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Commuting 101: Winter Cycling? Don’t Get Cold Feet!
December 1st, 2007 by Warren T 
I was talking with a fellow cyclist at church the Sunday morning after Thanksgiving. I asked him if he was still riding and he told me he had hung it up for the season; he said his feet get too cold. What a coincidence!
A little over a year ago Jason left a brief comment on a post about cold weather gear that was a huge help to me last year. I’d forgotten all about it until the morning after Thanksgiving when the temperatures were in the teens. I headed out on some non-shopping errands and it didn’t take me long to remember the sage advice Jason gave as my toes started to freeze up: cut the corners off plastic shopping bags and stick them in your shoes.
Brilliant!
Last year this tip really paid off for me. On really cold mornings I wear two pairs of socks and I put the plastic bag corners between the two pairs. The best part of this … they’re free!
First, find a clean, flat surface and gather the required tools.
Oh, who am I kidding? Just cut the corners off a couple plastic bags and you’re done.
December 1st, 2007 at 11:31 am
Great concept but what about booties? The Center for Appropriate Transport here in Eugene makes a bootie that I have so far found to be completely waterproof and highly wind resistant and extremely breathable not to mention very easy and non time consuming to get on and off. And they’re only $37 which is dirt cheap compared to other booties on the market that won’t perform half as well as these. They make the booties on-site and this time a year it may take a few weeks to get them but trust me, it’s worth the wait and while you’re waiting you can use plastic bags. Here’s the link- http://www.catoregon.org/catstore.htm
December 1st, 2007 at 9:46 pm
In Toronto it is cold! I use neoprene toe-covers over booties, but the cold still comes up through my clipless pedals, so I cut me another layer of insole from a 5mm ensolite closed cell pad!
December 2nd, 2007 at 1:20 am
Cutting the bags is too much work, Warren. I’ve always just tucked the bags inside my pants. Sometimes they balloon out a little and look a little goofy, but I’d think most cyclists insane enough to continue biking through the winter are beyond the “look a little goofy” stage anyway.
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:21 am
Didn’t mention the gore-tex oversocks over the wool socks, did I? That’s inside shoes, inside booties, inside toe-covers, with two insoles: seven layers!
December 5th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Does this garbage bag corner cutting method placed between 2 pairs of socks really work?
I am in Chicago, where it is obviously getting cold! I went for a 25 mile ride yesterday, and decided I can’t do that again this winter without some sort of foot freezing relief!!!!
Thanks…
December 8th, 2007 at 7:32 am
Incorporating the same cheap plastic technology, I use and reuse plastic sandwich baggies. Same concept. I use baggies for above 25F. Below that, my setup is thin wicking sock/Sealskinz neoprene sock/thick wool sock/Lake sandals or cheap Target hikers. If it’s colder I use a medium wool sock under the Sealskinz.
December 9th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Another good solution (especially with clipless) is to put on a rubber overboot and cut a hole for the cleat to access the pedal. Works great with eggbeaters.
December 9th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
…I think I need clarification regarding eggbeaters? What are they?
January 10th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
eggbeaters are one type of clipless pedals see http://www.crankbrothers.com
January 11th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
My GF gave me new specialized cycling shoes as well as Pearl Izumi shoe covers for Xmas!!! These 2 items alone gave me a whole new interest in winer cycling I though I’d never have… Awesome. I think the 2 items totaled around $150. Worth ever penny
February 18th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I use PI booties and when it’s below freezing I put in Tostie Toes. They are like hand warmers but thin and shaped to fit in the toe box of your shoes. I’ve ridden the road bike in the teens for an hour and my toes were fine. I’ve also begun riding the mountain bike off road on the grass area next to the railroad tracks, front yards and golf courses most of the way to work. It slows me down (less wind chill) while still providing a good workout (one of the reasons I commute).
March 18th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I commute in Calgary down to about -30C. Booties are good but the best thing to keep your feet warm is a felt insole in your shoe. They cost $5 and will give you more warmth than anything else hands down. Combine with thick socks and booties for when the temperatuure dips way down and you should be good for 30 to 45 minutes of riding. After that you’ll need a pair of SPD compatible Sorels.