Winter is upon us and even though it is cold outside you can still ride your bicycle safely and have fun. The most important thing is to dress properly. One of the problem areas that most cyclists have during cold winter rides is cold feet. There are several methods that can be used to battle this. Most cycling shoes do little to protect the rider from the cold. Yes, some shoes are sold as winter cycling shoes but most of them need a little help to keep the toes comfortable on long rides in temperatures below freezing. By using the methods discussed here rides of at least 4 hours in sub-freezing temperatures are not a problem.
If you are like most serious cyclists you use cycling shoes with cleats on the bottom. The cleats are a main source of transferring the cold to your feet. Before proceeding on with anything else let’s do something about this transfer of cold. Remove the sole liner from the shoe and tape an old bank card or similar type plastic card to the bottom of the liner at the position where the cleat is. This will block air coming in through the bottom and will provide a thin insulating barrier between your foot and the frigid steel cleat.
Even with the bank card taped into the shoe feet can still get cold. Sweat is the number one culprit when it comes to cold feet. The card although eliminates most of the air coming in through the bottom air will still find its way in elsewhere and when it hits sweaty feet they become cold. The key to eliminating sweat is to layer. You do not want to layer so much that your shoes are too tight as this will reduce blood flow. The first layer needs to be a very thin athletic type of liner that is designed to wick moisture away from the skin. You are not concerned with warmth from this sock, just that it is designed to wick the sweat away. The outer layer should be a warm wool sock designed for wearing in sub-freezing temperatures.
If your feet are still getting cold or if your shoes fit too tight with the layer method or you may need to consider the purchase of neoprene booties. These will block the wind which will help greatly but since they don’t breathe your feet will sweat. You can then try to use just one layer of socks that can be normal thickness but they must also have the moisture wicking capability.
Chemical toe warmers work great also to combat the cold. They are thin and can be used on both the top and bottom of the toes. If the shoe allows, one of the warmest methods is to use the two layer method with the warmers on the outside of the inner moisture wicking layer. In temperatures of below 20 degrees Fahrenheit this method has been used for rides over 4 hours. The warmers are activated by the air so if they are too restricted they may not last as long so carry an extra set with you. They are designed to last 6 hours but with restricted air they may last only 3 hours. They are also very cheap, around $1.50 per pair.
If none of these methods are working for you then you may need to look into some of the higher end winter shoes available, although they can be expensive, over $250, they do have good reviews. Another option quite surprising is the use of cycling sandals. Due to them having a large amount of adjustment they do not restrict the amount of heavy layers that can be worn to insulate the feet.
So if you don’t ride in the winter due to cold feet give these tips a try and you may find winter cycling to be very comfortable and enjoyable.
Scott Henderson resides today in South Korea. He enjoys writing and other projects. One of Scott’s latest projects is http://windturbinesforthehome.org a website devoted to wind power and how to obtain wind power kits.
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