Soggy Feet

Got-to-get-fit

Cycled to work again this morning on my usual 12 mile commute. I knew it was a bad idea when i looked out of the window and watched the rain come down in stair-rods but my usual (what would Lance do?)thoughts crept in (lame i know) and i mounted the bike and began cycling.
When i got to work unsurprisingly my socks were holding about half a pint of rainwater and my feet were numb with cold.
My question is if i changed to them SPD thing'ys and i got some of them hard cleated shoe thing'ys would my feet remain dry and warm even when it was bucketing down?
i currently cycle in a pair of knackered old asics trainers and sport socks.

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Unknown

Cycling shoes won't keep your feet any drier as they usually have panels of mesh to ventilate the shoe.

You could try waterproof and breathable socks like Sealskinz, but in my experience, unless you wear waterproof overtrousers as well the water still gets to your feet as it runs down your legs into the sock resulting in two water filled balloons when you take your shoes off. But even though your feet do eventually get wet, they will remain fairly warm.

My preferred method in the rain is to wear neoprene overshoes over cycling shoes. Again, the feet will eventually get wet but will remain warm.

domtyler

The only way to keep your feet dry is to fit full length mudguards to your bike. I have tried everything and some things do work for a while but interrupting the flow of water from road to shoe is the only sure way.

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pw1brown

Mudguards still don't keep your feet dry if you're splashing through puddles. I would recommend waterproof overshoes for that. And remember to put them on even when it's not raining but the road/track is still puddly from the last rain.

And I wish it wasn't so cold in the middle of June.

popette

It's awful weather isn't it? I went out a few months ago in similar conditions. I had on shoes with spds and some very thick waterproof overshoes on. I still ended up with 1/3 pint of water in my shoes. They did stay warmish but I could feel the water swilling around in them. YUK! I haven't bothered going out in the rain since then (stuff lance) - I bought a turbo trainer for days just like this.

Bigtallfatbloke

Keep a spare pair of shoes at work and ride in soggy trainers

steviemc

Try a pair of goretex spd booties.I have the shimano mw02.They keep your feet dry.Though for heavy rain you will need waterproof overtrousers (paclite)or the water will run down your legs and fill yer boots.The trade off is sweaty legs.

Andy 71

I use overshoes that seem to deal with most of the wet.

However, some water does get in through the SPD slots on the soles of my shoes. I suspect the answer involves lifting out the insoles and laying down some duck tape.


<b><i>Multi-Modal since 2005</i></b>

john richardson

Depends on the torrentialness (?) I use waterproof socks when it really chucks down and agree with ladyboy; woolly bully merino wool socks keep you warm even when wet, if not absolutely soaking.

I commute about 8 miles. When I'm really sensible I remember to take a spare pair of socks because the very worst thing is putting feet into damp socks. Even though dampness in shoes soaks through, I'm generally home before it gets uncomfortable.

Greenbank

warm and wet is much better than damp and cold (or even dry and cold)

My SPD shoes (Spesh MTB Pro) offer almost no protection from the rain, part of the tops of the shoes are made from a kind of gauze.

Neoprene overshoes (although they can look silly) do work well.

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If I had a baby elephant signature, I'd use that.

Fab Foodie

...as a cheap emergency solution, those plastic bags you weigh your fruit into in supermarkets work very well for a while worn over sock inside your shoes, tie the handles around your ankles. Not sexy, but effective, several pairs can be carried in a saddle-pack. Kept my feet dry and warm for several hours of an 80 miler with no mudguards and torrential rain.

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The pessimists of this world are rarely disappointed....
Fab's TCR1

Unknown

There is no way to keep your feet dry if it is raining. that is all

spare shoes and fresh socks at work is the only way

Mleh Mleh Mleh

MichaelW

Supermarket carrier bags also work well as emergency rain protection between shoe and sock. You cna tie the handles together and stuff them up inside waterproof overpants. In summer this is generally a bit too sweaty but in winter it keeps you warm and dry.

I have looked high and low for some waterproof rain-boots with an unpadded ankle high enough to prevent ingress of water from overpants. Last time I wanted some unobtainable footwear I was looking for some lightweight trainers with tough, knarly soles for trail hiking. Now the shops are full of the blighters. I must be so ahead of the market.

piedwagtail91

i went out yesterday with a clubmate and although not torrential it was raining all day. we both had diadora chilli extreme winter shoes from http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/acatalog/Shoes.html . and our feet were warm and dry. if it had got really bad i could have put overshoes on as well. there was just a bit of soakdown from the legs of my longs but that was all.mudguards with a good wide (homemade in my case) mudflap keep a lot of the water off both the feet and drivetrain.the shoes are sealed underneath so water can't get in through the cleats.

Small Fish

If you do end up at work with nothing but a pair of wet socks (like I just did) you can dry them in literally a minute - if you have access to a hot air hand drier.
Hold the open end of the sock over the nozzle so it inflates, and hold there until dry.

john richardson

We have an on-going deluge situation here in East Yorkshire. I looked out of the window this am and thought - this is a day for waterproof socks. All went well until I ran through a puddle which was above ankle height. The side spray from lunatics driving too fast had dampened my bikesters, but as they were pulled over the top of my socks no dampness was getting in.

Once the feet were sopping they did, as expected, warm up. I think the same thing would have happened no matter what foot covering I'd used today.

Thought about this thread as I splashed on. I'd definitely go with the neoprin options when really wet 'cos the water is going to get in no matter what. The 4x4s and trucks were making tidal waves, there were times when the water was pouring out under my mudguards like a high pressure hose and the runoff from my rainlegs was keeping the bikesters damp.

What was really uncomfortable, however, was the complete mayhem going on around me. Everyone seemed to be driving much faster than usual and because water is encroaching from both sides of the road, they're all trying to drive down the middle of the road. Once I'd gone bottom bar deep, I was definitely keeping to the edge of the lakes. It was really lucky I was coming to work at 0630 and traffic was relatively quiet.

I face the prospect of donning damp clothes to head home... but at least the spare socks stayed dry under my jacket. Be careful out there.

Crispin Bennett

You can keep your feet dry - I've cycled 70 miles in torrential sleety rain and had dry socks at the end of it.
1) Waterproof over-shoes (Not neoprene. Altura ones in my case)
2) Goretex overtrousers
3) Mudguards AND mudflap

Goretex boots are great but rain will get in the top if it's raining.
For commuting, I'm happy to accept that I can pull on a dry pair of shoes and socks at work.

www.stirlingcycling.org.uk

wastelander

Trust me - today that would not have helped! 18 inches of standing water approx 40ft accross - no option but to cycle through it! Still, I had a laugh at the car drivers (all three of them!) who's cars had stalled in the newly formed pond. Chuckled to myself all the way up the hill to work!

One more turn of the wheels...just one!

Got-to-get-fit

ive just thought of an idea...!
Can you remember those Veruca socks the uncool people used to wear in the baths. You know the ones....they were a very snazzy beige colour and were usually worn by big girls with national health glasses and brace on their teeth and massive jugs (but not attractive ones)

.....well could they be the answer worn over a pair of normal socks???

Thanks for all the advice though....i might look into some of the water proofing suggestions you have mentioned on this thread.

Looked out of the window again this morning and as the rain battered the ground senseless thought sod it and jumped in the car.....i made up for it with a double spinning session at the gym though.

my evil toad army will rule the world

Buggi

i have mountain bike shoes with SPD-SLs. to stop the rain coming through the mesh vents i have altura waterproof overshoes. works fine for me. dry socks after a 17 mile commute.

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