Winter boots the fizik ones someone has posted already with thick smartwool socks
For my hands ski gloves used to do alot of skiing and ice climbing i go for a merino liner and heavy goretex outer using these i never get cold feet or hands.
I would say get a good mesh base layer too with thicker merino base layer on top as the mesh 1 will trap the sweat and you will stay dry, keep the core warm a d your extremities will be warmer.
Get the right kit and you will be comfortable all winter
Re: Spatz Thrmoz gloves, with a thin liner and the covers pulled over, Iām OK with them until low 20s. Below that and Iām not super happy with them. Iāve done a very windy mid-teens ride with them, but I turned around after 40 mins because I didnāt think Iād be able to fix a puncture since my hands were getting painfully cold.
Theyāre not thick like ski gloves. If I wanted yet another pair of gloves for this sub-freezing range, I suppose Iād look at various thick lobster claw gloves. But I think itād be better to use pogies to be honest. Apparently, theyāre amazing.
Re: the shoes, tape over any air holes on the bottom. Donāt wear socks that are so thick they restrict blood flow. Keep the shoes a little looser than normal. Put a hand warmer pack between the shoe toe area and cover, or anywhere itāll help.
Enjoy. Iām typically the only cyclist out there since Iām in Texas and it doesnāt sub-freeze consistently. Then you ride past the recreational old fella in his big winter jacket and little gym shorts, god bless him, heās committed.
1 Like
Can you link a liner that would work
My hands and feet freeze very easily. I havenāt figured out my foot solution, but for my hands I find neoprene outer with a glove liner to work well. The glove liner holds sweat so you donāt feel like your hand is sloshing in it. The liner doesnāt have to be anything specialā¦ I have a nice thin one for cx, but for everything else I use super cheap white cotton glove sets off amazon. Not very durable, but I can get many uses out of them before they fall apart.
My rules in no particular order
Rule 1 for riding in the cold ride at a constant pace, there is no clothing that will keep you comfortable riding at FTP but not have you freezing at endurance pace, vice versa clothing that is comfortable at endurance pace will have you overheating and turning into a sweaty mess when you ride at FTP.
Rule 2 layers, the only way to regulate temperature is to take layers on and off as your activity levels change.
Rule 3 keep your head and core warm to protect your extremities, because your body will reduce blood supply to your extremities to protect core functions.
Rule 4 Your toes need room to keep warm, so you either need to size up from your summer shoes to fit thicker socks or buy a pair of dedicate winter shoes that have room for thicker socks.
Rule 5 take a spare pair of gloves in a jersey pocket, start the ride in gloves warmer than you think youāll need if you hands start to sweat switch to the lighter weight gloves. The warmer gloves will be there if you need them in the event of a mechanical or change in weather.
Rule 6 on the bike youāre always in the wind, you make your own, so windproof clothing is essential.
Where I live the roads arenāt treated in winter so I donāt ride much below freezing but will head out as soon as the black ice melts in the sunshine, so air temps still around 32F/0C. Iāve been comfortable wearing the following kit for 2-3hr rides at endurance pace. Injinji merino wool liner toesocks, with a pair of injinji wool hiking socks over the top, summer shoes a size bigger than normal, Rapha Hi viz oversocks, Neoprene toe covers. Winter bibtights i.e. brushed inner face and DWR/softshell panels on the front. A winter weight(i,e brushed inner face) long sleeve, high collar synthetic base layer. Winter jersey i.e brushed inner face and softshell panels for wind resistance. Thin softshell gloves with a warmer spare pair stashed in a jersey pockets. a buff to keep my neck warm and a Rapha merino winter cap unde rmy helmet. If its windy Iāll take a gilet or a packable windproof shell.
2 Likes
This is the only thing that works for my feet. I donāt ride much on the road during winter because itās almost impossible - 1mt of snow, salt, ice, -15C. But I ride a lot fatbike and thatās the only thing that works for me. A regular winter shoes, some merino socks (nothing crazy) and those toe warmers.
For hands, Iām using those:
Everithing wind and waterproof, I must add.
My feet are totally f#%ked so I have to use heated socks for anything 45 degrees and lower. I splurged on a very nice pair that will last for 5-6 hours. Itās the only thing that allows me to ride in the winter. Iāve used them down in the teens without issue. Winter shoes or covers depending on the temp.
I think thereās an additional question - is it just cold weather or poor circulation?
Iāve poor circulation, so after a lot of different options Sealskins Heated Gloves, and generic heated socks. Once my core is warm, my hands are generally ok, so I use the heated gloves heading out, and then after any stops. My feet tend to get numb a few hours in, so generally turn the socks on for the homeward leg/ post coffee, and leave them on cleaning the bike. I use winter boots for, eh, winter. Canāt be bothered faffing with shoe covers.
That reminds me I must dig out my winter running gloves, I used them under my winter gloves in Scotland over Christmas. It never got colder than -4deg C but my chemo induced Reynaulds makes my hands and feet feel such temperatures. But thatās the best theyāve felt. For the feet I was just wearing Goretex Mtb shoes with little or no venting and a thin pair of socks under a thick pair.
Heated Gloves and Socks - absolute business for Reynaulds (as I type in my home office and purple hands!)
2 Likes
I use some of these in winter: placing them between the top of my shoes and some toe warmers, then put overshoes over the top of the shoe/toe warmer combo.
An issue is that the heat comes from exothermic oxidation of iron, so restricting air to the pads by containing them within tight layers slows the chemical reaction and the heat generated, so they may not work as well as youād think they might or should.
2 Likes
I use the Assos Ultraz winter clothing and it keeps me warm on cold weather.
Head and neck - merino skull call under the helmet, a snood for neck and lower face as necessary, and glasses with a good amount of coverage
Torso - outer layer that is windproof and at least shower resistant while also still being somewhat breathable. Castelli perfetto is great. Then layer up underneath with as many base layers as needed. They need to be breathable and to stay warm if they do get sweaty, my preference is good quality merino. If itās freezing or below and there are likely to be long descents or other periods of not working much Iāll have 3-4 base layers
Hands - glove liners (again merino is good) and then thick outer gloves with good wind and water resistance
Legs - heavy duty bib tights with wind and water proofing
Feet - thick wool socks (defeet woolly boollies are good), neoprene water resistant overshoes (spatz are great). Mudguards/fenders also essential if going out in the rain or when roads are still wet, they keep a lot of the spray off your feet so youāll stay dry longer.
Edit - I know the question was about hands and feet only, but my experience is that you need to tackle it holistically,. If your core and limbs are cold and wet then your hands and feet are going to suffer no matter how good your gloves and overshoes are. Similarly Iāve been out in close to freezing temperatures with lightweight gloves and been ok if the rest of me is warm and Iām working hard enough
They are made by Teosport. Got them a few years ago I think from Competitive Cyclist.
How, I forgot.
Thereās a friend of mine who swears that the best thing ever is DexShell Waterproof socks. He runs a bike and ski shop, and I would give him lots of credit. I havenāt tried them yet, but I will.
Iāve not used that brand but the sealskinz one done a good job of keeping your feet warm. Despite being labelled waterproof donāt expect your feet to stay dry, water will get in and the waterproof membrane will keep it in, it will warm up like a wet suit. I ditched my ones when the elastic around the cuffs got loose leading them to filling up with water very fast and becoming heavy buckets.
I use these liners inside the Spatz Thrmoz gloves, but my friend uses a Defeet one, I think:
This works for me, but he only uses this setup until 32Ā°F and switches to the Sturmfist 4 (I think) below that:
So, Iād hate for you to spend on the Spatz gloves and theyāre not warm enough. It sounds like you should go nuclear and get heavy lobster claw gloves or pogies.
Hereās a decent overview of drop bar pogies:
Hope that helps.
1 Like
Iāve found a big part of keeping my hands and feet warm is to make sure Iām keeping my shins/legs and arms warm. Low shoe covers werenāt doing a ton because the blood was already cold by the time it got into the cover.
Using the high SpatzWear Roadman shoe covers have been awesome. Theyāre not cheap and they look ridiculous but theyāre great in the cold cause they cover my whole shin. When itās super cold Iāll add some knee warmers in under my leggings for an extra layer.
You definitely want to cover the vents in the bottom of your shoe too. The covers on top wonāt do a whole lot if air can just rush in from the bottom. I usually just stick a sheet of aluminum foil under my shoeās insole. Iām sure there are better solutions but thatās quick and easy.
For the hands, some sort of pogies are amazing. Again, they look silly but you wonāt care when youāre hands feel like they have personal heaters at 25F.
3 Likes
thanks. I have aset of bar mits but sometimes are a pita if im on and off the trainer. have you used poggies yourself? wonder if they are easier to take on and off
I actually havenāt, and thatās good to know, cheers.
Hope you find something that works for you. The heated gloves sound great to me. Not cheap, but maybe worth it.