BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Full front fender. That's where most of the spray comes from.

Wool socks are nice if they fit in your shoe because they are warm even if wet.

SealSkin socks might be worth looking into but it's been awhile since I wore those.

Part of the problem is that even if you waterproof your feet the rain will run down your leg and into your sock. So beyond the fender think managment not sealing off.

Newspaper in your shoes at work will help absorb some moisture. Putting them on the back of a computer monitor (if you have a CRT)will definitely get them dry.

For cheap solutions neoprene shoe covers or the Endura shoe covers work quite well.

Thought about just leaving a pair of shoes at school or wearing sandals?

I'll add the following to Chris' good advice:

* Add a long mudflap to your full front fender. This will keep spray off you and the bike. These are easily made from old water bottles or scraps of rubber or flexible plastic.

* Sandals work well (see the other cold/wet weather discussion). This is my method of choice most of the time, though in the winter I'll wear regular shoes and carry/leave shoes at the office.

+9000 full fenders and wool socks. I have the planet bike freddy fenders, they've been good to me for 3 years now; others like the SKS, but they're like building fenders out of legos; Chris or someone posted a few months back a link to some incredibly simple, cheap and light fenders designed for road race bikes, but by all appearances would be perfect for any road frame methinks.

in wicked cold, soggy, long commutes, I would suggest not layering socks, keeping your shoes loose and applying shoe covers like these. Extra socks constrict the foot and limit circulation, which is just as bad as having wet feet in colder conditions. the sizing for shoe covers are for the tiny road shoes, so if you have a wider commuting or mtn shoe, then try the L or XL.

the other thread is here. Looks like the REI cold weather cycling class is full, but perhaps they'd take a wait list?

There's also this thread from last winter, which talks more about cold than wet, but not all that OT.

For myself, though, the single biggest thing is that long front mudflap. Cut up a half-gallon milk jug and get inventive with methods to attach it, and you're golden. Best to experiment with 50 and wet. You'll thank yourself when it's 20 and slushy.

I have a set of Burley shoe covers that are amazing. 95% of the rain stays out while bike touring.... like 8 hours a day. However they could

get pretty torn up riding in the city.

I went looking for my neoprene socks this afternoon. I only found one I figured one is better than none, so I wore neoprene on one foot and cotton on the other. The seams in the neoprene sock are leaking, so my foot got pretty wet, but it did stay warmer than the other.

Chris's advice is on the money. In re: the Sealzskinz, I wear them all the time, including yesterday. They keep your feet nice and dry and are an excellent windblock on chilly days too when you don't feel like wrestling the booties on over your shoes. But the shoes will still get wet if it's raining.

FYI REI has Planet Bike fenders on sale

I use front fenders, gaiters, and gore-tex shoes. I do a lot of snowshoeing and backpacking in the winter, so it's well worth the cost for me.

Yes, most of my winter hiking and cross-country ski gear is winter cycling gear. Yellow and orange aren't traditional "woodsy" colors, but I won't get lost!

If you don't want to rock sandals look at kayaking shoes. I've worn the Salmon Techphibian for years. Really nice shoe.

Maybe I bought too small of a size, but MAN, getting those neoprene socks on and off was a chore. My feet liked wearing them, though.

"Recycled" Town Talk bread bags over the socks.

The neoprene socks you have to turn halfway inside out first, then roll them on over your foot. But yeah, they can be a bit of a tussle.

Marko82

You think those 700c fenders would have enough clearance for 27" tires? I know it's only 4 mm difference but I don't know how tight these guys are & don't want to take any chances

found out today that I could def use some fenders. While my feet stayed relatively dry, my pant legs from ankle to thigh were soaked.

I think 27's are actually smaller in diameter than 700's but I'll let other more knowing's give better guidance.

27 is 630 mm circumference, 700c is 622, so that's just shy of 3mm difference in diameter. Different tires will account for bigger differences in circumference. I'm assuming that we're talking about a bike that is meant for 27" wheels, that you're not suggesting the use of 27" wheels on a 700c bike.

No It's a bike meant for 27" wheels. But the on-sale fenders - the road model - specify only 700c, whereas the hybrid set, which aren't on sale, specify 700c and 27". Only a few mm but that could mean the front fender catching my wheel and tossing me.

The ones specifically linked are 35 mm width, also, which would would probably be pretty narrow on anything but 25mm racing tires on a racing frame, but they have others for similar prices that should work better.

Oops, this is what I've been looking at: http://www.rei.com/product/723101#pr-header-723101

For fenders, tire size matters more than wheel size -- it's the outer diameter that matters and there is quite a bit more than 4mm radial difference between tire sizes. Unless you have huge tires or tight frame clearances, you should be fine with 27" wheels. These things are pretty adjustable anyway.

Noah, you also might be able to find a pair of fenders at FreeRide, I got some pretty nice metal ones from there

i just went ahead and got those PB ones. i have enough other stuff i need to scrounge for @ FR