Cure for cold toes when it's freezing

01-16-2007, 08:44 PM

This morning I added something new to my cold-weather arsenal. Hopefully all
of us who are silly enough to ride when it's below (or even close to)
freezing use cold-weather booties over our shoes. But while booties make the
ride survivable, you'll still have that wonderful feeling in the shower as
you thaw out, where your toes half-itch and half-hurt, and look a color of
purple that you didn't find in your box of crayolas growing up. So what's my
no-longer-secret for keeping my toes comfy? Simple. Put a pair of Kucharik
toe warmers (that's what I use, but there are many other brands that work
similarly) over the front of your shoes, and then the booties over those. I
didn't know it would actually work, it just seemed like something to try.

It worked GREAT! No numbness, no itching, no pain. Not even that ugly purple
color in the shower.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

01-17-2007, 05:58 AM

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
> This morning I added something new to my cold-weather arsenal. Hopefully all
> of us who are silly enough to ride when it's below (or even close to)
> freezing use cold-weather booties over our shoes. But while booties make the
> ride survivable, you'll still have that wonderful feeling in the shower as
> you thaw out, where your toes half-itch and half-hurt, and look a color of
> purple that you didn't find in your box of crayolas growing up. So what's my
> no-longer-secret for keeping my toes comfy? Simple. Put a pair of Kucharik
> toe warmers (that's what I use, but there are many other brands that work
> similarly) over the front of your shoes, and then the booties over those. I
> didn't know it would actually work, it just seemed like something to try.
>
> It worked GREAT! No numbness, no itching, no pain. Not even that ugly purple
> color in the shower.

That's what I do also on the really cold days: Pearl Izumi toe warmers
over the shoes, then the booties. Plus, I've found that adding thin,
poly-pro sock liners under wool-blend cycling socks helps a great deal.
This morning it was 8 degrees. I overslept and therefore did not bike
to work, but I'll be on the road tomorrow morning. I just picked up a
neoprene face mask; it makes me look like some kind of cycling Ninja -
not exactly the look I want, but it is warm!

01-17-2007, 08:52 AM

On 2007-01-17, Mike Jacoubowsky <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> So what's my
> no-longer-secret for keeping my toes comfy? Simple. Put a pair of Kucharik
> toe warmers (that's what I use, but there are many other brands that work
> similarly) over the front of your shoes, and then the booties over those. I
> didn't know it would actually work, it just seemed like something to try.

I do the same thing for my hands; my Head ski/snowboard gloves have a
velcro pocket along the backhand that holds a hand warmer quite nicely.

For real emergencies, I keep a few spares in my handlebar bag; I can throw
them into a jacket or pant pocket, or give them to someone who's less
prepared for the elements than I.

--

__o Kristian M Zoerhoff
_,\(,_ [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
(_)/ (_)

01-17-2007, 01:44 PM

Kristian M Zoerhoff wrote:
> On 2007-01-17, Mike Jacoubowsky <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> > So what's my
> > no-longer-secret for keeping my toes comfy? Simple. Put a pair of Kucharik
> > toe warmers (that's what I use, but there are many other brands that work
> > similarly) over the front of your shoes, and then the booties over those. I
> > didn't know it would actually work, it just seemed like something to try.
>
> I do the same thing for my hands; my Head ski/snowboard gloves have a
> velcro pocket along the backhand that holds a hand warmer quite nicely.

Sounds like a great idea! Do you have model #, name, link, etc., to
these gloves?

>
> For real emergencies, I keep a few spares in my handlebar bag; I can throw
> them into a jacket or pant pocket, or give them to someone who's less
> prepared for the elements than I.
>
> --
>
> __o Kristian M Zoerhoff
> _,\(,_ [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
> (_)/ (_)

01-17-2007, 06:19 PM

I live near Boston, and it was 8 degrees here this morning. Since nobody
rides in these temperatures for pleasure, the only bike riders you see on
days like this are commuters. Most commutes are not more than 10 miles, an
hour, tops. And we're not out to win any races either in this weather. Given
these conditions, I've found the best thing for me is to wear warm boots,
thick socks, and flat pedals (I use Shimano M324's, flat on one side, SPD on
the other). Bike shoes are made for warm weather riding, and booties are a
way of jury-rigging them for cold weather. Don't mess around - wear boots.
Spring is just around the corner!

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:NIirh.12583$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].prodigy.n et...
> This morning I added something new to my cold-weather arsenal. Hopefully
> all of us who are silly enough to ride when it's below (or even close to)
> freezing use cold-weather booties over our shoes. But while booties make
> the ride survivable, you'll still have that wonderful feeling in the
> shower as you thaw out, where your toes half-itch and half-hurt, and look
> a color of purple that you didn't find in your box of crayolas growing up.
> So what's my no-longer-secret for keeping my toes comfy? Simple. Put a
> pair of Kucharik toe warmers (that's what I use, but there are many other
> brands that work similarly) over the front of your shoes, and then the
> booties over those. I didn't know it would actually work, it just seemed
> like something to try.
>
> It worked GREAT! No numbness, no itching, no pain. Not even that ugly
> purple color in the shower.
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
>
>

01-18-2007, 08:02 AM

On Tue, 16 Jan 2007 21:44:12 -0800, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>This morning I added something new to my cold-weather arsenal. Hopefully all
>of us who are silly enough to ride when it's below (or even close to)
>freezing use cold-weather booties over our shoes. But while booties make the
>ride survivable, you'll still have that wonderful feeling in the shower as
>you thaw out, where your toes half-itch and half-hurt, and look a color of
>purple that you didn't find in your box of crayolas growing up. So what's my
>no-longer-secret for keeping my toes comfy? Simple. Put a pair of Kucharik
>toe warmers (that's what I use, but there are many other brands that work
>similarly) over the front of your shoes, and then the booties over those. I
>didn't know it would actually work, it just seemed like something to try.
>
>It worked GREAT! No numbness, no itching, no pain. Not even that ugly purple
>color in the shower.

I've been riding in cold weather for years. When temps get below
freezing there's always a chance of frostbite. In these conditions I
use toe warmers from Grabber ([Only registered and activated users can see links. ].

First I put on a pair of light sock liners and stick the toe warmers
to the bottoms. I add a pair of heavier socks and wear a pair of
oversized cycling shoes I have just for this purpose. Add a pair of
neoprene booties and I'm good to go in even really cold weather.

jeverett3<AT>earthlink<DOT>net [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

01-18-2007, 10:24 AM

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
> This morning I added something new to my cold-weather arsenal. Hopefully all
> of us who are silly enough to ride when it's below (or even close to)
> freezing use cold-weather booties over our shoes. But while booties make the
> ride survivable, you'll still have that wonderful feeling in the shower as
> you thaw out, where your toes half-itch and half-hurt, and look a color of
> purple that you didn't find in your box of crayolas growing up. So what's my
> no-longer-secret for keeping my toes comfy? Simple. Put a pair of Kucharik
> toe warmers (that's what I use, but there are many other brands that work
> similarly) over the front of your shoes, and then the booties over those. I
> didn't know it would actually work, it just seemed like something to try.
>
> It worked GREAT! No numbness, no itching, no pain. Not even that ugly purple
> color in the shower.
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

I made up something similar (I have size 16 feet & I sew). I made toe
covers out of thick fleece (synthetic) and booties out of stretch fleece
with heavy vinyl soles (cleat cutout). They work really well. I think
the secret is the stretch outer layer keeps the insulating layer close
to the shoe. I would think that "aero" shoe covers would work similarly.
When you say "booties", I'm not sure whether you mean the neoprene ones
or not, I have not had much luck with them nor the neoprene gloves I bought.

I managed one 2 hr ride in temps around 0(F) with mine. My toes were
just getting cold, but not uncomfortably so, at the end.

01-18-2007, 11:50 AM

Peter Cole wrote:
> Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
>> This morning I added something new to my cold-weather arsenal.
>> Hopefully all of us who are silly enough to ride when it's below (or
>> even close to) freezing use cold-weather booties over our shoes. But
>> while booties make the ride survivable, you'll still have that
>> wonderful feeling in the shower as you thaw out, where your toes
>> half-itch and half-hurt, and look a color of purple that you didn't
>> find in your box of crayolas growing up. So what's my no-longer-secret
>> for keeping my toes comfy? Simple. Put a pair of Kucharik toe warmers
>> (that's what I use, but there are many other brands that work
>> similarly) over the front of your shoes, and then the booties over
>> those. I didn't know it would actually work, it just seemed like
>> something to try.
>>
>> It worked GREAT! No numbness, no itching, no pain. Not even that ugly
>> purple color in the shower.
>>
>> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
>> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> I made up something similar (I have size 16 feet & I sew). I made toe
> covers out of thick fleece (synthetic) and booties out of stretch fleece
> with heavy vinyl soles (cleat cutout). They work really well. I think
> the secret is the stretch outer layer keeps the insulating layer close
> to the shoe. I would think that "aero" shoe covers would work similarly.
> When you say "booties", I'm not sure whether you mean the neoprene ones
> or not, I have not had much luck with them nor the neoprene gloves I
> bought.

I don't sew (much), so I gotta ask, are booties available for mountain
bike shoes up to size 13 (European 49)?

Pat

01-18-2007, 12:00 PM

Pat Lamb wrote:
> Peter Cole wrote:
>> Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
>>> This morning I added something new to my cold-weather arsenal.
>>> Hopefully all of us who are silly enough to ride when it's below (or
>>> even close to) freezing use cold-weather booties over our shoes. But
>>> while booties make the ride survivable, you'll still have that
>>> wonderful feeling in the shower as you thaw out, where your toes
>>> half-itch and half-hurt, and look a color of purple that you didn't
>>> find in your box of crayolas growing up. So what's my no-longer-secret
>>> for keeping my toes comfy? Simple. Put a pair of Kucharik toe warmers
>>> (that's what I use, but there are many other brands that work
>>> similarly) over the front of your shoes, and then the booties over
>>> those. I didn't know it would actually work, it just seemed like
>>> something to try.
>>>
>>> It worked GREAT! No numbness, no itching, no pain. Not even that ugly
>>> purple color in the shower.
>>>
>>> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
>>> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>> I made up something similar (I have size 16 feet & I sew). I made toe
>> covers out of thick fleece (synthetic) and booties out of stretch fleece
>> with heavy vinyl soles (cleat cutout). They work really well. I think
>> the secret is the stretch outer layer keeps the insulating layer close
>> to the shoe. I would think that "aero" shoe covers would work similarly.
>> When you say "booties", I'm not sure whether you mean the neoprene ones
>> or not, I have not had much luck with them nor the neoprene gloves I
>> bought.
>
> I don't sew (much), so I gotta ask, are booties available for mountain
> bike shoes up to size 13 (European 49)?
>
> Pat

There might be (that's probably upper limit). I couldn't find any for
size 52.

01-18-2007, 12:56 PM

What is wrong with just using hot pockets. Put in shoes, pockets, gloves.
They have been around for years. Never needed them myself but skiiers use
them.