1st Wet Commute... new shoes required!!

[mrmacmusic]

Commuting is a new thing for me (a bit like these forums!) – cycled in once a week for the first couple of weeks, and then twice last week. In my head I was determined to do 3 days this week, so decided to go for it again this morning (having cycled in yesterday) despite the wet ground and grey sky. I told myself that it was going to clear up, after all that's what the forecast had said, but oh no – I got soaked!! The 14 mile route takes me about 55 minutes, and it started raining, oh, about 6 or 7 minutes in. Nice.

Best bit? I still really enjoyed the cycle in, and I feel great. Alive!

Worst bit? Currently the not-particularly-waterproof walking shoes I'm using are drying out, and my socks are on the radiator. Stupid me forgot to bring spares in along with the rest of my work clothes on Monday..... Won't forget that next week

Of course the sun has the cheek to be starting to pop through the greyness now, but hopefully that means I'll get a dry run home later!

I've been debating SPD pedals and shoes (see other post), so I think now might be the right time. Not sure if Shimano's GoreTex MT60 would be worthwhile, or I'd be better off with cheaper shoes and overshoes for days like today though. Thoughts please?

 

[SquareDaff]

Don't worry so much about shoes being waterproof. That's what overshoes are for. Put them in your panniers and stick em on if it starts to pour down.

 

[400bhp]

overshoes.

I have 2 pairs-leave one at work and one at home. Keeping an eye on the weather means I'm not generally caught out.

 

[StuartG]

Careful about sizing of overshoes. If you have cheaper SPD shoes (welcome Aldi & Lidl) these can be more bulky than branded stuff at 10x the price. A medium shoe (9?) needs L or even XL overshoes.

As you have discovered - a pair of dry socks is heaven ...

 

[XmisterIS]

I will swear by SPDs, they beat clips hands down. Overshoes are good, they keep out most of the wet. Just leave the shoes to dry out when you get to work, they'll be fine for the ride home - and take a spare pair of socks to wear at work and ride home in!

 

[Beebo]

I have shoes with a goretex lining and had to stuff them with newspaper yesterday as they still got wet.

No shoe will be 100% waterproof, the rain will seep in around the ankles and straps.

My commutte takes 45 mins and I have the mind set that if it rains I will get wet.

Putting damp clothes back on for the return ride is never nice, but after 5 mins you soon forget about it.

 

[mrmacmusic]

Thanks again folks for the great input – sounds like a) I don't need to worry about the shoes being waterproof; b) I need to buy overshoes (and perhaps panniers to store them in LOL!); and c) I ought to get myself down to my LBS to try both the shoes and overshoes on so that everything fits like, er, a glove?!

Socks are now dry and back on

and the sky is clearing up nicely

 

[TheSandwichMonster]

I have shoes with a goretex lining and had to stuff them with newspaper yesterday as they still got wet.

^^^
This, this, one million times this!

Water will always find a way in. I bring my old Sunday papers into work and keep them under my desk. when I have a wet ride, I pack the shoes out with it to dry them out as much as possible before the ride home.

 

[jonny jeez]

Thanks again folks for the great input – sounds like a) I don't need to worry about the shoes being waterproof; b) I need to buy overshoes (and perhaps panniers to store them in LOL!); and c) I ought to get myself down to my LBS to try both the shoes and overshoes on so that everything fits like, er, a glove?!

Socks are now dry and back on

and the sky is clearing up nicely

overshoes are pretty light and can fit in a rear pocket (panniers seem an awful big expense just to carry them) Mine are heavy duty neopream type for MTB and road biking. they're a pretty tight fit to get on (you have to kind of roll them on)

but they work flippin wonders, my feet actually get hot in the winter with them on.

they cost about £30

 

[mrmacmusic]

Water will always find a way in. I bring my old Sunday papers into work and keep them under my desk. when I have a wet ride, I pack the shoes out with it to dry them out as much as possible before the ride home.

Yeah – I guess that's the problem. Less expensive, non-GoreTex shoes + overshoes it is for me

 

[mrmacmusic]

overshoes are pretty light and can fit in a rear pocket (panniers seem an awful big expense just to carry them) Mine are heavy duty neopream type for MTB and road biking. they're a pretty tight fit to get on (you have to kind of roll them on) but they work flippin wonders, my feet actually get hot in the winter with them on.

they cost about £30

Cheers jonny! Was only joking about needing panniers, but a slightly larger saddle-slung bag (or seat-post mounted trunk thing) is on my shopping list – along with shoes, pedals, overshoes, brighter front light(s), winter layers, new pump etc..etc..... never ending, but at least this cycling malarky is fun

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Tesco give away great waterproof socks, with their white, blue and red livery. They only last 1 or 2 rides but they have loads of them lying around behind the tills.

Sainsburys do them too, if orange is more your colour

Waitrose ones just make you look like a snob

 

[XmisterIS]

Just a thought here:

I buy a product by Nicwax for my kevlar jeans that I wear on my motorbike - it looks and smells like ordinary washing liquid, but it coats the fibres of the jeans and while it doesn't stop water penetration, the jeans dry out in about 20 mins, even after a good soaking.

It might be worth getting some of that stuff and putting your shoes in the washing machine on a gentle wash, then letting them dry. You can get it from Hein Gerricke, the motorbike shop.

 

[mrmacmusic]

Tesco give away great waterproof socks, with their white, blue and red livery. They only last 1 or 2 rides but they have loads of them lying around behind the tills.

Sainsburys do them too, if orange is more your colour

Waitrose ones just make you look like a snob

LOL! You forgot about the green one's in Asda

 

[mrmacmusic]

Just a thought here:

I buy a product by Nicwax for my kevlar jeans that I wear on my motorbike - it looks and smells like ordinary washing liquid, but it coats the fibres of the jeans and while it doesn't stop water penetration, the jeans dry out in about 20 mins, even after a good soaking.

It might be worth getting some of that stuff and putting your shoes in the washing machine on a gentle wash, then letting them dry. You can get it from Hein Gerricke, the motorbike shop.

Interesting idea! Since I want to get SPD's, I'm in the market for new shoes anyway (although those that I had on today will live to see another day). Overshoes – rather than waterproof/ed shoes – would seem to make a lot of sense.