Cosy Toes?

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Had a bracing spin out on the fixed this morning, nothing heroic just a
simple, steady, flat 20 miles or so but boyoboy did my toes get cold!!

I though I'd sorted this out by slackening off my shoes a bit but today
was very bad, despite the merino wool socks under usual cycle socks,
inside (unvented) MTB shoes. My big toes felt like frozen turkey when I
got home, and it wasn't even that cold today (although prolly under
freezing with wind chill?).

A shame really, as I've just about got the rest of the clothing issues
sorted out now. Other than me tootsies, I was just about right
temperature-wise.

Any ideas to stop this? Preferably that don't involve spending too
much... I fear I could be looking at toe amputation if I try a proper
day out! I suspect a switch from SPD to Look pedals may help, ISTM the
SPD's do load the foot in such a way as to impede circulation. Or maybe
overshoes...

all advice welcome.

bfn,

Tony B

"Tony B" <tonySPAMTRAPbramah@involutedesign.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:cqrhvd$euv$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk...
> Had a bracing spin out on the fixed this morning, nothing heroic just a
> simple, steady, flat 20 miles or so but boyoboy did my toes get cold!!

If you find the answer you will make millions!!

> Any ideas to stop this? Preferably that don't involve spending too much...
> I fear I could be looking at toe amputation if I try a proper day out! I
> suspect a switch from SPD to Look pedals may help, ISTM the SPD's do load
> the foot in such a way as to impede circulation. Or maybe overshoes...
>
> all advice welcome.
>

Try more top layer(s) and hat. Your body may not FEEL cold, tht's because
it self protecys & shuts down the extremities first to protect vital organs
& such. At least 30% heat loss thru' head, some say 40%. Try it, it works
for me when skiing, and that can be really COLD (-20 C last year, all bl***y
week,
coldest ever ski hol).

Just an idea if you're not already doing it. I find neoprene overshoes
help, definitely
help with the wind chill.

Niv. (Chas Roberts racer, winter hack racer, Marin Attack Trail MTB, Honda
CB500s[quicker up hills!]).

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 11:58:46 +0000, Tony B
<tonySPAMTRAPbramah@involutedesign.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
<cqrhvd$euv$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk>:

>Had a bracing spin out on the fixed this morning, nothing heroic just a
>simple, steady, flat 20 miles or so but boyoboy did my toes get cold!!
>Any ideas to stop this?

Yes, but they conflict with...

>Preferably that don't involve spending too much...

My Northwave Fahrenheit shoes seem to do the business.

Guy
--
"then came ye chavves, theyre cartes girded wyth candels
blue, and theyre beastes wyth straynge horn-lyke thyngs
onn theyre arses that theyre fartes be herde from myles
around." Chaucer, the Sheppey Tales

Tony B composed the following ...

> Any ideas to stop this? Preferably that don't involve spending too
> much... I fear I could be looking at toe amputation if I try a proper
> day out! I suspect a switch from SPD to Look pedals may help, ISTM the
> SPD's do load the foot in such a way as to impede circulation. Or maybe
> overshoes...

Neoprene overshoea work really, really well.

It might be worth spending a bit and buying a cheapy cheap pair that's
particularly cheap to try them first though ... took me a while to disregard
them ... ;)

--
Paul ...
http://www.4x4prejudice.org/index.php
(8(!) Homer Rules ... ;)
"A tosser is a tosser, no matter what mode of transport they're using."

Paul - xxx wrote:
> Tony B composed the following ...
>
>> Any ideas to stop this? Preferably that don't involve spending too
>> much... I fear I could be looking at toe amputation if I try a proper
>> day out! I suspect a switch from SPD to Look pedals may help, ISTM
>> the SPD's do load the foot in such a way as to impede circulation.
>> Or maybe overshoes...
>
> Neoprene overshoea work really, really well.
>
> It might be worth spending a bit and buying a cheapy cheap pair that's
> particularly cheap to try them first though ... took me a while to
> disregard them ... ;)

I can sympathise with the cold feet syndrome.Out for a dozen miles or so
yesterday,new SealSkinz socks ( prezzy ), shoes,Goretex overshoes,feet still
freezing.Yes I was well covered everywhere else.My notion is that
SPD's,being metal,drain the heat from the feet.Well thats my theory any way.

Sam Salt

Sam Salt wrote:
> I can sympathise with the cold feet syndrome.Out for a dozen miles or
> so yesterday,new SealSkinz socks ( prezzy ), shoes,Goretex
> overshoes,feet still freezing.Yes I was well covered everywhere
> else.My notion is that SPD's,being metal,drain the heat from the
> feet.Well thats my theory any way.

Maybe they do but you can also easily get frozen feet with Look plastic
cleats. I think it's more to do with cycling shoes not being warm enough.

Neoprene overshoes help somewhat. Definitely worth trying, Tony.

~PB

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 15:26:26 +0000, Sam Salt wrote:

> I can sympathise with the cold feet syndrome.Out for a dozen miles or so
> yesterday,new SealSkinz socks ( prezzy ), shoes,Goretex overshoes,feet
> still freezing.Yes I was well covered everywhere else.My notion is that
> SPD's,being metal,drain the heat from the feet.Well thats my theory any
> way.

Oi! You stole _my_ theory.

When it's below about 5 degrees I put an old pair of toe-clipped pedals on
the bike and wear shoes to match. Much warmer. One day I'm going to get
some cheap shoes a couple of sizes too big and line the sole with hard
foam after installing the cleats.


Mike

Mike Causer wrote:
> On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 15:26:26 +0000, Sam Salt wrote:
>
>
>>I can sympathise with the cold feet syndrome.Out for a dozen miles or so
>>yesterday,new SealSkinz socks ( prezzy ), shoes,Goretex overshoes,feet
>>still freezing.Yes I was well covered everywhere else.My notion is that
>>SPD's,being metal,drain the heat from the feet.Well thats my theory any
>>way.
>
>
> Oi! You stole _my_ theory.
>
> When it's below about 5 degrees I put an old pair of toe-clipped pedals on
> the bike and wear shoes to match. Much warmer. One day I'm going to get
> some cheap shoes a couple of sizes too big and line the sole with hard
> foam after installing the cleats.

To each his own.

From my experiences of cycling in less than warm weather, the options
go like this:

1. Warm hat
2. Warm gloves
3. Warm overshoes (neoprene) or plastic bags outside the socks.
4. Windproof leggings (waterproof trousers over a couple of pairs of
tracksters works well.)

basically avoid excessive heat loss from the system as a whole and keep
the blood flow warm.

Cheapest immediate solution is windproof trousers and plastic bags over
the socks and inside the shoes. Windproof jacket as well. Then let the
head regulate the body heat.

...d

David Martin wrote:

> Cheapest immediate solution is windproof trousers and plastic bags over
> the socks and inside the shoes.

I was about to suggest plastic bags inside the shoes as a crude but
effective dodge from the days before clipless pedals and overshoes. A
newspaper stuffed up the jersey is another old standby.

--
Dave...

Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the
future of the human race. - H. G. Wells

"Dave Kahn" <dkahn400@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:q8jAd.60$1c.2@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
> I was about to suggest plastic bags inside the shoes as a crude but
> effective dodge from the days before clipless pedals and overshoes. A
> newspaper stuffed up the jersey is another old standby.

Sweaty toes!!

Blistered toes?

Tony B wrote:
> Had a bracing spin out on the fixed this morning, nothing heroic just a
> simple, steady, flat 20 miles or so but boyoboy did my toes get cold!!
>
> I though I'd sorted this out by slackening off my shoes a bit but today
> was very bad, despite the merino wool socks under usual cycle socks,
> inside (unvented) MTB shoes. My big toes felt like frozen turkey when I
> got home, and it wasn't even that cold today (although prolly under
> freezing with wind chill?).
>
> A shame really, as I've just about got the rest of the clothing issues
> sorted out now. Other than me tootsies, I was just about right
> temperature-wise.
>
> Any ideas to stop this? Preferably that don't involve spending too
> much... I fear I could be looking at toe amputation if I try a proper
> day out! I suspect a switch from SPD to Look pedals may help, ISTM the
> SPD's do load the foot in such a way as to impede circulation. Or maybe
> overshoes...
>
> all advice welcome.
>
> bfn,
>
> Tony B

Over the Christmas weekend (2 x 50+ milers) and on Monday (32 miles
round Inglebrough) I wore my new Decathlon shoes that are 1 size too big
for me with ski socks that come up to my knee. I also used thick (2-3mm)
neoprene over shoes and roubaix bib tights. I can move my toes to keep
them nice and warm. On the day that my bottle froze I used my Sidi
Technos that are too tight unless I use very thin everyday socks. I also
had 1mm neoprene overshoes. My toes were not numb but I recall they were
a little cold and I was unable to move them to keep them warm.

Tony W wrote:
> "Dave Kahn" <dkahn400@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:q8jAd.60$1c.2@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
>>I was about to suggest plastic bags inside the shoes as a crude but
>>effective dodge from the days before clipless pedals and overshoes. A
>>newspaper stuffed up the jersey is another old standby.
>
>
> Sweaty toes!!
>
> Blistered toes?

Sweaty, yes. Blistered, no.

--
Dave...

Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the
future of the human race. - H. G. Wells

"Dave Kahn" <dkahn400@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:FEjAd.105$1c.59@text.news.blueyonder.co.uk...

> > Sweaty toes!!
> >
> > Blistered toes?
>
> Sweaty, yes. Blistered, no.

My experience of walking (which obviously involves more movement of the foot
than cycling) is that sweaty feet blister very easily.

T

On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 11:58:46 +0000, Tony B
<tonySPAMTRAPbramah@involutedesign.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

>Any ideas to stop this?

Mil surplus shop - look for the pale green Goretex oversocks. A pair
of these in a suitably large size cuts into a lovely pair of wind and
waterproof shoe covers.

--
Smert' spamionam

Tony B wrote:
> Any ideas to stop this? Preferably that don't involve spending too
> much... I fear I could be looking at toe amputation if I try a proper

> day out! I suspect a switch from SPD to Look pedals may help, ISTM
the
> SPD's do load the foot in such a way as to impede circulation. Or
maybe
> overshoes...

I'd second the opinion of others for neoprene overshoes. A friend swims
in the North sea in a 5mm neoprene wetsuit so 2-3mm of the stuff should
keep toes warm! They certainly work for me. Mine are Altura ones bought
over a year ago and are one of the best investments I made.

Also see if Aldi have any of their Crane cycling shoes in. At £20,
they're cheap enough to buy a larger than normal pair and wear thick
socks with them.

Jon

In news:cqrhvd$euv$1@newsg3.svr.pol.co.uk,
Tony B <tonySPAMTRAPbramah@involutedesign.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:
> Had a bracing spin out on the fixed this morning, nothing heroic just
> a simple, steady, flat 20 miles or so but boyoboy did my toes get
> cold!!
>
> I though I'd sorted this out by slackening off my shoes a bit but
> today was very bad, despite the merino wool socks under usual cycle
> socks, inside (unvented) MTB shoes. My big toes felt like frozen
> turkey when I got home, and it wasn't even that cold today (although
> prolly under freezing with wind chill?).
>
> A shame really, as I've just about got the rest of the clothing issues
> sorted out now. Other than me tootsies, I was just about right
> temperature-wise.
>
> Any ideas to stop this? Preferably that don't involve spending too
> much... I fear I could be looking at toe amputation if I try a proper
> day out! I suspect a switch from SPD to Look pedals may help, ISTM the
> SPD's do load the foot in such a way as to impede circulation. Or
> maybe overshoes...
>
> all advice welcome.
>
> bfn,
>
> Tony B

2 packets of Walkers Crisps.
Throw the crisps away, wear the packets between socks & shoes.
I have never tried this, but am told it works.
Probably best to avoid Cheese & Onion.
--


Martin Bulmer

In news:1104279204.680996.232400@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com,
Jon is Away! <jon@restlesslemon.co.uk> wrote:
> Tony B wrote:
>> Any ideas to stop this? Preferably that don't involve spending too
>> much... I fear I could be looking at toe amputation if I try a proper
>
>> day out! I suspect a switch from SPD to Look pedals may help, ISTM
>> the SPD's do load the foot in such a way as to impede circulation.
>> Or maybe overshoes...
>
> I'd second the opinion of others for neoprene overshoes. A friend
> swims in the North sea in a 5mm neoprene wetsuit so 2-3mm of the
> stuff should keep toes warm! They certainly work for me. Mine are
> Altura ones bought over a year ago and are one of the best
> investments I made.
>
> Also see if Aldi have any of their Crane cycling shoes in. At £20,
> they're cheap enough to buy a larger than normal pair and wear thick
> socks with them.
>
> Jon

...but the front/top panel is so thin that you can see your fingers through
it (if you put your hands in them).
I find that 3 pairs of socks plus warm clothing elsewhere equals warm toes,
even in the thin Aldi shoes.
--


Martin Bulmer

Martin Bulmer wrote:

>
>
> ..but the front/top panel is so thin that you can see your fingers through
> it (if you put your hands in them).
> I find that 3 pairs of socks plus warm clothing elsewhere equals warm toes,
> even in the thin Aldi shoes.
> --
>
>
> Martin Bulmer
>
>
>
>
>
>
My Decathlon shoes have a mesh upper so neoprene overshoes are pretty
much essential

I understand the layering/blood circulation thing, as my Norweigian mate
says "Cold feet? Wear a hat!" and he's from the N Pole (nearly!).

It's these toes that are the problem. In fact, they are cold now, just
in the house - I wonder if I have a circulatory problem?

Anyway, I have decided to try some neoprene overshoes.

Will keep you all posted, BTW thanks for all the suggestions.

bfn,

Tony B