Toes

[the snail]

Two pages in and despite the OP saying that the issue occurs year round in his first sentence, almost every reply is about cold feet.

Yes, sounds like a pressure issue - maybe too tight shoes, or soles not stiff enough? It might be worth trying flat pedals so that you can move your feet about a bit, and also try less constrictive shoes - might help work out what the issue is?

 

[Ajax Bay]

@Tin Pot as the OP you said:

I lose sensation in them all year round on longer rides. Right now they are icicles for upto 4.5hrs a day.

First, congratulations for cycling so much in these conditions, implicitly 5.5 hours a day at least, some days. Or do your feet stay numb for hours after you've washed your bike off (other thread )?
Please could you put @Milkfloat out of his (all year round and/or cold makes it worse) misery, or make his day by reiterating that this happens to you in balmy mid-summer.
When I offered advice I did not repeat the 'fit'/toe box issue - @Milkfloat had already suggested this - in that context I advocated: "regular conscious/conscientious toe wiggling". This implies you have space in the toe box to allow it. I also suggested that you go one size up in your next pair of shoes.

 

[Tin Pot]

I have complained in summer of losing sensation, @Milkfloat , as well but my fitter advised me against changing shoes and made other adjustments. I still lose sensation in the toes on long summer rides.

However.

I think there are multiple causes, consequently;

I've loosened the straps today
Longer winter socks up to the knee
Wiggled my toes (there is room)
Alternated pulling up with pushing down for some sections
Added two more layers up top

It's helped. But not cured the situation. I paid more attention and noticed my thighs are stone cold too, so maybe extra leggings of additional bib shorts if it drops below zero again.

 

[Crandoggler]

As I said, the big, long lumps of muscle attached to your feet are too cold. All the warm blood travels down the legs and is cooled by the time it reaches your feet.

You can put all the layers you want over your feet, but if there is little warm air to trap, how are they going to heat your cold feet?

As for a new set of wind proof tights, that could work. However, there's only so much a single layer will do before you'll need multiple layers.

 

[jay clock]

Nope, hands are fine in DhB windproof gloves. A friend of mine suffers from Reynauds so I am aware of it.

I am bitterly cold after getting home though, I've never taken so long to warm up - shivering a few hours later even, sometimes.

If you are generally cold you need to wear more generally, not just feet

 

[jay clock]

Sounds like you need some chemical toe warmers
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hot-Hands-Foot-Warmers-pairs/dp/B000YEZLD8y

If these don't work nothing will.

They have the at my local Tescos at present. Bought one pair as a trial

My tips are

1 wear more clothes (you said you are shivering for hours)
2 Winter boots ( I have Northwave)
3 Buy too big and wear 2 or 3 pairs of socks. I have acrylic thermal ones from Tesco
4 skull cap and buff
5 liner gloves

 

[Ajax Bay]

Bought one pair [of chemical toe warmers] as a trial

Let us know the results of your trial when complete. My experience with these is that they're ok for hands but difficult to keep in position even if there's space, in a boot/shoe.

 

[beastie]

I have complained in summer of losing sensation, @Milkfloat , as well but my fitter advised me against changing shoes and made other adjustments. I still lose sensation in the toes on long summer rides.

However.

I think there are multiple causes, consequently;

I've loosened the straps today
Longer winter socks up to the knee
Wiggled my toes (there is room)
Alternated pulling up with pushing down for some sections
Added two more layers up top

It's helped. But not cured the situation. I paid more attention and noticed my thighs are stone cold too, so maybe extra leggings of additional bib shorts if it drops below zero again.

It sounds like you are returning with a case of hypothermia. In cold temperatures I find windproof is more important than insulation. For a 0c ride I wear.

Winter socks, winter boots, loose aldi Mtb overshoes.

Roubaix Tights

Longsleeved warm baselayer. Windproof soft shell with a fleece inner surface.

Buff for neck, skullcap under helmet.

Gloves with an integrated rain mitt cover.

After 20 mins I will lose the skull cap, move the buff on top of head.

 

[jay clock]

Let us know the results of your trial when complete. My experience with these is that they're ok for hands but difficult to keep in position even if there's space, in a boot/shoe.

used them today and a great success. admittedly a much water day but with my winter boots they were excellent.. I would recommend nice thick socks as the heat is quite hot and might be excessive on thinner socks. Very good adhesive onto the socks...I will be buying a stock in now from Tescos but fyi http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hot-Hands-Foot-Warmers-pairs/dp/B000YEZLD8/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8 is what I used

 

[Ajax Bay]

I have been impressed with these socks (for both warmth and robustness), and have just bought 3 more pairs (3 for £10):
http://moremile.co.uk/sock-shop/more-mile-colorado-wool-cycling-sock-mm1627.html

 

[Big John]

My feet are cold all year round. I'm pretty sure it's a circulation problem in my case. Even hours after a ride my feet are cold. I'd love to find a solution but I just put up with it and keep riding. I had a similar thing with the hands but since I bought some Sealskinz lobster mitts they've not been too bad. If I could wear the lobster mitts on my feet I think I'd have it cracked.

 

[jeltz]

Had this problem and < 5°C I still get it but not so badly

Winter boots (Northwave)
Merino Wool socks
Overshoes
several layers on the top half to keep the core warm

The funny thing is that due to a prolapsed disc my right foot is constantly numb so when the left one gets numb through cold I have a matching pair.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Do your feet sweat at first due to the waterproof over shoes etc and then the sweat cools your feet?

Sweat has to evaporate in order to cool. In waterproof shoes it cannot evaporate and thus cannot lower the temperature.

 

[kiriyama]

If your looking for some decent tights to help keep a bit more heat in your legs, I bought some DHB windslammer thermal bib tights that I have worn through this winter. Iv got crap circulation in my extremities but these have really helped keep my legs/feet warm. Combined with some seal skins socks and iv not even needed overshoes this year.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Something I was taught years ago with socks and also gloves, don't pull them tight to the ends of your fingers /toes, leave 1-2 mm of space so the tips have no pressure applied.