Freezing Feet on Bike

Triathlon Forum
1

I have an extremely wide foot and barely fit into my bike shoes (Shimano). Normally not a problem as I wear a very thin sock and I’m OK but it’s so freaking freezing out now my feet are numb after about an hour. I wear a shoe guard over my shoe but I think the cold is coming from underneath. I can’t wear a thicker sock because circulation in my foot would be cut off (I’ve tried).

Suggestions for keeping the feet warm or where can I go to buy an extra wide bike shoe so I can wear more protection?

2

Plastic baggies before you put on a sock.

3

I’ll certainly give that a shot. Hope it’s that simple ( and cheap!). Thanks

4

Get yourself some of those little hand-warmer packets - available at most hardware/camping goods stores. Found the big 12-hour ones at my local Ace for $1.30 apiece. Put 'em over your toes/forefoot inbetween your shoe and bootie - you’ll be good to go for miles.

5

I have never tried it myself, but all the hardcore riders here in the NE say it works like a charm.

6

Good stuff. I’m trying it all.

7

I’ll second the plastic baggies but I find baggies don’t fit your foot well (or in your shoe well) so I just started wrapping my foot in plastic wrap. Does the trick.

One of these days I’m going to get a pair of electric socks.

8

Grabber makes toe warmers, they stick on your sock either on top or bottom and heat up real nice! I had to use them while watching a soccer tournament this weekend for recruiting.

9

Go to a ski shop and ask for the “weekend warrior insoles” I forget the actual name. They are made to go into your ski boots, replacing a standard footbed. They hook up to a rechargable battery and last all day.

10

I live in Austin, so if it is ever cold enough to need electric insoles it probably isn’t safe to be on the road. That said, the idea of heated insoles intrigued me so I googled it and, of course, there are tons of companies selling heated socks or insoles. Of more interest to me was a DIY project where the guy made his own variable temperature heated soles. Check it out:
http://tinyurl.com/agn4x

11

Thanks as well for making me aware of this. My feet aren’t the problem, it’s my hands. I want to wear gloves for the dexterity, but my fingers get very cold once temps drop below -20C. I see they make battery powered heated gloves, so that should do the trick!

Chris

12

Take a thick wool sock, cut a hole for the cleat and wear it over you shoe, then put you bootie on over that. Once I added that layer of warmth, my feet aren’t cold anymore and my shoe still fits properly.

13

Try latex gloves under goretex gloves.

14

Aw, that’s too simple. I want something fancy and expensive, just like all the rest of my tri gear!

Seriously, I’ll have to try that and see how it works. I’m sure people at the office will wonder why I’ve got a box of latex gloves in my desk drawer, but they already think I’m nuts for biking in this weather.

Thanks!

Chris