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Gearing up for winter...
Yeah I know it's Spring but I'm new to this cycling thing so I'm having to buy everything from scratch.
On the basis that now is actually a good time to get Winter, Late Autumn and Early Spring (and British Summer for that matter) stuff I'm wondering about shoes.
Specifically wondering which people prefer in general. A proper Winter shoe or just their normal shoes and a good overshoe?
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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I'd resisted for years thinking they'd make me look too 'roady' and put up with frozen feet. Then I bought some basic neoprene ones from Wiggle and never looked back - warm, dry feet whatever the weather. Unfortunately this winter I had a ride where I had three punctures and ran out of inner tubes so had to walk about two miles home and forgot to take them off and damaged them
. They were less than twently quid so I'll replace them before next winter 
.
I have used overshoes and winter boots and my opinion is that winter boots (NorthWave at least) are over priced and not very good, 20 minutes of heavy drizzle and I had cold and wet feet. Neoprene overshoes are the way to go, dont spend too much, the cheap ones are as good as the more expensive ones and if you suffer with cold feet (as I do) try HotHands Insole foot warmers, keep an eye on ebay and buy a box when they are on offer, they work out at about 50p per pair if you get a big box at the right price.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hothands-Insole-Hot-Warmth-Hands-Hand-Warmer-F...
Two pairs of overshoes over normal shoes for me. Warm neoprene ones worn inside waterproof ones. Layering up keeps your feet toasty and they're versatile. Waterproof ones on rainy spring rides, normal ones on chilly mornings, etc. Dry, warm, happy feet.
I'd suggest not buying anything - yet. If you're buying everything from scratch that's alot of stuff if you're looking ahead to winter. Shoes plus merino sock plus good overshoes you'll need anyway. Then see how you go. My feet are pretty impervious to the cold but hands aren't. In recent years weather you'd be OK to Christmas with overhoes and then the January sales are on.
Tis a good point, I've bought the same Castelli neoprene overshoes for the last 3 years in a row - I buy them on sale (generally 40/50% off) at the start of the year for the next winter.
Overshoes are a disposable item as far as I'm concerned, I've never had a set last more than a year-ish.
and that is why I bought a pair if northward winter boots. cheaper long term than trashing a pair of overshoes annually.
Depends on how long you expect them to last I'd say
Northwave winter boots look to be £130-£160 on Wiggle, I never pay more than £20 for a pair of overshoes.
It's actually worse than you think. It's stuff for me and herself. This cycling game is bloody expensive...
"No, no dear, our kits are both the same. Rapha is just Aldi's men's range."
I have one pair of rather expensive shoes, I just use overshoes when it's cold/wet.
Can't justify a second pair of shoes (which you'd likely still need overshoes for!) with the price of the first pair!
For pure convenience you can't beat a full-on winter boot. Absolutely love my Shimano winter/waterproof boots.
Winter boots for me. I wouldn't say I was greatly impressed with my Defrosters - though they are warmer than shoes plus covers - but I hate faffing around with overshoes.
Over shoes for me i have tried many cheap ones but bought some craft ones. Perfect fit. Their gloves are also good.
I'm thinking about 'winter' to i blew up my trainer yesterday with the vast wattage i put out. Weighing up buying a new control board (a resistor has popped) or upgrading to a kickr although i cant find any really good deals think i may have missed the boat.
The actual wahoo site does re furbished ones for £650, if that fall into the price range. bought mine a couple months ago and have had no problems. do advice getting a usb extender cable though as the connection range is short.
Massive over-shoes convert here!
What converted you?
Thanks to all. Sorry about asking about winter gear
massive over-shoes - massive feet!
And shut up about Winter. Let us have our warm weather please!!!
Depends what sort of riding you do and how often. It's really a toss up between winter boots or carry on wearing your regular shoes but then get thicker or windproof socks, line them with foil, wear overshoes, then buy winter boots anyway, then use the windproof socks foil liner and overshoes on the winter boots and then still reach a point where that's not really enough. That was how I did it anyway, but I was riding 15 miles each way to work year round. The riding I do now I don't see me needing winter boots much, and on the odd day I do venture out I'll make do with my summer shoes and sealskinz/ foil/ overshoes.
Winter boots every time.