JPinWI

No really! It's not you. It's me...I guess I'm just not really ready for this kind of commitment...

I've got mittens, face mask, lined pants, sweat shirt and thick socks but it's just not working out.

By the time I ride my 17 mile, 1 hour clipless commute, I'm a sweaty mess but my toes are cold. I start thinking of that toasty warm cage I could be commuting in. Sure it's a carpool with 3 other guys but when I get to work, I'm comfortable and don't even need to shower.

I guess what I'm trying to say is maybe we should just cool it for awhile, take a break! Pick things up again in 4 months or so if were still interested in each other.

Or better yet maybe someone can offer some advice on how to keep my toes warm on an hour-long, below freezing commute in clipless pedals.

Thanks!

jp

Timothy

Shoe covers?
Wool socks?

rumrunn6

chemical toe warmers and some kind of overboot

buffalo_cody

Nashbar has a couple of different shoe covers on clearance for under $20.

jcushing

These will work...right?

dcrowell

A cheaper route is big honking warm comfortable boots (with chemical warmers if necessary) and regular pedals.

MichaelW

Winter footwear should be a looser fit to accept thicker socks and no mesh panels.
Wear socks like a hiker, inner thin pair and outer thicker pair, both wool.
You can use an outer pair of sealskinz socks or some bootie covers.

If you are sweating in the cold, you are over-dressed. Check your outer layer for permeability and use a windproof rather than waterproof.

Clipless pedals can act as heat sinks. You could use a winter light hiking boot with platforms and toe-clips or powergrips.

cooleric1234

I do a few things that seem to help:

1. Buy shoes a size too large so I can wear thick wool socks.
2. Buy a pair of toasty feet insulated soles. They use a cool material: Aspen Aerogel and help with the cold that comes from the cleat.
3. Buy some neoprene booties to go over the shoes

I tend to get cold easily but that usually is good enough for my 10 mile commute in the 20's. Below that I'd say go with the chemical warmers, or spend a boat load of money on cycling specific winter shoes. Or don't go clipless and wear insulated boots.

exile

Maybe you are over dressed. When you start your commute you should be a little chilly. Don't worry about it, you will warm up soon enough.

Don't over exert yourself so much that you sweat (although some people sweat more than others). Try dressing in layers. When you get to hot you can remove an item of clothing.

Also check out the Winter Forum, they have some good information about what people wear in what conditions.

You mentioned wearing thicker socks. Is it cutting off circulation? a half size up shoe might work or maybe just undo the laces some. Is it from wind blowing through or the cold air. Maybe a shoe cover.

Don't give up yet. You lose cool points if you don't commute in the cold. Plus your coworkers will talk about you behind your back. I usually start the rumors, but that's just me.

TheHen

On the super cheap side, you could wrap your shoes in bubble-wrap secured with tape. It looks funny but works. If that works you could always get some conventional neoprene shoe covers. I've also seen, but not tried, socks with battery-powered heaters.

AdamDZ

Ride with flat pedals and wear regular shoes with thick soles. Hiking sneakers and wool socks work well. The cleats are a chunks of metal attached to a thin sole and draw heat away from your feet. Also, clipless shoes tend to be tighter than normal shoes, blood circulation is critical for keeping your feet warm.

3speedslow

Yeap.... regular pedals with street shoes and thick socks. For clipless, go with the footcovers.

nkfrench 

I wear relatively thin socks so I have more toe wiggle room - it's very important - and I use Glad Press-n-Seal wrap to make toecovers that go between sock and shoe. I haven't found any booties or shoe covers that will go over my MTB shoes (SPD cleats) and likely the short walking segment on unpaved terrain would tear up shoe covers anyhow. Works down to freezing since my feet don't sweat much. I am shopping for bigger MTB shoes.

slolane

That's what I do and it keeps me warm. Don't give up just yet.

CCrew

Yup. Costco just put their merino wool "Hiking socks" back in the stores here. 4prs for $10.

SactoDoug

Make sure that there is enough room in your shoes for circulation. As other have suggested, get a size larger if you are wearing thick wool socks. Also, leave the Velcro a little loose. Go ahead and put your shoes on normally, then just loosen them up a bit.

If that doesn't work, then wear a baklava. Most of the heat in your body exits out the head. Even a thin covering will keep a lot of body heat in. You might find that with a baklava on, you can wear thinner clothing. An old saying is if your hands and feet are cold, cover your head.

1nterceptor

OP, what pedals? If you're using SPD's, Lakes are a good choice for
cycling boots. I'm comfy with mine up to 10F, 2 hour commute
almost everyday.

dedhed

Mittens? Facemask? It was 28 this AM. I'm still wearing tennis shoes. I have worn my ear band a couple of times, and gloves with fingers. I haven't taped over the helmet vents yet, or zipped the pits on my jacket. When It gets cold I'll throw on my old worn out timberland boots with a pair of wool socks. Good to go until the snow messes up the roads.

MrCjolsen

Everyone up to this point is wrong. Here is what you do.

Get a pair of clipless sandals. Yes, sandals.

Over a thick pair (or two) of wool socks, don a pair of speedo diving booties. These are commonly used to inside of swim fins. Then put on the sandals. You may need to raise your seat. I've ridden with this setup down to 25F, and my feet have stayed toasty warm. The other good thing is that the neoprene maintains warmth even when wet. And the sandals dry quickly.

The problem with adding socks, is that the shoe does not allow the sock to increase the amount of insulation. And with clipless, you have lots of places under the shoe where cold can get it. Add to that, the metal parts of your cleats basically becoming an ice cube under your foot. But by placing your foot in neoprene, you are preventing that from happening.

JPinWI

Thanks for all the advice...much better Today... of course it was 12 degrees warmer with a southerly tailwind TOO!

I'll keep pedaling away....at least till the snow flies...two pairs of socks Today was fine...no facemask, back to ski gloves, zippered coat (better than a sweatshirt) I can unzip if too warm.

I'll be busting out the plasitic bag liners next time it's below freezing just like I did in kindergarten...I guess it's true everything you truly need to know you learned in kindergarten.

jp

CCrew

Pffft. You're in CA. You think 25 is cold

RT

Stay clipless (I know it is hard to go back platform after riding clipless) and invest in some neoprene shoe covers. I swear by mine down into the teens F.

Pinyon

I sympathize. My feet get cold pretty easily, and cold feet can make for a miserable ride.

What works for me from freezing down to about 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit is:

1. Thicker insoles in my shoes. I just get cheap, thick, foam ones made for running. You need a good thermal barrier between your feet and the hard soles of your cycling shoes. It also cuts down on heat loss from the cleat holes.
2. Thick socks. I prefer synthetic and wool socks. Cotton gets too cold when you sweat.
3. Tights, or rain-pants if it is windy. Keeping my legs warmer makes a big difference.
4. Poly or nylon shell shoe-covers. I prefer these to neoprene. They cut the wind, and allow my feet to breath a little bit more (less sweat).

Below 15 degrees, I just add more layers. I add fleece over my tights, or under my rain pants. I wear more socks, and put my neoprene booties on underneath my shell foot covers.

jharte

I want a pair!

Jerry H

jharte

Try different things BUT don't buy the hand warmers and put them in your shoes. I did that on a 14 mile commute at 18 deg F one morning. At 7 miles my feet were so cold they started hurting really bad. I stopped and took off my boots/socks and found the hand warmers had frozen to a solid block of ice. I guess my feet were so warm (for a while) that they perspired bad and soaked the hand warmer. I commute in cleats and the cold metal froze the hand warmers.

Live and learn. Just don't give up!

Jerry H