[Closed] Plastic pedals = warm feet yes or no ?

I use both plastic and metal, can't say I've noticed a difference.
Try better socks maybe.

Heat the plastic pedals with a heat gun first, that should keep your feet nice and toasty 😉

But seriously I can't imagine it will make any difference. Maybe flat pedals will keep your feet more active as flat shoes tend to allow your feet to flex more and more active feet will improve circulation. Maybe.

Flat shoes will make the biggest difference IMHO.

I used to be bothered by cold feet, then had a right sore knee at puffer, tried flats, never looked back.

First year using plastic pedals and I can't say I've noticed any difference in toe temperature. Overshoes are your man. Overshoes stuffed with hot coals.

Innov8 neoprene socks work for us in really cold weather.

https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/ino1716/inov8-extreme-thermo-sock-~-ss22/?_cur=1&utm_campaign=uk-unpaid-shopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_content=Extreme+Thermo+Sock&utm_term=URLrefresh&gclid=CjwKCAiAh_GNBhAHEiwAjOh3ZIJnMOHQlp7vj1E_Wg89DQOoTJsZHB1xwJ5kHn67u_gpz5XhRnp55xoCcfkQAvD_BwE#sku-ino1716

Lake boots FTW.

Your feet are cold because the blood has stopped flowing to the extremities. Warm your body and the blood will flow. Its not pedals or socks.

the material the pedals are made from makes no difference ..

Are your shoes too tight with thick socks on?.

Can’t imagine that plastic pedals will make much difference. Flat pedals spread the load across more surface area, have a bib me thick rubber sole to insulate from the pedal vs clipped which has a nice piece of metal connected to the pedal.
Have you tried everything else?
- Bigger shoes
- Warmer socks (but still with plenty of space in your shoes) and make sure they’re not tight.
- Over shoes.
- Decent mud guards to help keep the wet off your feet.
- Warm clothing on Core, arms and legs.
- Winter specific shoes.
- Looser laces (to reduce construction)
- Keep the cadence and pace high to keep you warmer vs long slow slogs.
- Just do shorter faster rides (not every ride needs to be an epic). Adapt to your limits to keep warm and fun.
- Heated insoles, docked or overshoes.

Out of these I’ve found bigger shoes, warmer socks, space in shoes and keep the core/legs warm. Plus I don’t tend to have time for huge epic rides anymore.

zerocool all tried and tested 😔 Trimix last cold ride legs warm down to just above the ankles cold the rest down , discovered at end of ride .

Your feet are cold because the blood has stopped flowing to the extremities. Warm your body and the blood will flow. Its not pedals or socks.

I thought that was going to be this.... 🙂

These:
https://www.bridgedale.com/collections/mens-heavyweight-socks/products/heavyweight-merino-performance-knee

With my Freerider Pros I'm good for freezing all dayers.

Wish the five tens weren't so synthetic though. Walking shoes are a billion times better in terms of comfort. Proper leather jobbies. I'd switch out to them any day if they just put the stealth compound flats on the bottom of them.

SPDs to flats does make a real difference because you've got a bit of metal going most of the way through the shoe, it's a great heat path. But different flats, you won't notice unless one of them's on fire.

I'm pretty sure it can reduce the amount of crap frozen onto the pedals though- nothing quite like smashing the ice off your pedal pins because you just slipped off them and crashed, and I've never had that happen once since I switched to plastic.

Tinfoil round your toes and inside your shoes. Cheap and works a treat.

Since changing back to flats my feet have definitely been warmer. Must be because you are moving the foot more.

Tried flats and 5/10s today , warm feet 👍

Glad to hear it.

Its not been very cold today though...

Change your training a bit, do some bricks.
Eg. Every twenty minutes get off and run with the bike for two minutes. This will be easier with flat shoes obviously
Running will get a load more heat back into your feet, then ride when they feel fine again, then run again when they start to get cold. Play about with the times to suit.
I get cold feet (and fingers) when riding but almost never have cold feet when running, even when wet.

they are popular in very cold places on fat bikes and people say that they make a difference. i could feel my aluminum pedals through my boots.

i’m not sure if you’d notice the difference in more mild winters.

SPDs to flats does make a real difference because you’ve got a bit of metal going most of the way through the shoe, it’s a great heat path

That's just the wrong choice of SPD shoe surely rather than a fundamental SPD or flat question

move somewhere where it doesn't get cold during the winter...

https://trutechreview.com/best-heated-socks/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA8ICOBhDmARIsAEGI6o0kc8aE6pKbexOe-SmtggXIbG_2VbcYPf3Bh0-eWucbS1wfc4YqEioaAiD5EALw_wcB

SPDs to flats does make a real difference because you’ve got a bit of metal going most of the way through the shoe, it’s a great heat path

That’s just the wrong choice of SPD shoe surely rather than a fundamental SPD or flat question

Yeah, I was going to say that. Or, at least, the choice of warm/weatherproof SPD shoes is so much better than for flat shoes that it more than offsets any 'heat path'. Most dedicated winter boots I've seen have the cleat mount isolated from the sole anyway (unlike standard SPD shoes, admittedly).

I switch to SPDs in the winter. Much nicer IMO.

Flats, size up shoe and thick sockage is the toastiest. Even toastier than proper winter spuds. Can't say I notice the diff between my Ali and plastic flats though.

Reminds me that I have a pair of hardly used Northwave winter SPD boots I bought a year or two before transitioning to flats pedals.

I've started suffering with cold feet over the past couple of years,had cold feet on some rides before but last winter it was every ride especially my left foot. Read all the tips out there and tested most..lots didn't work for me including tin foil and plastic bags!
Anyway after many £'s spent this is doing the business on the West pennie moors at the mo.
Buffalo big face shirt
Bib tights
Decathlon trousers
6" woolie boolies
NW Artic raptors(oversized)
Spatz overshoes
Various gloves.
Now I know its not been freezing much but its been wet and pretty cold and personally think its harder to stay warm in these conditions. Can't wait for colder and dryer trails.

I've bontrager old man winters

And the wife's got 45nrth wolvehammers.

That said we are significantly further north than most of the forum.

Previous to this even the over size Shimano winter boots would eventually get cold.

Not had cold feet since

Warm your shoes up with a hair dryer before putting on. Put tin foil or a shiny crisp packet beneath the in sole of the shoe to reflect what little heat emits from your feet back into your feet. 🥶🤔

I ride the 'Puffer in sandals, SealSkinz and plastic flats. Keeps my feet warmer than boots.
If feet feel cold, walking a few hundred yards helps.

The advice about keeping the rest of your body warm is good.
Also insulation is useless if your body is not producing heat. Eat and hydrate - the latter is more important than most people realise.