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Cold Tootsies

by shollin
Sat, Nov 19, 2011 15:41
13

So I think I have my hands sorted, now for my feet. I suffer with cold feet anyway, as in blocks of ice type cold so I'm looking for any clever suggestions to keep them warm on the bike. Currently I wear Merino socks (my feet is the only part of my body that likes Merino), shoes and Neoprene overshoes (This will not be enough for me when it turns cold. I don't want bulk but my feet need to be warm. I'm a woman therefore I am demanding 1

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13 comments

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wyadvd | 13 years ago
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firstly follow this link for the most solid advice on what to wear when cycling in baltic conditions on the web:

http://www.icebike.org/Clothing/footwear.htm

speaking personally from trial and error through (only) 3 winters, I have faffed around with overshoes (most of which last approx 1 month before they fall to bits but the bbb ones are the best IMO)

my mum got me some shimano mw81s for my (45th) birthday, and they are the mutts nutts for keeping your tootsies warm and dry. JOB DONE!!

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shollin replied to wyadvd | 13 years ago
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What a nice mum you have! Thems noice shoesies. I will have a good think about my feet 1

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shollin | 13 years ago
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I have had my shoes since I started cycling last Autumn and have considered the fact that they might be a touch to narrow near my toes. I get some pins and needles, in my little toes particularly on my left foot. I tried two pairs of thin merino socks today and whilst my feet themselves were warm my toes felt cold and I came home with a pain in the arch of my big toe. I don't get this pain with just the one pair of socks. I have resisted new shoes so far but it might (unfortunately) be a big contributing factor. The way things are going with bike gear I may have to get a second job! 13

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v_class | 13 years ago
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Try some orthotic insoles such as Giro supernatural or Specialized body geometry, pair these with a 1/2 size larger shoe and it may solve your problems.

I used to suffer the exact same as you and a touch of raynaud's syndrome and wouldn't be able to walk or even entertain a bath for 2-3 hours after a cold ride.

Bought a pair of specialized insoles and the problems vanished, I put it down to pinching nerves and or blood flow to my foot with close fitting italian shoes. I have had great results with wider shoes such as bont, specialized and giro. The most I use is a pair of thin rapha socks (good as some socks constrict bloodflow too by having too much elastic in them) and a set of Pro H20 or Pro H20NPU overshoes (if it's really cold/heavy rain) and I haven't suffered cold feet for many years.

Give it a go as the problem is usually exasperated by poor fitting kit or position not clothing.

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Gepin | 13 years ago
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Shollin, freezer bags/cling film will work in the short term.... In the long term your looking at "Trench Foot" and mega stinky pinky's.
Are you sure this is not a circulation issue? Try flexing your toes every other pedal stroke to keep the blood flowing.

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shollin replied to Gepin | 13 years ago
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Yikes! Trenchfoot ewe! 31 Yes I do suffer from a bit of poor circulation and do wiggle the toes as frequently as I can remember.

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stuke | 13 years ago
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A sandwich/freezer bag on each foot should do the trick between shoe and sock. I used this in the snow last year with my mtb shoes as I had no overshoes for them, worked fine at -5 degrees

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shollin replied to stuke | 13 years ago
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Going to try the clingfilm/bag thing see if that makes a difference. Fingers crossed 1

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Simon E | 13 years ago
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With gloves and shoes I put them on the radiator for a while before I put them on, so they are warm before I start. Certainly stops the fingers and toes getting cold so soon.

I've read that cling film round the toes helps keep some warmth in without adding bulk.

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shollin replied to Simon E | 13 years ago
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Yeah, I did wonder today if clingfilm would help actually, I thought bacofoil but then thought nooo, it wouldn't be comfy. I'll try it tomorrow, see if I notice a difference. I don't expect to be completely chill free on my feet but every little bit helps!

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shollin | 13 years ago
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Interesting suggestions Dave, electric insoles...where do I plug myself in?? 1 . Yup, I too am a bit of a baby with my feet Blackhound. It was lovely today, I did 34m with socks, shoes and overshoes and my toes were a bit chilly but manageable ;). Odd really because I tend to overheat in the body. Had to pull the top of my bib down and unzip my jacket half way. See, woman, awkward! 3

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Blackhound | 13 years ago
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I would suggest winter boots, most manufacturers have some in there range (I have Shimano). Get them a half size bigger than normal and wear 2 pairs of socks.

This morning I was fine in Rapha merino socks, Specialized mtb shoes and some of these:

http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk/etxeondo-brea-over-shoes-769.html

I was plenty warm today and I do feel the cold in my extremities, although it was nice today. For instance a few days ago (Wednesday) somebody tweeted to road.cc that the road.cc socks kept there warm that day. My feet were definitely cold in the same socks that day(no overshoes. My feet looked cool though;-)

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dave atkinson | 13 years ago
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could try these:

http://www.breezeblockers.com/buy/aeroguard.php

or these:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/electric-heated-insole-uk-size-6-12-531716?c=fro...

or both 1

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