Still cold..

Blue&White Rider

Ok guys, I'm suffering a bit here. Got soaked yesterday, gloves and shoes (inc. overshoes) saturated, freezing hands and feet. Dry all my stuff out overnight, go out today in the nice sunny weather; wind cuts me in half and my hand and feet freeze again. Really takes any enjoyment out of it, as I'm sure you all have experienced.

Basically I've got on some dhb over shoes and mtb shoes, and a pair of sealskinz on my feet. I spent a bit on the socks obviously, and am more than a bit disappointed. Maybe it's the shoes letting them down? So, all I can think of is some winter cycling shoes. I know they're not cheap, but I can't keep riding like this. Has anybody got any recomendations, something like these perhaps? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=66829

Also, thermal gloves? Or a pair of thin gloves under my current tenn ones?

On a slightly different note, I'm beginning to wonder whether I have poor circulation. I'm really struggling with this, even on the better days, it's not agony like today was, but still irritating and annoying. In fact I think I was in a bit of a state when I got back..

alleztoz

If you get wet then getting cold will always follow soon after. But how long were you out today in the dry? I had thick merino socks and bb neoprene overshoes - still got cold toes around the 90 minutes mark but not too bad, it was +1 or 2 here.

Blue&White Rider

I was cycling for two hours. Might have to do shorter rides, but having changed job and hours last week, it's going to be difficult to find time.

My overshoes are neoprene too, but tbh they've never kept my feet entirely dry, and certainly not warm.

Not exactly sure what the tempriture was earlier, but it was clear, sunny, I'd guess around 7/8c. Wind chill was bad though.

warpcow

You had on overshoes, shoes and sealskins and were still cold? Something's definitely wrong there, whether it's physical or clothing-related. Is the rest of your lower body ok? If you don't take care keeping your legs warm them the blood flowing into your feet will obviously be colder.

For your hands, have you tried just wearing latex-gloves under your regular ones? Sweaty, but it does work to keep them warm.

allthegearnoidea

Sealskinz are good but they can't stop the water running down your legs, same with the overshoes, being neoprene they will soak up the water, maybe look for some verruca socks to wear under the sealskinz to keep your feet dry,
same principles with the gloves, silk liners or marigolds,

cat_with_no_tail

Tbf, I was the same today. Well, my feet were anyway.

The rest of me was toasty. Buff under my helmet, nice long sleeve merino baselayer under the sombrio waterproof. Pair of long, fleece-lined hydrophobic bib tights, then sports socks, Sealskinz mid-thermal, shimano shoes, on-one overshoes. My feet were like blocks of ice after about 40min.

In this case though, I think my sealskinz have finally died. It was pretty cold (2deg) and it was raining pretty heavily. Even though I had the waterproof bib over them, and the overshoes over the top of the bib, the sealskinz still completely filled with water. This water then proceeded to get VERY cold. There must be a hole in the waterproof membrane on the sealskinz somewhere (other than the top). Will grab another pair this week as they have been VERY good for the last 2 years. I'm also going to invest in some merino socks from the sock guy to wear under them when it's REALLY foul!

For hands, I'm absolutely loving my dirt cheap pair of winter gloves from on-one. Picked them up for under a fiver and they're just superb. Really do a good job of keeping the water and weather out. They can get a bit sweaty though.

Blue&White Rider

@warpcow - Yeah, that's what I was thinking "somethings deffinitely wrong there". I did only have a pair of thin legging on today, as my muddyfox ones got ruined yesterday and still weren't dry. I know muddyfox isn't considered one of the better brands, but they are a bit thicker. In general though, I didn't feel cold, don't really feel the cold in my legs or upper body that much. Although, when I left the wood today to go back home through town, the wind picked up and I knew I'd cocked up not layering up well. Latex gloves is a nice idea, cheap for one, certainly something I'll try.

@allthegearnoidea - Yep, in the pissing rain yesterday for the first time the water ran down my leg inside. Having some time to think about it this afternoon, I'm wondering whether I didn't get everything completely dry. In fact the sealskins still felt like there was some water in them, but I couldn't tell if it was inside, outside, or in the middle. They're no sitting on the radiator for next weeks ride!

@cat with no tail - On one brand has been mentioned twice already, but I can't find their stuff at all on chainreaction? Are they a good brand in general? I admit I was confused by the amount of overshoes on offer, I'm thinking I picked the wrong ones obviously, but have been shopping cheap. My hands do sweat a bit, and in fact the sweat then makes them cold on long rides.

allthegearnoidea

www.on-one.co.uk

Sealskinz take a couple of days to dry out, mine are left on the airer hanging Over the radiator!

DanDax1990

Been told these are good, Not sure weather they are or aren't... http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k6/a38 ... -shoe.html

I've got some of these which work well http://on-one.co.uk/i/q/CLOOTKMS3P/on_o ... ks_(3_pack)

These on the legs under my Muddyfox baggy shorts work well for me http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=66908

Still wearing my Alpinestars MOAB gloves and only had cold hands for about 10 minutes during one very windy ride, thinking of getting some of these though http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... s-12-35744

Apart from that I wear Decathlon baselayers and an Altura Nightvision Evo jacket.

DanDax1990

Oh and I may invest in a couple of pairs of Sealskinz.

dmorton

Make sure your body core and head are warm enough too. As soon as your body core temp drops you naturally reduce circulation to extremities to conserve heat, hence they get colder quicker

DodgeT

Might sound silly, but don't forget to turn the sealskinz inside out too when drying.

Stu Coops

I used to suffer with cold hands and feet so i wear Endura longs, merino woolie boolie socks with a pair of Specialized De-Frosters, merino base layer, thermal cycling top and Gilet also the headwear is Endura skullcap under the lid thin pair of liner gloves and a pair of average weight thermal outer gloves and i rode for 4hrs toasty warm yesterday and it was -1
Try and stay away from waterproof clothing and gloves in real cold weather as it just traps sweat which will make you cold and uncomfortable as soon as you stop, anyway just letting you know what works for me and like you i do suffer terrible with the cold but as long as you keep your core warm the blood will flow better to the extremities and remember you lose 30% of your body heat through your head.

Bishbosh10

As said above, you have to keep the blood that flows into your extremities warm for your extremities to stay warm.

Try and keep areas where the blood vessels are close to the surface well insulated and dry - this will help a lot.