Having spent most of my summer playing other sports, which I shall be giving up for the winter, I plan on spending as many mornings/afternoons as I can offroading.
With this in mind, I'd love to know what everybody uses to keep themselves dry/warm, particularly your feet. I know I'll need some decent upper-body waterproof gear, but what else will I need?
If I hear one more more person with the yakkity yack about night lights and winter gear!!!!! We've talked our economy into a hole, must we do it with the Summer?!
If you want 100% warm, dry, snug feet even in the worst winter conditions just get proper winter boots... Completely & absolutely 100% disregard anyone who tells you to get overshoes.. overshoes are fine for the road but utter sh!t offroad in the depths of winter.. they will absorb water and because they have holes in the sole for your cleats, they will let water in to your shoes.. and if your shoes are just standard 'summer' shoes then your back to square one.. actually your worse off than square one as they will absorb and hold water and eventually they will end up flopping about on your feet like Bobo the freekin' clown..!
Shimano make excellent winter boots.. get a pair of them.. its one of the few things they do really well.. IMO
Other than that, get some waterproof shorts, a few thin base layers (several thin layers will insulate you a lot better than one thick layer), a light / thin rain jacket and some good quality winter gloves (Altura / Endura make great winter gloves)
I have to disagree with you on the overshoes, bar the cleat bit.
I have worn them and found them to be great at keeping the feet warm. i got a pair of neoprene ones and honestly thought they were great, plus all the mud just flows off them whereas it just sticks to your shoes,
so when you have finished your spin you have lovely clean shoes too.
now someone please explain this white socks over your shoes thing to me. as i nearly got sick once with the gayness of it!!
I have to disagree with you on the overshoes, bar the cleat bit.
I have worn them and found them to be great at keeping the feet warm. i got a pair of neoprene ones and honestly thought they were great, plus all the mud just flows off them whereas it just sticks to your shoes,
so when you have finished your spin you have lovely clean shoes too.
So let me just get this straight, you disagree with me about overshoes being sh!te... but agree with me about the cleat holes letting water in.. which eventually freezes your feet..?!?!
So you prefer to have clean shoes rather than warm dry feet..??
Terry, I suspect you've only had limited experience with overshoes... Trust me on this.. when you get a full winters worth of riding in to your overshoes you will soon realise how utterly rubbish they are.. for off-road use
Wow lads sorry for my tuppence worth,
I silicone up the cleat holes and used a pair of overshoes and had toasty feet for a whole winter,so shove that up your Nama. granted the boots are the best option.
I've got rid of SPD's altogether, what idiot though it would be a good idea having bolt holes in the sole of a shoe? Now I just Tec 7 some cut down wellies (bought off Gerry, good as new, few scuff marks) to some flats, lash on my lycra and away I go.