Neoprene Booties or Winter Shoes

I am looking for some winter clothing advice. I live in the Seattle area
where the usual winter weather is 45 - 55 degrees and wet. In the past I
have used regular shoes with wool socks and neoprene booties. My feet still
get cold and I am wondering if anyone has any experience with winter shoes.
If you have used both and have advice, it would be great if you could share.

In article , RWM wrote:
I am looking for some winter clothing advice. I live in the Seattle area
where the usual winter weather is 45 - 55 degrees and wet. In the past I
have used regular shoes with wool socks and neoprene booties. My feet still
get cold and I am wondering if anyone has any experience with winter shoes.
If you have used both and have advice, it would be great if you could share.

45F is not that cold. Are you getting cold from the rain or from too
tight shoes?

(do not spam) writes:

In article , RWM wrote:
I am looking for some winter clothing advice. I live in the Seattle
area where the usual winter weather is 45 - 55 degrees and wet. In
the past I have used regular shoes with wool socks and neoprene
booties. My feet still get cold and I am wondering if anyone has
any experience with winter shoes. If you have used both and have
advice, it would be great if you could share.

45F is not that cold. Are you getting cold from the rain or from
too tight shoes?

Well, there may be inherent circulatory issues as well, since this is
quite common. 45F in Seattle is like 30F or less here in Minnesota
where it is normally cold and dry in the winter. The last ten days,
however, have been pretty much like living in Seattle, though
(actually, much of the year has been so- we had a really crappy summer
IMHO).

The ability to keep my feet comfortable is the limiting factor on cold
weather riding, until the roads are snowy/icy and then I quit riding
outdoors. The control that most drivers have over their cars is too
marginal to be worth the risk.

My advice is to read the footwear section at the IceBike Web site.

http://www.icebike.com/

http://www.icebike.com/Clothing/footwear.htm

At 45F here in Minnesota, I can ride with my regular SPD compatible
Lake MX101 shoes with SideTrak neoprene booties and medium weight wool
socks for a few hours with just slightly chilly feet. Colder than
that, and I use a winter cyclign shoe. I have had a pair of Sidi
winter road shoes for years that I don't really like because the
Genius sole puts my foot way above the pedal and feels weird. I have
to also use these with booties. Just today I received a pair of Lake
MXZ300 winter shoes, which John Stamstad used for Iditabike. I am
wearing them around the house to see how they fit, and probably won't
get outside with them for a while.

In article , says...
I am looking for some winter clothing advice. I live in the Seattle area
where the usual winter weather is 45 - 55 degrees and wet. In the past I
have used regular shoes with wool socks and neoprene booties. My feet still
get cold and I am wondering if anyone has any experience with winter shoes.
If you have used both and have advice, it would be great if you could share.

I vote for the shoes simply because they are easier to put on and take off.
----------------
Alex

RWM wrote:

I am looking for some winter clothing advice. I live in the Seattle
area where the usual winter weather is 45 - 55 degrees and wet. In
the past I have used regular shoes with wool socks and neoprene
booties. My feet still get cold and I am wondering if anyone has any
experience with winter shoes. If you have used both and have advice,
it would be great if you could share.

That's not very cold, although the wetness makes it worse. What kind of socks
are you wearing?

Matt O.

"Matt O'Toole" wrote in message
...
RWM wrote:

I am looking for some winter clothing advice. I live in the Seattle
area where the usual winter weather is 45 - 55 degrees and wet. In
the past I have used regular shoes with wool socks and neoprene
booties. My feet still get cold and I am wondering if anyone has any
experience with winter shoes. If you have used both and have advice,
it would be great if you could share.

That's not very cold, although the wetness makes it worse. What kind of
socks
are you wearing?


I wear SmartWool socks, and have bad circulation in my feet. Yesterday I
was riding in one of the valleys and it was 50 and extremely foggy. After
four hours I could not feel my feet.

"do not spam" wrote in message
...
In article , RWM
wrote:
I am looking for some winter clothing advice. I live in the Seattle area
where the usual winter weather is 45 - 55 degrees and wet. In the past I
have used regular shoes with wool socks and neoprene booties. My feet
still
get cold and I am wondering if anyone has any experience with winter
shoes.
If you have used both and have advice, it would be great if you could
share.

45F is not that cold. Are you getting cold from the rain or from too
tight shoes?

I assume from the wet weather. I wear thick SmartWool socks with plenty of
room.

"Tim McNamara" wrote in message
...
(do not spam) writes:

Well, there may be inherent circulatory issues as well, since this is
quite common. 45F in Seattle is like 30F or less here in Minnesota
where it is normally cold and dry in the winter. The last ten days,
however, have been pretty much like living in Seattle, though
(actually, much of the year has been so- we had a really crappy summer
IMHO).

The ability to keep my feet comfortable is the limiting factor on cold
weather riding, until the roads are snowy/icy and then I quit riding
outdoors. The control that most drivers have over their cars is too
marginal to be worth the risk.

My advice is to read the footwear section at the IceBike Web site.

http://www.icebike.com/

http://www.icebike.com/Clothing/footwear.htm

At 45F here in Minnesota, I can ride with my regular SPD compatible
Lake MX101 shoes with SideTrak neoprene booties and medium weight wool
socks for a few hours with just slightly chilly feet. Colder than
that, and I use a winter cyclign shoe. I have had a pair of Sidi
winter road shoes for years that I don't really like because the
Genius sole puts my foot way above the pedal and feels weird. I have
to also use these with booties. Just today I received a pair of Lake
MXZ300 winter shoes, which John Stamstad used for Iditabike. I am
wearing them around the house to see how they fit, and probably won't
get outside with them for a while.

Thanks Tim

"RWM" wrote ...
I am looking for some winter clothing advice. I live in the Seattle area
where the usual winter weather is 45 - 55 degrees and wet. In the past I
have used regular shoes with wool socks and neoprene booties. My feet
still
get cold and I am wondering if anyone has any experience with winter
shoes.
If you have used both and have advice, it would be great if you could
share.



What kind of hat are you wearing? Your body loses most of its heat through
your head and neck, and responds by shutting off circulation to the
extremities, toes/feet first, then fingers/hands[1]. The poor circulation in
your feet that you refer to makes the situation worse, but the principle
doesn't change. A thin wool or fleece liner under your helmet, or a bicycle
specific helmet liner like the one Pearl Izumi sells will keep your whole
body warmer. If your helmet is a highly ventilated model, a rain cover to
cover up the holes will keep the wind from whistling through and chilling
your noodle.
--
mark
[1] Apologies if you've heard this a million times before, but I am amazed
at how many people don't know this.

In article , RWM
wrote:

I am looking for some winter clothing advice. I live in the Seattle area
where the usual winter weather is 45 - 55 degrees and wet. In the past I
have used regular shoes with wool socks and neoprene booties. My feet still
get cold and I am wondering if anyone has any experience with winter shoes.
If you have used both and have advice, it would be great if you could share.



The real challenge is not to keep your feet warm but to keep them dry.
During Toronto winters I frequently ride in -20C temperatures with up
to 10cm on the roads and freezing feet - when dry - are a problem that
an extra pair or two of wool socks will remedy.

The most challenging riding conditions are those with wet/slushy roads
with temperatures ranging from -5 to +5c. As you've no doubt
discovered, wet, freezing feet - largely due to road spray - can be a
real problem.

Even before you consider footwear options, I recommend installing
*full* fenders. And rigging up an extended mudflap on the front fender.
(I use old inner tubes for this).

For several years I've used the Lake MXZ 300 shoes/boots for riding
with clipless pedals. I'm generally pleased with the boot but
unfortunately they're not completely waterproof. I'd describe them as
water repellant. This is only an issue if you're caught in a torrential
downpour or you frequently dismount the bike and tread through puddles
and slush. For casual wet/cold weather riding, they're more than up to
the task. The Lakes are still going strong but after their first winter
of heavy use (bike messenger duties) they required the attention of a
cobbler: the leather upper had detached from nylon heel cup and needed
to be sewn on again. If you opt for the Lakes, you may want to consider
going one size larger than usual to accomodate extra socks.

For *extreme* conditions or if you're financially embarrassed, the best
approach is to dispense with clipless pedals altogether and use budget
platform pedals with your favourite winter boots.

I did use neoprene booties but avoid them now. My complaint: they don't
allow foot perspiration to escape. They'd leave my feet soaked with
sweat and smelling as a sweet as the proverbial Limberger factory.
Furthermore, walking in slushy, snowy conditions with the neoprene
booties would result in snow and ice working it's way between the
shoes's and bootie's sole where it would generally wreak havoc with
cleat/pedal engagement.

Other options - nylon cycling overbooties or goretex socks - can
augment the efficacy of a well designed wet/cold weather cycling boot.
But generally I've found them inadequate when used in conjunction with
vented fair weather footwear. I've heard of folks using goretex socks
with spd sandals (and woolen socks) and have on occasion resorted to it
myself but don't recommend this. The waterproof membrane of the socks
is easily scratched or punctured and once it has, there's money down
the toilet.

luke