Riding when it's cold- Numb fingers and toes

booties help a lot. For fingers, I wear a pair of glove liners under a pair of mountain biking gloves. Layering is key as air is the best insulator availible. A thin layer of air between layers will insulate you better then any fabric (actually the concept behind fleece and down). Since you have airflow, it's important that the outer layer is windproof, so that this insultaing layer can reach body temp and not be continuouly replaced by cold air. Any of the Gore-windblocker or other windproof gloves will do a great job keeping your hands warm. In addition to shoe covers, neoprene socks also do a wonderfull job of keeping feet warm, but you will notice a huge difference once you get the wind off your feet.

The best way to keep your extremeties warm is by keeping your core warm. Your body uses your arms and legs as a radiator. If your core temp drops, it cuts blood flow to the arms and legs to keep heat from radiating away. If your core temp rises, it sends more blood to the hands and feet to assist with cooling down. So many times cold hands and feet are signs that you are slightly hypothermic and need to warm your core.

I remember a few years back when some friends and I would go night riding in January. A few times the temps dipped into single digits. This is the type of cold where you run out of water 20 min in because you bottle freeze solid. Anyway, with neoprene socks and covers on, my feet were fine, until the pedals reached air temp and the cold started leeching up through the cleats. Hands were the same. I had think glove liners, slightly thicker fleece and wind proof shells. They started to get a little cold, but never went numb.

Man, what a timely post. On my ride this morning I stopped at cafe at about 25 miles and my toes were totally numb. I had worn two pair of socks this morning because it was only 41 degrees but still my toes went numb! I sat down and took my bike shoes off and realized there is a hole in the bottom of the shoe and the top is nothing but mesh - I've only had the shoes for about a month. I suppose these are great in warm weather but they suck when it's cold. I might get me one of them chemical toe warmer packets for my next ride in the cold.

~mr

Thanks for the detailed and lengthy reply Vortmax (? name right?)!

I live in Texas, and until this year, I didn't ride in any weather colder than 70F. So, I having to get use to the *cold*... and yes, anything below 70F is cold to me. I think it was around 50F when I rode this morning.

My jacket is really good... and I have the layering thing down, although I need to find some more layers to pilie on.

I think I need to buy some thick tights to keep my legs warm. Right now, I only have leg warmers... and when I hit the ride, I was already sweaty and my bike shorts weren't completely dry. Neither were my under layers.

We have an REI in town, and I am sure they have some of those glove liners you mentioned. I will also get some booties to cover my shoes... and will try to find something warmer to put on my legs (that hopefully won't cost $120- but these are the ones I drooled on before). I bet that Rei will have some of those socks you mentioned... and possibly some tight under layers to keep the sweat off me.

Thanks again! Hopefully I will get it all together before I ride again next weekend!

In addition to booties I got some neoprene socks. If its 45 or less I wear socks and booties. Over 50, just the socks.

the only thing to be carefull of is putting too much on your hands and feet. If you layer 5 pairs of socks on then cram them in your shoes, you are going to cut off circulation and squeeze the air out of the insulation. Both of those things will make you COLDER. same goes for gloves.

Thanks for all the well thought out advice.

I went to REI and got the following:

1) Toe covers for my shoes. I figured out the booties were going to be a HASSLE to try to take on/off for transitioning to running. The toe covers almost cover my shoe all the way... but I can still get my shoe on/off with them on the shoe.

2) Socks with a higher ankle. My shoes are pretty tight fitting... so I can't get thick socks. At least this way my socks will meet the leg warmers. Oh, and I looked at neoprene socks... around $25 in store.. and they seemed a bit overboard.

3) A nice hat that goes down over my ears and all the way down to my eyebrows.

4) Toe/hand warmers. Maybe you have seen them? You just open the package and stick them in your shoe/glove... and the heat lasts up to 6 hours. Should keep my toes warm for a 1 hour ride.

5) A thick "Under Armor" shirt with a mock turtleneck. It's very snug and very warm. That will be my base layer... and I also have a really nice jacket to wear.


I want to try to get some tights... but not sure I can bring myself to fork over $70+ just yet. I do have leg warmers that work just fine... EXCEPT that they slide down... and I can't stop to pull them up all the time.

True... it is all about the warmth!

You live somewhere really cold though! I live in Texas... it was like 50F when I rode this past weekend. Yea, some would call that "warm". But I am a total whimp!

Not sure I am willing to get some winter cycling shoes just yet... but I will keep that thought in mind. Sounds like a great idea!

bah when it's 50 out i'm in my shorts with maybe a pair of arm warmers

in a pinch a plastic sack over your foot will help. For gloves I waer a polypropoline glove under a gortex shell.

I bought a pair of 1 size large winter mtn bikign shoes on sale from nashbar for $20.  They're kind of goofy, and nto the best design, but I can layer a thick sock underneath and not cut off circulation to my toes.  I'm actually hot when I wear them.  For gloves, I use a trusty pair of wind-proof fleece gloves by black diamond, again, slightly large so they allow a layer of warm air around my fingers...these are the gloves I use for all winter activities outdoors, except for downhill skiing/iceclimbing in which I'll wear much thicker gloves or mittens.   I've been biking here in Pittsburgh down to about 20 degrees and staying pretty comfortable.

You can also buy some creme that you can rub on and it will heat up after about 30 minutes of applying it. It's for cycling, I swear!!!

Jen

Riding in Michigan during the winter can be down right torturous to the body. With my pearl izumi leg warmer, booties and Sugoi lobster gloves I have ridden in the low 20's without discomfort.

I've already got packing tape holding my tape/wrap on my handlebars... plastic bags on my feet... would make me down right trashy looking... HAHAHAHA!