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Message started by dgholmes59 on Aug 10^th, 2009, 11:04am

Title: Winter shoes?
Post by dgholmes59 on Aug 10^th, 2009, 11:04am

I know it is a little early for this discussion, but I am wanting to buy a pair of winter cycling shoes. I am wanting road shoes which accept SPD-SL clips (3 hole). I do not want to use shoe covers. Already done that and does not work for me. Also, wool socks with the covers and does not work either. Do not like sandals because too flimsy and hurt my feet. So I am looking for actual winter road cycling shoes. Do any of you guys use winter cycling shoes here in North Texas? If so, which brand do you recommend. I am leaning toward the Lake brand.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by Kwijybow on Aug 10^th, 2009, 11:16am

Not what you're asking, but for cold weather commuting I switch back to flat pedals and use regular shoes. When I ride with spds I just use loose fitting shoes and 2 layers of wool socks. No clipless solution is as warm as the regular shoe option for me.

Take Care,
Nelson.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by dgholmes59 on Aug 10^th, 2009, 11:29am

Kwijybow wrote:

Would not want to go without my clipless pedals on my Giro. I just would not feel safe without them. Not very comfortable with the higher bottom bracket because with the angle the feet want to fall of the pedals. Also, would lose a lot of power by not having the upward leg stroke.

I thought about buying another pair of regular cycling shoes that are looser so I could use more socks. However, I was not sure if this would solve my cold feet problem. Looks like this might be an option.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by evblazer on Aug 10^th, 2009, 11:30am

Last winter I went to my keen sandals and a pair of wool socks for my winter shoes for a while. When I started using the hurricane I went back to my road shoes and changed the insert to one of those aerogel orange inserts from X-Mart that worked really well at keeping the heat in my shoes and that was just using a single pair of wool socks. Two pairs worked worse since they would be too tight and shoe covers never worked for me on a recumbent because most cover the part that is out of the wind so sort of keep the cold air in that is coming from the sole of the shoe?

I have heard the lakes are pretty good from back when I was commuting through snow. Back then I was just using MTB shoes one size too big with two pairs of wool socks with a plastic newspaper bag in between layers if it was cold or wet sooo no first hand experience. If you are just using the winter shoes for a straight ride you should be ok. On my commute I'd need two pair of shoes though because in the AM it would be cold and the pm it's would be too hot and the ride too long I'd melt in them.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by jcsadowski on Aug 10^th, 2009, 11:31am

For Winter I have a pair of MTB shoes with SPD pedals. I got them big enough to use "Smart Wool" Treking socks and my feet stay warm all winter.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by bikerteam on Aug 10^th, 2009, 11:49am

I wear my regular cycling shoes, and an extra large pair of wool (hunting) socks. I just cut the bottom area to expose the cleat and heal cup. I might go through a couple pair a season, but it's pretty inexpsive.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by jayg on Aug 10^th, 2009, 12:00pm

I use mountain bike shoes with wool socks and "Toasti Toes" adhesive-backed, chemical foot warmers. My toes stay warm for hours.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by aikigreg on Aug 10^th, 2009, 1:14pm

I always just used my regular tri shoes that are breathable, but also not very worth against the cold, with one nice wool sock. After borrowing Paul's toe covers one VERY chilly ride, I have bought a set of shoe covers and that should be plenty good for Texas. I ain't going out if it's below 40 anyway. I have a trainer if I want to punish myself that badly.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by Bud_Bent on Aug 10^th, 2009, 3:05pm

I have Raynaud's syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raynaud's_phenomenon), so I really struggle to keep my fingers and toes warm in the winter. With all the things I have tried, what has worked best for my toes is to just wear the same Sidi Dominators I wear all year, but loosen the velcro straps closest to my toes for extra room, and place a chemical hand warmer heat pack on top of my toes.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Aug 10^th, 2009, 4:49pm

I have shoe covers, but rarely use them... as has been mentioned, the cold air is hitting the sole of the shoe, not the upper more breathable fabric area. But I do use a pair of Kucharik toe covers... I've found the "toasty toes" adhesive pads work very nicely.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by dgholmes59 on Aug 10^th, 2009, 7:37pm

I have tried the shoe covers, but on the Bacchetta the wind just blows into the cutout for the clip and freezes my feet. Here are the best shoe covers I have used, but when I switched to the ultegra pedals, the rubber sole rubs the crank arm. I would have to install pedal extenders to use them on the Bacchetta.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1018749_-1___

I considered the wind blowing in the bottom of my shoe through the shoe cover cutout, so I took a foil sunshade for a car windshield, and cut out a shoe insert hoping the foil would reflect the heat back to my feet and block air coming in the bottom of the shoe. It helps, but still does not keep my feet warm.

Tried the chemical handwarmer, this was nice but in cold temperatures, would not last but about 30 to 40 minutes. Not much good on a two hour ride. However, I never tried them on top of my toes.

Last year I would just wear a pair of wool hunting socks in my normal riding shoes. No room for another pair. This works pretty good but feet still get cold when it is in the 40s and below. I also slipped a sock over the shoe with a cutout for the clip, but almost fell when I put my foot down. My heal could not grap the asphault. I did not think about cutting out for the heal.

I have a very nice trainer, but I hate using it. It is SSOOOOO boring, that I prefer any weather except rain to working out on it. I even bought a niteflux photon max extreme headlight so I could ride in the dark instead of using the trainer.

So with all that in mind, I started considering an insulated shoe. That is why I was considering the Lake shoes. The problem is they are twice as expensive as my normal shoes and I was afraid they might be too warm for North Texas. I don't want to waste $250. Rather spend it on cool components. LOL

It looks like you guys didn't waste your money on winter shoes and the alternate methods are working for you. As you can see I have tried most of them, except the toe covers. I have not tried that. I assumed if the shoe cover did not work the toe cover would definitely not work. I also may try the sock over the shoe again and cutout for the heel stop.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by Bud_Bent on Aug 10^th, 2009, 8:11pm

Wow, you may need to find a different source for your chemical packs. The cheap wally world and Academy chemical packs last 3 or 4 hours for me. If you stop and shake them again, that will usually get a while longer, yet.

The problem with insulated shoes is that most Texas winter days warm up in the afternoon. Add the afternoon sun to that, and what felt good in the morning is sweaty feet big time in the afternoon. One chemical pack in the morning usually does it for me, but on a really long winter ride where the day is going to stay cold and cloudy, I'll pack more, and change to new ones at a stop. The main thing to remember is that you need to shake the chemical packs when you open them, and it may take the chemical packs 30 minutes to reach full temperature after opening, so if you're opening the package just before a ride and then doing a short ride, you may be wasting your time using them.

Some people even put the chemical packs on their ankles or wrists. If you warm the blood going to your extremities, that still works to keep extremities warm. But everyone is a bit different, so you may have to do your own experimentation to see what works best for you.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by jayg on Aug 10^th, 2009, 8:12pm

dgholmes59 wrote:

Tried the chemical handwarmer, this was nice but in cold temperatures, would not last but about 30 to 40 minutes. Not much good on a two hour ride. However, I never tried them on top of my toes.

I have used over 40 "Toasti Toes" adhesive pads on the bottom of my feet. I have ridden in 30 degree weather and found them to last up to 6 hours, as advertised. They need to be placed between the bottom of the wearer's foot and the sole of the shoe to limit oxygen supply to the pad per the instructions. My toes are naturally cold, even during the Summer when I am in an airconditioned room. When I arrive home after a long Winter ride, my toes are still warm with the Toasti Toes stuck to the bottom of my socks.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by Bud_Bent on Aug 10^th, 2009, 8:17pm

jayg wrote:

Yes, the Toasti Toes do seem to outlast the cheap chemical packs, but even as flat as they are, they hurt my toes when I put them on the bottom. Once I switched back to the top of my toes, I changed back to the cheaper chemical packs, since either one seemed to work great on top.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by dgholmes59 on Aug 10^th, 2009, 8:39pm

Looks like I need to try the chemical warmers again. I am pretty sure I bought them at Walmart. Not sure what the problem was, but I am sure they did not last over 40 minutes. I cannot remember if I shook them or not. I bought some toastie toes last year after winter was over and never used them. I will give them a try this year.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by dgholmes59 on Aug 10^th, 2009, 8:43pm

Bud_Bent wrote:

The problem with insulated shoes is that most Texas winter days warm up in the afternoon. Add the afternoon sun to that, and what felt good in the morning is sweaty feet big time in the afternoon.

Exactly what I was worried about. I will give the chemical warmers another chance.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by evblazer on Aug 10^th, 2009, 9:26pm

dgholmes59 wrote:

I considered the wind blowing in the bottom of my shoe through the shoe cover cutout, so I took a foil sunshade for a car windshield, and cut out a shoe insert hoping the foil would reflect the heat back to my feet and block air coming in the bottom of the shoe. It helps, but still does not keep my feet warm.

Foil will help some with heat but I find these inserts have worked alot better for me. THe aerogel stops the conduction of heat from your feet to the sole of the shoe that is acting as a big heatsink to drop off all the temperature.
http://www.comforthouse.com/keepfeetwarm.html
They are available pretty much anywhere once the season rolls around. I don't think I took them out till may mostly because I just forgot about them in there. Once they were out my feet didn't overheat so much anymore with the higher temps

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by Opus the Poet on Aug 11^th, 2009, 12:20am

Bud_Bent wrote:

Interesting read, the medications indicated for the treatment are the baseline meds I have to take before I do a study drug, only at higher doses than I get prior to going on a study medication. I'm on the losartin now as I "detox" from a study drug prior to going back on my regular medication, Azor. One of the components of the Azor is on the list of meds as well, I believe it is the one that has the vasodilator side effect that treats my post-compartment syndrome difficulties. Post-compartment syndrome shares some symptoms with Raynaud's, but I don't get the "French flag" color changes. I just swell up like I'm smuggling softballs in my calf and then the foot quits working >:(

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by dgholmes59 on Aug 11^th, 2009, 5:22am

evblazer wrote:

Interesting. I have not seen this product. I am going to purchase a pair. It is possible this and chemical warmers may do the trick. I live in Stephenville, Tx 60 miles west of Fort Worth. Walmart would be the only place here that I would possibly find them. Do you know if they carry them? If not, I will just order a pair. Would you guys still recommend a toe cover for the shoe?

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by evblazer on Aug 11^th, 2009, 7:33am

Walmart is where I got mine but it was Sept/Oct.. I am not sure if they have them now since it is out of season but they were in the shoe section at the end of one of the aisles.

I have toe covers on my shoes.. Maybe they act as a little hat or at least block the vents up front :-/

I have had some good success putting the chemical warmers in a little plastic baggie after a short use and getting a little more heat out of them. I don't know if it depends on the brands or if I'm just imagining things but if one already had a ziplock just sqeeze it flat before zipping it up to get the air out and it might work. One thing about the ones I had, both from academy and walmart, I found is they need air to breath and make heat. If the shoe was too tight they didn't do much if anything.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by Bud_Bent on Aug 11^th, 2009, 7:43am

That's a good idea, Mark. They do require air to work; it's an iron powder chemical thing (which I get to see all the time at work, with all the cast iron we machine). That's why shaking them will get more heat out of them, too.

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by dgholmes59 on Aug 11^th, 2009, 9:47pm

I just wanted to thank you guys for the help. I visited this site,rbent, occasionally last year but have mostly just posted on the Bacchetta site. I wanted to ask the shoe question of people who ride in the same area as I do since we all know how much the Texas temperature changes, even in Winter. Remembering Rbent was a Texas forum I decided to post on here. I really appreciate the help, and I will not be buying any winter cycling shoes this year. Going to give your techniques a try. What I had tried was close, I just need to add a few more things.

I never even had to worry about this stuff before I bought my first recumbent in August 2006. When it got cold, my df bike was in the garage until it warmed up the next Spring. But with the recumbent, all I want to do is ride cold or not. It is nice to have other crazy people to ask questions of. [smiley=lolk.gif] Helps the learning curve tremendously.

Darrell

Title: Re: Winter shoes?
Post by dgholmes59 on Aug 12^th, 2009, 9:40am

Kinda funny, I was looking at buying the Toasty Feet last year. However, I had tried so many things, I did not want to waste any more money on stuff that didn't work. I am going to get some this year.