The joy of winter riding, and how do you keep your toes warm?

[Roberta]

Inspired by the wonderful cold weather rides and pics recently (and others, too, on Instagram), I decided I should not stop riding just because the temperature is below 60*.  Yes, you read that right.  Pre-Riv, when the weather got below 60*, I’d stop riding because it was “too cold.”

Well, I’ve learned a lot here in the last 3 ½ years.  Last year, I rode when it was in the 40’s.  Yesterday and today, I was out in 32* and 27* temperatures, respectively, and it was glorious!  I finally learned how to dress properly for cold weather riding.  There were less crowds on the trail and I was more comfortable than when it’s in the 90’s.

I highly recommend it!

Also, how do you keep your toes warm?  It was the only cold part of my body.  I was wearing leather sneakers and cotton socks (only because I couldn't find my wool ones).  Winter temps usually don't often go below 30*.

Roberta

[Ian A]

A cool weather ride can be wonderful if you can stay warm in the fingers and toes. I have found shoe covers effective over cycling shoes. In colder weather, thick socks inside hiking boots. In really cold weather, plastic bread bags between the boot and sock - this can lead to sweaty feet if not cold enough!

IanA Alberta Canada

[Tom M]

I've had good luck with shoe covers as well. I have some Pearl Izumi stretchy ones that fit fine over my Five-Tens. They make a difference on colder days. 

Happy riding

Tom Milani

Alexandria, VA USA

[Garth]

Some thicker and/or warmer socks will surely help with the warmth  Roberta, if you have the room of course ! Your leather sneakers are great for blocking the wind.

The plastic bag thing works well enough but I found I don't like having my entire foot wrapped in plastic, it's too slippery and bulky around the toes from excess bag ! I started chopping off ends of the bags to make them cover half my foot, but the bulk around the toes was still there.  So a few years ago I recall doing a double take at those little air filled packing tubes you get from shippers, I think they say "AIRplus" on them. About 7"x4". I thought hmmm...... those would make some nice toe/foot booties. So what I did is separate them individually, cut one of the ends off at the seam with a scissors. Now carefully use your hands to separate 1, just 1 of the long side seams all the way to the other end. You'll end up with 1 side and 1 end open, the other 2 in tact. Now you have a nice fitting toe bootie that is placed over your socks inside your shoes. It doesn't alter the fit at all, and the best thing is your feet don't slide around because the rest of your foot isn't covered. I've done this for years and do it with pretty much every shoe I wear in the cold winter here in Ohio. Each bootie lasts a 2-4 weeks before it starts to tear and need replaced, but so what, I have an abundant supply furnished from packages.

Even on shoes that block the wind, these booties add a certain vapor barrier effect that helps keep a certain moisture level on your toes/forefoot. My feet have never become soaked with these, even when I've worn them in too warm of weather. I also wear some of those thin nitrile gloves under all may winter handwear to keep them warm. They say "single use only/disposable" but they are far from it. I take them off inside out and let them air dry. Rinse and dry if needed. A pair can last me 3-4 weeks before tearing. I have some 4 and 6 mil. versions from Ammex and SAS. What the liner gloves do is keep the insulation dry and the natural moisture on your hands. Wicking is great in the warm but in winter it's not always so if your insulation gets wet. It doesn't matter what that insulation is either, cold and wet is cold and wet.

[Ben Mihovk]

I ride in fairly cold conditions...I'm okay down to 15 degrees or so for my commute. I'm not on the bike long enough for the toes to go cold most of the time. 

On longer rides (15 miles is long for me) in temps in the 20s and 30s, I've found it really hard to keep my toes from getting really cold. What has worked okay for me is leather boots with a thin wool sock and a thicker wool sock over it. From how I understand it, layering and warmth is all about creating pockets of warm air between your skin and the cold air. I like boots better than sneakers because you have more room (typically) in a boot for that pocket of warm air.

I'm very intrigued with this plastic bag business. Going to have to try it.

-Ben

[Robert Blunt]

Roberta,

Hoka makes a pair of gore tex lined winter trainers that are black. I use those with smartwool socks and that covers it for anything in the 30s and above.

-Robert Blunt

Pennington, NJ

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/40d36b52-cadd-46d7-9e02-bc2ceb790b91n%40googlegroups.com.

[James / Analog Cycles]

Keen winter boots with 400 grams of insulation, wool thigh high socks are good for down to say 20.  After that, you need muck boots, wool felt insoles, thick tall wool socks.  At zero or below add toe warmers.  
https://www.muckbootcompany.com/collections/women/products/womens-arctic-sport-ii-mid-navy

-James / Vermont / riding around in 0 degree temps 

[Shoji Takahashi]

I suggest gaiters for winter riding. They keep your pants and shoes cleaner (from road salt+sand of Boston area and similar climates). I think it keeps my feet warmer by keeping my lower legs warmer. 

I have an old set of OR Gaiters. 

https://www.outdoorresearch.com/us/gaiters

Good luck!

shoji

[ascpgh]

Roberta, you've broken the champagne bottle on the bow of yet another annual winter thread! Hold on tight and prepare to collect notes from all the good input.

A nice summary of the ways your body will lose heat, from Wikipedia: 

"There are four avenues of heat loss: convection, conduction, radiation, and evaporation. If skin temperature is greater than that of the surroundings, the body can lose heat by radiation and conduction. But, if the temperature of the surroundings is greater than that of the skin, the body actually gains heat by radiation and conduction. In such conditions, the only means by which the body can rid itself of heat is by evaporation. So, when the surrounding temperature is higher than the skin temperature, anything that prevents adequate evaporation will cause the internal body temperature to rise.[4] During sports activities, evaporation becomes the main avenue of heat loss.[5] Humidity affects thermoregulation by limiting sweat evaporation and thus heat loss.[6]"

My addition this year is that you must have heat in your extremities for all the tricks to work. I say this because I had to see a rheumatologist to verify that I have Reynaud's phenomenon, not from an arthritic or rheumatological origin but rather that frostbite when I was 13 years old. 

What happens in this phenomenon is that arteries at a point in the circulatory supply of my hands get stimulated by cold or wet and the smooth muscle in the walls of the vessels hyperactively respond with constriction, severely limiting blood flow any farther into the extremity. Looks like this when triggered:

Triggered by 40° wind

Triggered by hand washing water

Where the arteries have clamped marks where the distal tissue is pale, waxy and the proximal tissue backs up with blood that begins to and turn purple as it deoxygenates. You cannot keep these fingers warm. Return of circulation or application of external heat can do that. Preventing the trigger of the phenomenon is the best answer.  They don't work well after much time like that and touch screens don't respond to them. I plan on that. 

My physician added that if preparing for triggering events is unable to stop the process, transdermal nitroglycerine patches can stop the process and maintain perfusion to avoid all the troubles if able to anticipate exposure. Just apply ahead of times when you know you'll experience the trigger.

I have optimized my preparations for the cold as a result of this because I also love riding in the "off" times of the year,  the dark too. 

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Patrick Moore]

Oh, wool socks and roomy shoes. I ride down to the upper teens, and I've used all sorts of wool socks, from bulky utility socks from Canadian chain stores to wool dress socks; presently REI's generic merino socks that are mid weight but thin enough to fit in my summer bike shoes. Really, though, I should have a winter pair of shoes a size larger so that I can get 2 pairs of socks, thin liner and the wool socks under the shoe without pinching -- pinching cuts of blood flow and makes your feet cold.

My strategies depend on temperature and time outside. For real cold -- I ride down to the upper teens -- and for longer rides, say over an hour, I have a pair of Lake winter boots that I wear over a pair of those REI socks; they're fine for 2-3 hours outside, especially as you warm up as you ride and, even more around here in the high desert, temperatures rise so fast once the sun comes up. But for real cold, I do recommend a pair of specifically designed winter shoes.

For temps down to the upper 20s, if I'm going to be outside for no more than an hour, my regular summer shoes are alright, with the REI socks; but I place between sock and shoe a cut-down bread bag -- ie, heavier plastic -- as a wind break. My feet will often sweat, so this is useful only if you will not stop mid ride for any length of time.

My problem with cold is more my hands. I've got a pair of nice PI lobster gloves with 3 compartments for 2 fingers each plus thumb; this is better than the other design, with 4 fingers, then fore finger, then thumb; but not as warm as a mitten; but it gives better control of shifters and brakes. I find tightly woven DeFeet knit gloves find down to the upper 30s, insert thin silk liners down to about 30, below that use the lobsters with or without silks, and finally, have a pair of Outdoor Research mitts to go over thick wool mittens. Not very good for brake levers and shifters, but then when it gets cold enough for this, I limit my time outdoors.

Ears also suffer. Faux Peruvian wool or acrylic caps work well; mine came from Target. Less dorky is the fleece-lined Highway Patrol-type winter had from the movie Fargo without a badge that has fleece-lined ear covers on flaps that velcro under your chin. Or, I use a lycra balaclava under a PI or Walz winter cycling cap. On yesterday's ride to church in the low 20s I used the PI under the Leatt jacket's hood, since the hood cinches tight to keep it close to your face (to allow you too see sideways), and the cap's brim keeps the hood from your eyes when you turn your head. 

Note: I suffer from what our Victorian ancestors would have called a "weak throat:" I easily get sore throats. So I am very careful to wrap my neck when temps get below 50*F. I use either a wool scarf cut in half longitudinally by a tailor, or a zip-up neck on my Ibex or other cycling vests, or a Buff neck gaiter. I find that this really does prevent sore throats and, in fact, I wrap my neck in a wool scarf while at home in winter; wrapping the neck in wool has cured, or at least removed, incipient sore throats, modern germ theory be damned. (I mean: I believe in germs and methods to fight them, but I am hardly confident that modern medical theory explains absolutely everything about human health, since acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbs cured my heart arrhymia without beta blockers).

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/40d36b52-cadd-46d7-9e02-bc2ceb790b91n%40googlegroups.com.

--

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

[Patrick Moore]

Interesting, because someone else on the boblist recommended nitrile gloves under outer gloves in cold weather; must try this (have box of 100 with ~94 left sitting in my garage). 

Note though that wool will insulate even if wet; very very different from cotton and even many "wicking" synthetics. Now, it won't insulate as well as dry wool, but it will retain warmth when wet, which is a huge advantage. 

On Mon, Feb 1, 2021 at 4:12 AM Garth <gart...@gmail.com> wrote:

... I also wear some of those thin nitrile gloves under all may winter handwear to keep them warm. They say "single use only/disposable" but they are far from it. I take them off inside out and let them air dry. Rinse and dry if needed. A pair can last me 3-4 weeks before tearing. I have some 4 and 6 mil. versions from Ammex and SAS. What the liner gloves do is keep the insulation dry and the natural moisture on your hands. Wicking is great in the warm but in winter it's not always so if your insulation gets wet. It doesn't matter what that insulation is either, cold and wet is cold and wet. 

[Patrick Moore]

Oh oh! When you buy gloves, buy them at least 1 and perhaps 2 sizes too big, to keep air pockets at the ends of the fingers when hands are clasped around bar and control surfaces. This really, really makes a huge difference in finger comfort.

[Pete B]

As Patrick says, roomy shoes and air pockets. The other things help -- boots, toe covers, warmers, extra socks. But only if there is space for warm air around my fingers and toes to begin with. Wearing wool tights or pants also helps keep the blood warm on the way to and fro.

This winter I've been wearing Wiggy's lamilite socks and wool tights down to about 30 degrees with just a pair of Five-Tens and that seems to be good for 1-3 hour rides. I like hiking boots for short rides 25 degrees or below.

For fingers, I like wearing thin synthetic gloves inside thick fleece gloves. When it's really cold in the mid-Atlantic it's usually dry as well so I find a shell isn't needed and my hands breathe better without them. If there is freezing or cold rain on the ride home from work I have a pair of cheap elastic overmitts. They're ok but I find it hard to ride in mittens and these leak at the seams in a heavy rain and don't breathe well. But for the 5-6 times a year I wear them it's fine. If it were much colder here I'd get bar mitts.

Pete

Arlington, VA

[Roberta]

All great information.  I'll be reading more carefully tonight.

For me the turning point from only riding in daylight in warm temps,  was getting Dyno lighting and wearing a wind breaker under my jacket.

Andy, take care of those fingers (I know you do)!

[Patrick Moore]

A not-quite-on-topic, and in any case no longer attainable factor in cold weather warmth is youth. Back when I was in my 20s, youthful hot blood, to use another weird Victorian concept, kept me warm in cold weather. During my 5 years in La Ville de Kebek, I did my 4 miles of running outside in temps as low as -17*F (the high on the coldest day I ran; I went X-country skiiing at 20 below or lower), and my kit was poor-grad-student cheap: regular running shoes over thick wool socks from some sort of Eastern Canadian chain store, thin, cotton Kmart sweat pants, and cotton T shirt under cheap ditto cotton sweatshirt under high quality but very old anorak with peeling water barrier, plus acrylic scarf and toque, and cheap fleece-lined leather work gloves. I only ever felt cold on that -17* high day; on most days, I'd peel off scarf and open anorak zipper halfway through my 4 miles, running, not jogging. Interesting, I always felt more energetic on very cold days; I guess the body expends little energy in heat dissipation when it's well below freezing (temps when snow feels like dense styrofoam). My puny youthful moustache would be entirely encased in a chrysalis of ice (this was late '70s and early '80s).

[Will Boericke]

Dedicated winter bike shoes have been the best money I've spent, bike-wise.  Gore-tex and 1/2 size bigger.  Did 2 hours on the mtb in 12 degrees yesterday, no problem.

[Patrick Moore]

Will: Can you describe, or give make and model, of your dedicated winter bike shoes?

Patrick Moore, still hoping for some rideable snow this season, in ABQ, NM

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/5a4ec1a6-7b14-46eb-8e85-65306abc1cf9n%40googlegroups.com.

--

[rlti...@gmail.com]

I wear sandals when it’s wet/cold. I use Sealskinz waterproof socks with however many layer of wool socks I need underneath. 

My feet do sweat but they are warm. I have not SPD sandals and standard sandals depending on the bike I grab. Sandals are good because they have enough adjustability to allow you to add layers on your feet without being too tight. 

We recently went snowmobiling in Montana/Wyoming and the temps dipped below zero which is cold for a SoCal native. In those conditions I did ok but did have issues with my feet despite wearing some thick socks and boots that had a liner that was supposed to radiate heat back at my feet. Two heat packs in each boot solved the problem.

Robert Tilley

San Diego, CA

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 31, 2021, at 10:27 PM, Roberta <rcha...@gmail.com> wrote:



--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/40d36b52-cadd-46d7-9e02-bc2ceb790b91n%40googlegroups.com.

[Jason Fuller]

I find that my Blundstones (double layer model) with cotton socks are good to about 35F, and then if I wear wool socks they're good to 25F.  They're surprisingly water resistant too, takes at least an hour of steady rain before my feet start to get wet, and even then they never end up soaked.  They're all I wear in colder weather 

[Will Boericke]

They are an older model of Shimano shoes.  The current version has some name like MW7.  Lightly insulated, gore-tex, with a neoprene collar.   The collar is the thing that's dying first - rest of the shoe is still going strong.  I wear them every day for my commute (October - April) + cold weather mtb and road duty in the shoulder season.  They are probably 1/2 size larger than my Sidis: extra room for socks and happy warm feet.  The only downside (which I think is corrected in the newer model) is that the sole is just plastic.  I have done several headers in them, one notably in my backyard on ice under snow.  Luckily I was wearing my helmet.  Wish I had footage.

When I replace them, I might spring for Lake's winter shoes.  I think they are the ne plus ultra of winter shoes.

Will, keeping feet dry and riding in all temps.

You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/fhxPz3ZpXMY/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CALuTfgsXej8Hh0rcy4LV-9P3gTUDL9i-yFtb4XRYzLZbzKf%3D%2Bg%40mail.gmail.com.

[William deRosset]

>Will: Can you describe, or give make and model, of your dedicated winter bike shoes?

Dear Patrick,

Not directed to me, and I have an answer:

Assuming you use SPD pedals, I recommend Lake MXZ304s. Not inexpensive.

I actually own the now-discontinued MXZ303, which differs very slightly from the 304: they relocated the ratcheting dial closure to make it less likely to be bumped a couple of years ago.  When new, they were overkill at peri-freezing temperatures. Now, with time (I got them sometime around 2012), heavy seasonal use, and my own advancing age/worsening Reynauds, I use them starting around 40degF and will eventually get chilly feet below about 12degF when otherwise properly outfitted. I use chemical warmers for rides at or below about 10degF as a result. I wear a 46 wide and find plenty of room for my (low-volume but pretty wide) forefoot and a pair of thick ragg wool socks. 

 Best Regards,

Will

William M. deRosset

Fort Collins, CO

On Monday, February 1, 2021 at 10:42:21 AM UTC-7 Patrick Moore wrote:

[Will Boericke]

Will deR,

Can you tell me about the fit of the Lakes?  I like to get a little big for a winter shoe, but not sure how their fit compares to normal bike shoes.  My Shimanos are 44, Sidis are 43.  I'm generally a solid 9 1/2, with average width feet.  Thanks!

Other Will, near Boston

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/fhxPz3ZpXMY/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/6f39ed54-0ea8-4d53-98d7-9a34dbf01023n%40googlegroups.com.

[Robert Hakim]

An interesting tidbit that I just learned about today from a telemark skiing forum:

Capsaicin cream on your feet under socks. Theoretically the capsaicin will help dilate blood vessels, increasing blood flow and warming those toes. Maybe a bit of a 'warming' effect from the effects of the peppers themselves too? 

I haven't tried it yet, but I do love spicy things... 

-Robert

[ascpgh]

That's very similar to (and OTC) of the effect the rheumatologist mentioned to me. Will have to try. Seems very similar to some embrocades commonly used by racers facing less than optimal weather conditions.

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Patrick Moore]

Thanks Will B and Will D. I have an older pair of the Lake winter shoes (even older than the MXZ303, from looking at the pictures), and they're quite warm I usually have to wear them only a few times each winter, but when I need them, I'm glad I have them. I had a pair of later Lake winter road boots, but didn't like those as much and sold them when I switched to SPDs on my road bikes.

I know that the neoprene covers are an essential part of the protection system, but I really would prefer a boot without them, with room for 2 pairs of wool socks, including an outer, heavier pair, and thickish uppers and a sole with some tread. But then, I rarely have to ride in slush or rain or sleet.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/CAFwrbzoAVAXE%2BTZQNWj%2BbA9qLg72-9Eegot8pD6n4XJafM476w%40mail.gmail.com.

[greenteadrinkers]

I've found that insulated crocs do well in the 40-35 degree zone. Easy on, easy off. 

Scott

[David Person]

Annie from Annie's Bike blog posted this recently.  She's located in Vermont, so knows cold.

https://anniebikes.blogspot.com/2021/01/my-favorite-winter-cycling-boot-storm.html

[Roberta]

I think I love that boot!  I don't read Annie's blog regularly, but I think I might start.  She also sung the praises of a very nice looking coat recently, which was inexpensive, warm and nice looking.

Annie is one on those I follow on IG that has inspired me to "go colder."  Mark from NY,  Deacon Patrick from CO, Jason Fuller from Canada, and Takashi from Japan and others (I'm sorry if I haven't mentioned your name, but you are no less special to me) have also unknowingly inspired me to ride in the cold either by incredible posts and pictures here or on IG.  All, the same, I'm glad it doesn't snow much here.

I have a pair of LL Bean hunting boots that I thought I'd  wear for more air circulation.  They are also big enough that I can do the double sock option, I think, along with the  vapor barrier idea of Garth's.   Also intriguing are the capsaicin and gaiter suggestions.  I own everything except the gaiters (and those cute LL Bean boots) to be able to do a first run of it.

Roberta

[Sam Kling]

Best trick I know is to add a layer or two to the area just before your extremities. i.e., to keep toes warm, add layers to your lower legs. (i.e. Long, thick socks and leg warmers.) Same with hands: adding arm warmers to your forearms helps keep your fingers warm.

In 10-degree Chicago today, my toes were OK after a couple hours of riding in the snow wearing long johns, very thick socks that went up to my knees, warm bibs, and neoprene shoe covers. That the socks came up to my knees was the key thing, I think.

Sam Kling

Chicago, IL

[Bob Ehrenbeck]

I usually wear three layers of wool (baselayer, jersey, jacket) to keep my core warm but still allow for moisture removal so I don't sweat. (If it's well below freezing, then a rain jacket goes on over a baselayer and a sweater.) For my feet, I wear either trail shoes (adding a layer of saran wrap over my toes above my socks) or insulated Merrell winter boots. A wool watch cap covers my ears underneath a helmet, and a pair of softshell gloves with glove liners underneath for my hands. 

But lately I've found that my index fingers get super cold after a while, no matter what I do. I've been doing the Wim Hof Method ice-cold showers this past year, and I've noticed that I can sometimes get Raynaud-like symptoms like Andy Cheatham, so I guess that explains that!

Bob E

Cranford, NJ

[Marc Irwin]

Commuting in Michigan I have learned to use Grabber Toe warmers.  I place them on top of my wool socks on the top of my feet under my Chrome boots.  They last for hours, so, after a shorter ride, place them in a zip lock bag, squeeze the air out and seal them up.  They will still be working the next couple of times you need them.  I stay comfy at temps below 0.

Marc

[Patrick Moore]

This just in, for fingers. I finally got my Veruskeleta order, containing among other things a pair of lightly lined leather gloves, IIRC, ex-Stasi or at least, ex-East German or ex-Soviet-bloc military: very nice, thick, supple leather, very well stitched, with a single-layer, heavy-ish cloth lining, and wrist straps. I wear a Medium, bought XL -- about 1/2" gap between glove and fingertips over bare hands -- for that air gap, which really does keep your fingertips warmer, and also so I can wear my DeFeet knit gloves underneath. It all works very well, and the DeFeets + Stasi gloves still leaves an air gap at fingers' ends, and the combination is as warm as or warmer than silk glove liners and much more expensive PI lobster mittens (the kind with 3 finger pouches, not 2). Jackboots on backorder.

[mgst...@gmail.com]

Winter mountain bike boots if clip on pedals (they're like XC ski boots).

Or any kind of neoprene / low muck boot. With sheepskin liner.

Footwarmers ("hot hands" brand).

I have frostbitten feet (once you have them, they're with you for good).

And so i ALWAYS use footwarmers; i ride sometimes down to 0°

Balaclava

Sheepskin mittens

Ski goggles. 

Scarf.

[Nick Payne]

In our winter here we are often riding in the morning in temperatures a few degrees below zero (Celcius) - say low 20s Fahrenheit. As I use MTB pedals, I wear Shimano MW7 winter boots - they're not cheap, but they do a good job of keeping my feet warm when out on rides of two or three hours in those sort of temperatures.

If you tend to suffer from cold hands, lobster mitts are good, as they minimise the amount of surface area through which heat is lost. I have some Carnac ones, and my wife has some Pearl Izumi:

Nick Payne

Canberra

[Fullylugged]

Coming in late on this thread. Clipping in will make your feet colder as the cleat is a heat sink. Even if you clip in normally, going to platforms in winter is a thought.   If it's just cold but not too windy, thick wool socks in sandals does keep feet warm and allows moisture to wick away. I have several pairs of wool socks in thin, medium and heavy thickness. I also have sock liners with reflective material that bounces heat back at my feet. In wind or wet, the sealskins already mentioned are good. they allow wicking out but not water getting in.  They need socks inside. If it's warmer, say in the 32F to 45F range, I just wear leather sneakers a half size larger (also as noted above by others) with medium weight wool socks.

I never would have tried sandals and wool socks, but a northern randonneuse came down for one of my 300K winter brevets a few years ago and that's what she had on. The set up worked so I gave it a try.

Tailwinds

Bruce

[jeffrey kane]

Also coming in late without the time to read through all the replies - but - if no one else has mentioned these then please allow me to expound on the glories of the Gore / Gore-Tex Winter Over-Shoe. These are amazing, versatile and durable. Note the quilted interior and giant adjustable velcro closure up the back of your heel. You can easily slide them over everything from clipless road or mtn bike shoes to all kinds of sneakers and light hikers, etc. They'll keep you warm, dry and clean (as evidenced my by disgusting salt covered pair pictured right here). Maybe the only drawback - they can be too warm for long rides in the low 40's but omg, the greatest for lower temps and short ride commuting, etc.

https://www.gorewear.com/us/en-us/gore-tex-overshoes-100242.html?dwvar_100242_color=9900#xcmp=Paid_Brand_Google-Ads_US_EN_GO_DSA_Cycling&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgomBBhDXARIsAFNyUqOxDOrdvxpXlJSJEeTfbdBN51dJiYsn4iMANgRuNLskG51w1nSuylcaArsQEALw_wcB&start=1&cgid=gw_sport_cycling_overshoes

[Corwin]

Hi Bob -

Given that I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, I don't experience much in the way of cold weather. Your mention of the Wim Hof method piqued my interest though. I have been practicing the Wim Hof method for many years now. I bathe in cold water. I'm a diver, so I wear much a thinner wetsuit than others I dive with - and do not wear a hood. When I told Grant about the Wim Hof method, he looked at me as though I was crazy. Most of the time, I wear no gloves. Occasionally, I will wear a thin pair of silk or polypropylene liners.

Namaste,

Corwin

[Takashi]

Also coming in late.

Wool socks and hiking boots (waterproof ones) worked fine for me if temperature is down to about freezing point.

Colder than that, or if I'm riding very long descent, I wear battery heated socks.

When I went long-ish ride last December, I brought battery heated gloves and socks, just in case. I didn't need socks, but used the gloves.

Takashi

[Bob Ehrenbeck]

HI Corwin,

Good to hear you're another practitioner of WHM and have benefitted from it! I haven't done the ice baths yet, but I do take ice cold showers daily. I've never felt better, but I'm hoping it'll eventually provide some relief to the cold fingers I experience during winter riding.

Cheers!

Bob

[Ray Varella]

It doesn’t get that cold where I live but years ago when I worked at a ski resort and spent all day standing in subzero temperatures, I wore Sorrel boots, they have a very thick wool felt liner that can be removed if they get damp. 

It would one of my first purchases if I lived where it got really cold. 

The only time they were insufficient is when it was minus 30f for a week

Ray

[Patrick Moore]

This reply is quite late to the party, but I thought the video attached is worth sharing. The narrator has, I think, too rosy an outlook about what is practically possible in North American cities, but he does show that cold weather cycling is not, or ought not to be, a real barrier, tho' even he starts tossing in qualifications for temperatures below -20*F (or perhaps that is only -20*C, a wimpy -4*F).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU&feature=emb_rel_end

He describes Finnish cities as having more snow than Canadian cities, but he never lived in Kebek, which gets or used to get an average of 13 non-drift feet a year. Still, he's right about the cold; keep moving and your are surprisingly warm.

To add to the thread: We don't get very cold temps here; I've ridden 30-35 miles in the mid-teens warming to the mid 20s, American Freedom Units (mile high radiant solar heat), but much more often in the low to mid 20s for 6-10 miles on the way to church; tho' in my hot blooded mid-late 20s I ran and xc ski'id down to -20*F. One very basic principle I've learned to keep extremities warm is to size gloves and shoes up for air gaps. I have small-medium hands but buy XL gloves, one, so I can wear wool DeFeets underneath, but mostly so that there is 1/2" of air between my thumb and the end of the glove when riding into a 21*F headwind. The same goes for shoes: extra room between big toe and end of shoe.

I also like those Buff-type merino tubes that you can wear as neck gaiters, COVID masks (doubled), and ear warmers under a winter ear flap cycling cap; easier than scarfs, more versatile that scarfs and balaclavas, and just as warm. 

One more tried 'n' liked for winter 2020-2021 is a very nice pair of ex-Eastern or Mitteleuropa military spec (but complement your elegant evening wear!) leather gloves with warm cloth lining that I got from a Finnish army surplus outlet, sized 2-above in order to accommodate a pair of in-themselves very warm DeFeet knit wool gloves with room left at finger ends; the DeFeets themselves over a pair of thin silk liners were perfectly warm at 32*F this morning.

Oh, and I have experienced why old cycling jackets were made of knit wool with nylon wind panels. IME, this is the best combination for cold weather warmth with protection from wind. I've just found a tailor to, God willing, alter and repair the 2 largely new '80s-vintage Italian jackets someone very kindly gave me.

[Bryan Midlam]

I ride regularly throughout our Northeast Winters and always struggled to keep hands and feet warm.  This year I finally figured it out although the set up isn't ideal for the beauty of riding a Riv but it works for staying warm.  I wear Pearly's Possum Socks under waterproof boots (I could never get warm riding clipless so I now only ride flats).  I then use neoprene shoe covers.  Mine are now worn out so I am due for a new pair.  For the hands I ride in Showers Pass waterproof wool gloves, they are very light and make it so you can still easily operate the controls.  Then I have a pair of Bar Mitts for my handlebars.  Again, not winning any style contests here but if anything, my hands were too warm and I had to vent them.  I have heavier gloves that work as well but it's so hard to have the same ride feel with huge mittens on.

[John Hawrylak]

Roberta

Patrick hit the nail on the head about using liner socks inside a pair of wool socks.  I'll add this:

The liner should be a very thin polyproprelene sock, like Wigwam Gobi Desert Dri.  It wicks the moisture from your skin.

Try a thinner wool sock (main sock) to provide space for air insulation.   Like someone else said, your sneakers are good at blocking the wind

John Hawrylak

Woodstown NJ