40-50deg, the whole bootie is good to below freezing.

  The most important factors are:
  1. Circulation- don’t try to pack in more socks into your regular shoes! Circulation is more key to warmth than insulation. Your shoes must be fitting to slightly loose or you will get frostbite!
  2. Energy expenditure- I’ve gone winter mountain biking wearing wool socks, normal mtb shoes, and just the neoprene toe-booties. Perfectly comfortable for over 2 hours in 25deg. weather. But I was hammering most of the time. I’d never try that at higher speed commuting, with higher wind chill and less effort to heat me up.

Carl, September 29th, 2009 at 11:50 pm:

• Check out Snow Sneakers from LL Bean.

  That’s what I ended up using toward the end of my 30-years’ Rochester winter commutes of 1 or 2 miles each way.

  Fine to -5, with liner plus heavy hiking wool socks.

  I haven’t tried their new “waterproof” ones, but those they said weren’t waterproof worked fine in snow.
  –

  A couple of other lessons-learned:

  For rain, I use Nokian rubber boots.

  For real comfort in rain and snow, try a plastic face shield on a full-face motorcycle helmet. (Also protects your brain and keeps your ears and head warm.)

  Studs. And don’t bike the first few snowy days each year, when drivers are relearning how not to slide.

  Try to find two of the old Dick Burns lights and use them every day and night so drivers can really see you. I think it’s too dangerous to bike without lights at least that good.

  (After Roch — DC, Columbus — I really miss biking in snow…..)