CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Cold feet

(21 posts)
  • Started 11 years ago by minimoth
  • Latest reply from wee folding bike
  • This topic is not a support question

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  1. minimoth
    Member

    Most winters I have retreated to the bus when the nights draw in and the evenings get cold but this year I'm still commuting by bike(Slateford to Leith) most days.

    But I'm having one problem (apart from avoiding the ice) and that's cold feet. Gave up on the "work" shoes months ago in replacement for my North Face walking shoes and two pairs of socks. Today I was still trying to return my numb feet, which had been through throbbing and pins and needles, after being in the office for nearly 2 hours.

    Wondered if anyone has any tips (other than adding another pair of socks which might just cut off my circulation) on what else I could try.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. Stepdoh
    Member

    Overshoes are good, stops the wind/slows the rain getting to your feet in the first place, but they kind of require you to be using clipless pedals. Have kept me toasty though.

    Guessing you're more on the 'citizen cyclist' bent rather than the 'lycra lout' one.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. Smudge
    Member

    Make sure your two pairs of socks are not too tight to trap air, if they're squished thin then they often don't offer any more insulation than one fluffy pair.
    Make sure you don't overtighten your boots and restrict circulation.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. SRD
    Moderator

    take a hot water bottle to work. fill with HOT water, and place under desk, and use as foot rest.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. Kenny
    Member

    I today unwrapped (early) a birthday present of a pair of Endura Luminite overshoes which I will be wearing over the top of the shoes I regularly commute in, which are Merrell walking shoes. I think Stepdoh is correct in that most overshoes require you to use clipless pedals, but I specifically made sure that I got ones that could be worn both with clipless *and* normal shoes. I have had them on over the top of my Merrells this evening in my kitchen, and they fit fine - tight, but that's how you want 'em.

    Although I have not worn them for cycling yet, I fully expect my feet to be even warmer tomorrow morning than they were this morning. Which wouldn't be difficult.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. steveo
    Member

    Unexpected side effect of going fixed was swapping from my walking boots to my very summer weight clippy shoes... Cold feet!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Yes, as Smudge says - too many socks and tightly laced boots restrict circulation and cut down on insulative properties. If your shoes aren't wind proof (rubberised or leather uppers) it might be worth trying a sock like the Sealskins one, which should offer some windproofing. Densely woven but not too thick woolly socks are very effective. Many walking socks have a very loose weave to allow feet to breathe / sweat to evaporate, meaning they aren't actually very warm in an airstream.

    It seems weird at first, but for above reason, traditional cold-weather "Belgian" cycling socks go over the TOP of the shoes.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. Uberuce
    Member

    Overshoes get my +1. I've had mine for about a year and I do admit they're getting a little ragged round the underside, but the important bits are still fine so I expect them to hang on a fair while yet.

    Walking on tarmac is what grinds them up, I suspect; I don't think your feet move laterally much even on flat pedals.

    Almost choked on the ~40 price tag, but if I lose, destroy or absentmindedly eat my pair, I'll replace them in a heartbeat.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. Instography
    Member

    Make sure the rest of you is warm enough. If your torso is chilled at all your body will take blood away from the extremities so retain warmth in the torso. So, keep your head, torso and legs warm and your feet will be more likely to look after themselves.

    To illustrate - I was meeting a mate in the pub after work so rather than get dressed up in cycling gear, I had my work trousers and shirt on instead of my thicker cycling jersey and bib longs. Everything else was the same. Same socks and shoes but I had cold feet because my shirt and trousers weren't keeping me warm enough.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. Nelly
    Member

    +1for sealskins - I probably use them more as 'extreme cold' socks than wet weather socks - the different layers make them windproof. Pricey, but worth it.

    Or you could get heated socks

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. kaputnik
    Moderator

    You could always try...


    Get Into THE BUFF!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. gembo
    Member

    Sealskinz come in different weights. I go for their heavy weight. They are good. I have gore socks for inside shoes, you can't walk in them but waterproof and you wear with thin wool socks inside and road shoes and you have a similar if thinner set up to sealskinz, if not walking. Both suffer from ingress. If raining and water gets in, it can't get out. Then you wear overshoes, as stated to fit clip in or if you have small enough walking shoes, get extra large galoshes and that works. Galoshes plus sealskinz will lead to feet being hot but maybe not too hot.?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  13. lionfish
    Member

    @kaputnik: That makes me feel cold just thinking about it.

    @everyone: I think minimoth was uncertain about wearing overshoes (apparently something to do with fashion sense??) - she's dreading that I might be buying her them for Christmas now :)

    @minimoth: What about your gaiters? - then you don't have to shell out for anything?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  14. Min
    Member

    I find sealskinz socks quite good too, they keep the wind out which is what really freezes your tootsies and they are quite thick too.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  15. crowriver
    Member

    Nothing wrong with woolen walking socks. A single pair inside leather boots keeps my tootsies warm while utility riding. It's important to keep legs warm too: thermal long johns under the trews, cuffs tucked into wooly socks. Toasty!

    Woolen socks and walking/trekking shoes (maybe not boots due to lack of room) can also be worn under neoprene overshoes if you're going for the lycra warrior look: no-one will ever know! This is assuming that you don't use clipless pedals, of course, in which case you have a whole different set of issues, especially thermal insulation of the soles...

    Posted 11 years ago #

  16. deckard112
    Member

    Base layer socks + Thermal Socks + UsualShoes + Overshoes = Toasty!

    (I use Shimano Tarmac overshoes which are just ace and waterproof to boot!)

    Posted 11 years ago #

  17. Dave
    Member

    What do you wear on your legs?

    Unless your boots are super vented, I doubt the cold is really penetrating them (plus two pairs of socks) in the space of a short commute.

    I'm still wearing one pair of thin cotton socks and my normal SPD shoes (think trainers) without overshoes but my feet are OK. I mainly put this down to wearing a good insulating layer on my bottom half.

    If you have walking boots, do you also have thermal longs you could put on underneath whatever else you wear? Not ideal as you'll probably have to change out of them at the other end, but might make a big difference.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  18. lionfish
    Member

    @Dave (replying on behalf of minimoth): Her commute is about 30 minutes (Gorgie to Leith) - to work it's downhill quite a bit so not getting so hot. Interesting idea that keeping the legs warm enough might do the job.

    @minimoth What about the (itchy) thermal long-johns (is that the word) we bought in Deqin? How cold are your legs? Time to use the knitted knee warmer pattern you found!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  19. DaveC
    Member

    Road.cc has a feature/advert?

    http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/71966-how-keep-your-feet-warm-winter

    Posted 11 years ago #

  20. sallyhinch
    Member

    Another +1 for keep the core warm - if your body is absolutely determined to suck of the blood out of your feet (and hands) to keep the torso warm, then it will, however much you wrap them up. I've got terrible circulation and suffer from this a lot (I'd also be a bit careful about rewarming your feet too quickly once they're cold, as I've already got chilblains this year...). You could try heating your socks and shoes before putting them on. It doesn't help much, but it feels nice

    The one tip I've heard (from a skier) specifically for cold feet is to spray your feet with anti-perspirant as sweaty feet will quickly cool down especially if packed into socks and impermeable boots. That may be more of a man thing though.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  21. wee folding bike
    Member

    I know what David Niven did in one of his books. That was definitely a man thing.

    Posted 11 years ago #

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