Five ways to keep your feet warm while riding a bike

Shifter's Tom Babin offers 5 tips (and one hack) on keeping your feet warm while riding a bike. Those tips include:
1. Wear the right socks
2. Don't overstuff your shoes
3. Ditch the cycling shoes
4. Choose the right footwear
5. The bread-bag hack.
This video is an elaboration on the topic that was first written about on Shifter here: shifter.info/how-to-keep-your-...
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Tom Babin is the author of Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: www.rmbooks.com/book_details.p...
Shifter is all about exploring cities from the saddle of a bike. Check it out here: shifter.info/

[@brianbassett4379]

My mom was putting bread bags on my feet before sending me outside into 18" of snow... "to play" in the early 60s. The important thing then is the same as now, keeping your foot dry. I used a pair of waterproof sock for a few months of riding in the PNW and loved them. My shoes could be saturated and when I got down to my thin wool liner sock it would be dry'ish, nothing but the moisture that came out of my foot. After a couple months of rides, they leak immediately now. For me to keep my feet warm (enough) the shoes need to be dry. Using your correct thinking about layers I use a full over-shoe that is meant to cover a standard shoe. As you said, it's not how I would choose to ride, but when it's raining steadily and/or cold as hell my feet are comfortable. I recently started covering a thin wool glove liner with a surgical glove and then using my normal seasonal riding glove on top and love it.

[@chelseashurmantine8153]

I am officially in love with winter biking. Thank you for your book and your channel!!!!

[@mollygarner9562]

Thanks for the re-release of this video! For whatever reason every waterproof boot I have has a slick sole, making pedaling difficult and uncomfortable in wet or snowy weather. I just switched to mountain bike pedals and I’m so glad I did. Now I’ve got some grip.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Glad it worked out for you, and thanks for sharing!

[@shenyathewelder9695]

Listening to this in the august in the southern part of North Carolina to get myself some residual cold

[@jasonarthurs3885]

I'm on Vancouver Island, but I still endure many frosty, foggy, near zero degree, 90 minute commutes on my e-bike in winter; wet, cold rides are very different than dry, cold rides. Some rides require the application of activated charcoal 'Hot Pockets' for my toes (Hand warmers, for toes). I often ride in ski jacket and gloves on morning commute. I also use zip up or pull-over silicone galoshes over my shoes. I find cutting wind to a minimum is critical for colder rides. Merino base layers, or 'Ottawa Lingerie' = Essential.
Just last week, averaging 30 Km/h, I rode through fog so dense I could barely see the lead edge of my front wheel. My bike and I were dripping wet from the condensed fog passed through. But it was exhilarating.
I took to cycle commuting in April 2020, in the height of lockdown. I'm days from the 1st anniversary of cycle commuting and likely to hit 7000Km travelled; currently at 6863 Kms, with 9 days to go.
I have loved every moment on this bike.

[@mikaelljungberg1019]

Therese are actually cykling boots for winter use.

[@matthewbrady5214]

Your audio has gotten so much better in the newer videos. I’m guessing you invested in a good microphone at some point. Have you ever considered revisiting some of these early videos?

[@PRH123]

What really changed my winter cycling is gaiters, not the cheap REI kind, but good ones that have an under boot strap and completely cover the top of the boot. Helps keep your feet dry and warms your whole leg. I have Berghaus gore Tex. Not expensive. Nice thing about them is you get to your destination and with a quick rip you just pull them off as they have Velcro down the front, and you can lock them to your bike outside, and you go inside with totally clean dry pants.

[@jeffs2905]

Enjoying your bike videos, thanks!! But ....with headphones on...voice audio in only one ear (left) and music in both ears. Keep making these cycling vids:)

[@odess4sd4d]

I really like just plain old rubber overshoes (galoshes). May be the bread bag principle but are warm down into the deep subzero temps, not too bulky, slip over work shoes and regular socks, waterproof. If the afternoon trip is nicer i throw them in my bag and they take little space. And cheap!

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Sometimes, there’s a reason those old ideas are still around: because they work! Thanks for sharing.

[@FulvioGa]

Over here, in Rome, Italy, the temperature almost never goes under 0 degree Celsius, but it is still very cold on many months of the year, indeed during those months I use to wear three layers of sockets: first layer of long cotton sockets, second one of short merino wool sockets, third one of long ski merino wool sockets. To be able to do that, during that time, I wear a pair of waterproof high boots of one measure bigger than my feet are!

[@FulvioGa]

By the way, now, in April, it is still so cold over here, that I am still wearing all that gear.

[@arpakyna]

I've had the exact pair of the high ankle shoes you showed in your video and while they were extremely comfy and warm, the rubbery part at the bottom started flaking and gave out at the ankle the very first winter. They were quite expensive too, as far as I remember. Better to use rubber boots with hefty woolly socks your grandma made with love, or dish out maybe a little bit extra for Finnish made shoes that can be family heirlooms :P

[@Hdtjdjbszh]

You missed the best tip, one you're using! Use mudguards, because if your feet stay dry, they stay warm.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

This is a great point. Keep those feet dry!

[@brianbassett4379]

In the PNW you can't keep them dry period even with low mud-flaps. The flap keep things much cleaner but when you ride in a steady rain for hours on end your shoes are saturated if they aren't covered or really waterproof. I tried water-proof socks and loved them right up to when they started leaking.

[@brianbechtol7329]

I used plastic bags over my shoes one morning commute where the temps were below freezing here in Texas. 27 deg F If I remember correctly. When I got to work, I was amazed how much moisture was inside the bags. It's crazy how much your feet sweat right through the shoes.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

I can imagine it's not an easy sight to behold!

[@boreopithecusdundensis7724]

Likely, it's not sweat but condensation from the temperature gradient.

[@mathewwoolhouse7895]

Blunnies. No one (in Australia) calls then Blundstones.

[@definitelynotacrab7651]

Wool socks are the best

[@LazyLoneLion]

Is it just me or is it for everyone? (tm)
Most of the talking sounds only in my left ear.
The music intermissions sound stereo, but not the talking.

[@delhiwalaghumakkadrider.ch1615]

Which socks is best in - 25

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Thick, tall wool socks. You’ll need good boots too. And you’ll need to stay moving to generate heat.

[@delhiwalaghumakkadrider.ch1615]

@@Shifter_Cycling suggest any company.

[@Shifter_Cycling]

Are you in the US? Darn Tough. Icebreaker. Maybe REI.

[@SimonSezRide]

Sixth tip: Move to a warm country !