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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-banzai!fisher
From: fisher@banzai.DEC (Ed Fisher, 381-2377)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Cold Toes
Message-ID: <113@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-Jan-85 07:21:30 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.113
Posted: Fri Jan  4 07:21:30 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 11-Jan-85 07:33:44 EST
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: DEC Engineering Network
Lines: 44

Subject: COLD TOES

>>Perhaps many of you will be surprised to find out that "cold toes"
>>could be a problem in San Diego.  At 6 AM the sun is not up and the
>>...

I'm not surprised -- The last ride of my recent visit was
Buckman Springs-Campo-Jacumba-Live Oak Spings- on Dec 17, enjoyed 
it a lot.

Two years ago I rode a lot in the fall and winter in New
Hampshire and Massachusetts.  At that time I used some vinyl
shoe covers that I got from the Midwest; I think it was a place
called Hartley's.  On really cold days (-5 to 20 deg F) I would
wear wool socks, Bata Wintours (touring shoe), a pair of heavy
wool socks over the shoes, and the vinyl booties.  My feet were
often so warm that I could tip out the booties to dump the sweat
(excuse me, perspiration).  The weather would have to warm up a 
lot to make it worth removing them because my inner socks would 
be damp.  Those booties cost about $17 but displayed very little
wear from the toe clips -- pretty good considering that there is 
no cleat to keep them from moving and there was so much stuffing
inside them that they were forced against the clips all around.
There was more wear on the undersurface from the few times I had 
to step on the ground.  They were zippo (terrible) for traction
when I had to walk around ice (uphill, yuch).  Total riding like
this was about 400 miles.

I now use cleats and have a pair of Duegi overboots and a pair of
Brancales.  I have not noticed any wear on them yet from the toe
clips.  Competition in the marketplace is great, these were about
$18 a pair, I don't think anyone could sell the vinyl booties for
$17 anymore.  These are much more durable.  Only problem I had
was when I was riding in freezing rain on Jan 1.  Water comes in
the cleat holes and works its way through the shoes. That
bothered me more than the icicles on my helmet.  BUT my toes were
warmer than my fingers.  Neither combination is as good as the 4
layer approach above -- mostly because of the cleat hole.  I have
yet to cut a cleat hole in my oversized socks to try that out,
but soon we will get the sub-zeroes and the chance will arise. 

Summary:  I would not worry about the wear.  I think most serious
cyclists will go through bike shoes as fast as or faster than 
they go through overboots.