A solution for cold feet
Discussion
In the winter I really suffer with cold feet, even though I have winter boots and overshoes.
I suffer to such an extent that I get chill blanes which are really horrible and painful.
In trying to address this I took a gamble on some USB heated insoles from Aliexpress which I have linked below, i'm sure you could find similar on ebay or amazon.
They only cost about £5, so I thought it was worth a gamble.
Now these have made the world of difference to me. I have been using them with a USB powerbank in the back pocket, only 1 amp was required and I have cycled for hours on end in freezing conditions, completing the festive 500, with absolutely no discomfort at all.
The only downside is the cable supplied is about 1 meter long, so I needed to knock myself up a longer cable to run down each leg, you could either get some sort of male to female USB adapter extension for this, or make up your own cables. The DC jacks they use are 3.5 x 1.35.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001355182213.h...
I suffer to such an extent that I get chill blanes which are really horrible and painful.
In trying to address this I took a gamble on some USB heated insoles from Aliexpress which I have linked below, i'm sure you could find similar on ebay or amazon.
They only cost about £5, so I thought it was worth a gamble.
Now these have made the world of difference to me. I have been using them with a USB powerbank in the back pocket, only 1 amp was required and I have cycled for hours on end in freezing conditions, completing the festive 500, with absolutely no discomfort at all.
The only downside is the cable supplied is about 1 meter long, so I needed to knock myself up a longer cable to run down each leg, you could either get some sort of male to female USB adapter extension for this, or make up your own cables. The DC jacks they use are 3.5 x 1.35.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001355182213.h...
Spatz, end thread.
Also, have you considered blood flow? Make sure boots aren't too tight, try some thin cycling socks.
I have northwave extreme r gtx but they are s
t below 6c. Rated to minus 15 my arse. Fine with spatz on, very toasty van when wet. Get the top end Pro ones. Wish I'd never bought them. With spatz on they are no warmer than my specialized torch shoes.
Also, have you considered blood flow? Make sure boots aren't too tight, try some thin cycling socks.
I have northwave extreme r gtx but they are s
t below 6c. Rated to minus 15 my arse. Fine with spatz on, very toasty van when wet. Get the top end Pro ones. Wish I'd never bought them. With spatz on they are no warmer than my specialized torch shoes.Some other suggestions on this recent thread - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Fizik R5 Artica
So far I’ve been very impressed with them. Feet stay dry and warm. Not as bulky and restrictive as they look. I use them with summer socks and they are still warm enough like that.
Never found a set of overshoes that actually keep water out or feet that warm.
I’m either wearing;
Main shoes - Fizik R1 Infinito
The R1’s with Castelli ‘toe thingy’ for chillier days
Or the Artica.
So far I’ve been very impressed with them. Feet stay dry and warm. Not as bulky and restrictive as they look. I use them with summer socks and they are still warm enough like that.
Never found a set of overshoes that actually keep water out or feet that warm.
I’m either wearing;
Main shoes - Fizik R1 Infinito
The R1’s with Castelli ‘toe thingy’ for chillier days
Or the Artica.
dalenorth said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yes, sandwich bags work wonders and seal skinz are a brand of waterproof sock 
I've been trying for years to find a way to survive winter MTBing, last couple of years been riding with Lake 304's, but still getting very cold toes and wet feet as I have rynaurds . so this winter did some more research and came across Bontrager OMW boots, got a pair ordered in after much debate about sizing, been wearing them the last month (even yesterday morning, New Year day) and they have been brilliant, going to change my winter riding. totally. Ride with waterproof trousers (Madison) which then go outside the boots and have no need for sealskins, at the end of the ride I even hose my trousers and boots off while I'm still wearing them, before I do the bike, still no water getting through, then just let them dry ready for the next ride
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bike-clothing/c...
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bike-clothing/c...
Bathroom_Security said:
Spatz, end thread.
Also, have you considered blood flow? Make sure boots aren't too tight, try some thin cycling socks.
I have northwave extreme r gtx but they are st below 6c. Rated to minus 15 my arse. Fine with spatz on, very toasty van when wet. Get the top end Pro ones. Wish I'd never bought them. With spatz on they are no warmer than my specialized torch shoes.
Should have gone for the Extreme XC GTX. If dry, I can get away with them well into sub-zero. I added Spartz Pro2 on Saturday in -3 and my feet were too warm.Also, have you considered blood flow? Make sure boots aren't too tight, try some thin cycling socks.
I have northwave extreme r gtx but they are s
t below 6c. Rated to minus 15 my arse. Fine with spatz on, very toasty van when wet. Get the top end Pro ones. Wish I'd never bought them. With spatz on they are no warmer than my specialized torch shoes.Ares said:
Bathroom_Security said:
Spatz, end thread.
Also, have you considered blood flow? Make sure boots aren't too tight, try some thin cycling socks.
I have northwave extreme r gtx but they are st below 6c. Rated to minus 15 my arse. Fine with spatz on, very toasty van when wet. Get the top end Pro ones. Wish I'd never bought them. With spatz on they are no warmer than my specialized torch shoes.
Should have gone for the Extreme XC GTX. If dry, I can get away with them well into sub-zero. I added Spartz Pro2 on Saturday in -3 and my feet were too warm.Also, have you considered blood flow? Make sure boots aren't too tight, try some thin cycling socks.
I have northwave extreme r gtx but they are s
t below 6c. Rated to minus 15 my arse. Fine with spatz on, very toasty van when wet. Get the top end Pro ones. Wish I'd never bought them. With spatz on they are no warmer than my specialized torch shoes.Lovey1 said:
Ares said:
Bathroom_Security said:
Spatz, end thread.
Also, have you considered blood flow? Make sure boots aren't too tight, try some thin cycling socks.
I have northwave extreme r gtx but they are st below 6c. Rated to minus 15 my arse. Fine with spatz on, very toasty van when wet. Get the top end Pro ones. Wish I'd never bought them. With spatz on they are no warmer than my specialized torch shoes.
Should have gone for the Extreme XC GTX. If dry, I can get away with them well into sub-zero. I added Spartz Pro2 on Saturday in -3 and my feet were too warm.Also, have you considered blood flow? Make sure boots aren't too tight, try some thin cycling socks.
I have northwave extreme r gtx but they are s
t below 6c. Rated to minus 15 my arse. Fine with spatz on, very toasty van when wet. Get the top end Pro ones. Wish I'd never bought them. With spatz on they are no warmer than my specialized torch shoes.sclayto2 said:
Another vote for Seal Skinz socks!
I used Seal Skins once. fdalenorth said:
Yes, sandwich bags work wonders and seal skinz are a brand of waterproof sock
king horrid. They don't keep your feet dry, they just keep them wet, and make you need a size bigger shoe.If you really want that effect, put your foot in a plastic bag before you put your socks on. But there are WAY better solutions out there.
Spatz are great but you will probably find that most issues are caused by blood circulation issues to the toes. I wear 1 thin pair of socks, 1 thick pair of socks, winter shoes and Spatz and my feet are still cold. Funny enough I know its not solely cased by cold weather against my feet ... when I am sat in my garage on the Wattbike, my feet are baltic when I get off ... no freewheeling etc so the blood circulation issues become even more pronounced.
This 'may' be your shoes are too narrow/tight or the blood doesn't travel well between the toes when pedalling ... the toes push together decreasing blood flow.
A solution is to move the cleats further back or use a cleat extension plate to get the pressure further under the foot than at the ball. You can also try some small discs under the ball of the foot to spread the base of the toes, increasing bloodflow.
Personally my cleats are as far back as they can go, so I am going to locate some of these discs. I'll see if I can get hold of some and report back if it works!
This 'may' be your shoes are too narrow/tight or the blood doesn't travel well between the toes when pedalling ... the toes push together decreasing blood flow.
A solution is to move the cleats further back or use a cleat extension plate to get the pressure further under the foot than at the ball. You can also try some small discs under the ball of the foot to spread the base of the toes, increasing bloodflow.
Personally my cleats are as far back as they can go, so I am going to locate some of these discs. I'll see if I can get hold of some and report back if it works!
Neil_Sc said:
The only downside is the cable supplied is about 1 meter long, so I needed to knock myself up a longer cable to run down each leg, you could either get some sort of male to female USB adapter extension for this, or make up your own cables. The DC jacks they use are 3.5 x 1.35.
I've used therm-ic insoles before, their batteries have clips on them so you can either hook them to a boot or an ankle strap.Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff