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Poor circulation , clipped in , who knows ? Even tried Sealskinz extreme weather socks .Maybe liners underneath ? Then I thought how about compression socks might be worth a try helped with circulation . Anything else I've missed ?
Are your shoes too tight?
If they’re tight with thick socks then it’ll cut off circulation and give you cold feet.
I'd have thought that would make it worse no? You want free flow of blood, not restricted.
crossed nope , bought a pair of Shimano winter boots a size up ,kayak23 good point .
Canny see it.
Flat pedals
Five tens a full size too big
Bridgedale merino socks
sealskins over top
trousers, not shorts
Never had cold feet since I moved away from SPD to the above set up, even with shorts.
For years cold feet were not too much of an issue.
The last few winters now I'm heading for 50 though....
I use: properly thick merino socks, Shimano SPD shoes but eased so not as tight, overshoes. The last few weeks this seems to keep me warm to only a few degrees above freezing. I've recently added a footwarmer on a really cold ride and revelled in the central heating.
I would also add: those warm socks are long and pulled up my shin, Endura or Scott winter bibs over the top.
How long are the socks? You need to keep your calves warm. Get some really long rambler socks and wear trousers obvs.
Silk mix ski socks, Decathlon or Aldi in my case, pulled up over the calves, under bibtights, and winter boots sized to take them
Peripheral perfusion does reduce as you get older although bizarrely now in my dotage I find its not a problem any more. Compression clothing works by increasing blood flow around the tissues you are wearing the clothing. Thats why it is successful as a recovery aid, so I can see the logic in your original thought. They rarely provide any thermal properties though so maybe need to be used in conjunction with something?
Many of the ideas given above should work but the general principles are:
don't restrict circulation - wear shoes slightly larger/loosen laces/don't wear overshoes.
maintain thermal barrier - wooden socks/wind barrier/proper winter shoes
start off warm - put shoes and socks in warm place (I use the radiator) before you put them on.
keep the rest of your body warm - layering the usual suspects.
Tried these? https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/northwave-husky-ceramic-tech-high-cycling-sock-aw21/rp-prod207296
I've got the normal Merino Northwave ones, and they're very toasty. I can see these Ceramic jobs being the answer for the very cold. Combined with a decent winter boot.
I find the insulation between soles of feet and SPD plate/cleat makes the most difference the heat loss is high there. Fleecy insoles etc. That's after covering your legs up well OC. Toe covers are good also.
Compression clothing works by increasing blood flow around the tissues you are wearing the clothing. Thats why it is successful as a recovery aid,
Is it? Genuine q, wondered if there was any evidence of it working vs just feeling different. Not used it myself and unlikely to.
...just chiming in with the usual, what-works-for-me.
The one thing that was a real game changer for me was keeping the rest of my legs warm, I use DHB thermal bib longs now for MTB or commute (although that barely happens because covid)
So my bottom half is kitted thus;
neoprene overshoes
relatively loose fitting cycling shoes (normal not winter)
space in shoes taken up by thick merino socks
roubaix/thermal bib longs
baggies over the top for dry bum & warmer undercarriage
I reckon tight socks would make things worse for me, not better.
I don't really understand compression clothing. I bought a compression jersey many years ago, just because I thought I should. Wore it once and it just made me feel really cold, no matter what I wore over it. Never worn again.
Having chronically cold feet, which have just started happening in the last 2 years, compression is the last root to go. You need room for your toes to move or else you will be much, much colder
Long merino socks to keep the calfs warm plus boots a size larger and some light under-socks. Avoid compression, but warm blood into foot means warmer feet.
I wear a compression top when racing and find it helps with breathing.
Moving from shorter to longer socks (that cover my calf) and from tights to trousers has made the biggest difference for me.
Experience of 90 minute sub zero commutes:
Winter boots, sized up
Thermal insoles, the ones with the foil backing
Silk liner socks
Proper long (i.e. mid calf length or higher) wool socks
Windproof tights
Plus, makes sure your core is properly warm, if anything a gnat's too warm, as then you'll start pumping blood to your extremities to cool down a bit.
I do what I do when skiing, putting on some M&S pop socks before putting on some wooly socks. Adds that extra layer of warm air inside the sock. Then the overshoes and toasty toes.
I wear a compression top when racing and find it helps with breathing.
With breathing out, or both in and out? : )
For me it's about keeping the ankles and legs warm. If those are kept insulated then the blood will keep moving down and reach your feet. So a bit like lagging the hot water pipes in the loft to stop the water cooling before it reaches the shower.
Obviously its not quite as simple as that but warm legs = warm feet!
Compression socks definitely a no IMO
No, compression socks will pretty much do the opposite. They’ll construct the circulation in your feet more. What you want it bigger shoes and thicker socks with lots of space in the shoes. Also as said above, keep your legs and core warm as well. Winter leggings of riding trousers will help. Even a decent set of knee warmers would help. And long socks.
Just come back from a 2 hour ride .Tights under Endura trousers , Madison Deep Winter 100% Merino socks , Northwave winter boots not too tight only last 15 minutes felt feet were cold .But when I took my socks off feet felt like ice blocks ! Legs warm down as far as my ankles seems like I have to accept it's poor circulation 🙄
Next experiment is to swap to flat pedals and 5/10s to see if it's the SPDs
Madison Deep Winter 100% Merino socks
Just had a look at these, they look 'normal' sock length? Go longer, this kinda thing (chosen as a length example, nothing else)
And keep your core really warm
Compression clothing works by increasing blood flow around the tissues you are wearing the clothing. Thats why it is successful as a recovery aid,
Yes, but its not that simplistic. Its only said to increase venus return, which is kinda only driven by arterial filling of tissues.
In theory, increased venus return might decrease the resistance to perfusion of blood from the arterial side - particularly in the legs since the veins are longer and have a larger blood volume - which could assist with increasing blood flow.
Whether that's significant enough to help with cold feet is anyone's guess - you're only going to know by giving it a try. Given the bony, not squidgy nature of feet, a reckon testing of the principle would probably be best executed by compression of the legs, not the feet.
What about heated insoles?
I had freezing feet until I bought some Lake MXZ200 boots and Woolie Boolie socks. I went out in -5 (-8 or so windchill I expect) last year and my feet were warm and pain free. Highly recommend.