Which winter shoes / boots are people using?

cough Shimano cough

I've talked to a few people who have these, and the "they're not very goods" have outnumbered the "quite goods"

Strange. I love mine. Couldn't think of anything I'd change about them, apart from the price.

Well I was thinking about my own feet. I wasnt being difficult. Just selfish.

I can only really think of the lakes. Otherwise get some 45NRTH insoles, Thick Merino XC ski socks, The next best 3 hole shoes, and some overshoes.

If your feet need that much shit over them.. have you considered turbo training?

I'm basically saying take the insoles, socks, and shoes you normally wear. Replace them with winter specific ones, and add a weatherproof overshoe. But then I bet you cycle round in flip-flops* most of the year.

(*cant use the term thong. Bad mental image)

I've now had surgery to remove tumors on both my feet, they don't like the cold.

I like riding my bike outdoors in the winter.

These two things are not easy to reconcile, unfortunately.

Its a tricky problem though. Pogies solved my cold hands problems. Wish I could invent similar things for my pedals.

Think I've posted this before. But the best bit advice fro a snowbiking forum. Is to get off and walk every now and again.

Although there is a sale on an unmentionable internet site for heated insoles right now I think.

G-Banger... all winter...

Although there is a sale on an unmentionable internet site for heated insoles right now I think.

Nope. Finished.

One model had a remote control though. I had fantasies of just crusing along on the snowbike. Feeling a little nippy. Reaching into my pocket for the remote, and simply turning up the heating. hmmmmmm

Just had an ad for these in my inbox. £200 for a pair of socks. Bonkers. But then I pay £100 more than I need to. To get a nicer bib. The difference between horrible cold feet, and warm blissful toes must be more important.

http://alpenheat.com/bootheater/alpenheat-fire-sock.html

I spoke to the distributor, who sent me a list of Lake stockists.

Of them all, Cyclefit and Zeevon had a physical shop that was vaguely convenient.

Cyclefit told me that they could order the CX 145 for me, but that I'd have bought it with no option to return it even if it didn't fit.

I was welcome to come in for a shoe fitting, after which they'd order me the shoe- but their opening hours (09.30-18.00) meant that I'd have had to have done some juggling with my working day to accomplish the fitting, then waited for the shoes to come in, at which point they might not fit but I'd be compelled to pay for them.

I called Zeevon, who said they'd happily order them in, I could try them on and if they didn't fit they'd send them back- and they were open until 20.00 so I could stop off on the way home.

Guess which shop got my business?

I'll test them tomorrow, hopefully they'll be a success.

they look pretty good. I've been really impressed with my Lakes.

Sidi Cafe are offering 40% off Sidi Diablo winter boots this week.

Northwave arctic commute M GTX from this ebay seller , too good to be true?

Has anyone now got some experience with the Lake CX145 shoes? Can't find any user reviews and I'm interested as I need really wide shoes.

Nah, there are loads of the fluro ones for that price or less.
Lots of sellers picked then up.
The black ones retail for 150 and trade for 65+ vat, same for the fluro but pretty sure the dustro is knocking them out for 45+ vat at th he minute

Just got some noethwave gtx myself and they are cracking!

http://road.cc/content/news/134316-thieves-steal-500-pairs-northwave-arctic-commuter-winter-cycling-boots

Has anyone now got some experience with the Lake CX145 shoes? Can't find any user reviews and I'm interested as I need really wide shoes.

I have a pair, they're well made albeit with the caveat that the boa lace on my left boot needs replacing (the plastic covering has stripped off, causing the lace to jam rather than run freely).

I'm not using them at the moment as they add a pretty impressive amount of stack height when compared to my Sidi Ergo's, which requires moving the saddle up quite a lot when changing shoes.

This of course is not a problem if you only wear the boots.

I think mine are either a 45 or a 46 - if that works for you then you'd be welcome to borrow them (Speedplay cleats).

Sorry for not replying sooner. Thanks for the offer but I need a 42.

I bought the Lake CX145 in 42 wide. I was a bit unsure whether they were wide enough when trying them on in the shop. I took the insole out and noticed it was a bit thicker than the ones I use.

I've used them for several rides and they fit well. My feet have been slightly too warm so far with thin socks but it has been 8 to 11 degrees lately. I've set the cleats slightly further back with the speedplay extender plates than my s-works shoes and it seems to negate the need to change saddle heights.

It will be interesting to see how they fare in cold and or wet weather - Typical that it went mild and dry after I bought them.

Having done a decent amount of miles on the Lake CX145 wide shoes in variable conditions I can say they are great in the rain. I first I thought they were terrible but what was happening was the rain was hitting / soaking through my bib tights which were inside the boots and the inside material is a bit like a sponge and soaks it all up, actually had puddles in my shoes. When I pulled the bib tights to the outside of the boot I've only had slightly wet ankles in really heavy rain on a 13 mile commute. If I had some kind of waterproof trouser / tight I guess I wouldn't get wet at all.

In the cold (0° to -7°) my toes still get cold in long rides but I'm only wearing thin socks so the shoes aren't tight (really really wide feet). Before they'd get cold and numb in more typical cycling shoes with a toe cover. I've always had terrible circulation in my feet though so this is pretty good for me. I could probably wear thicker socks but I don't have any thicker socks that don't come above the boot line (so would absorb the rain).

In light of all the other Winter Is Coming threads being bumped I thought I'd kick-start this one for the Long Dark Cold ahead.

Over the years I've solved cold issues in hands, ears, etc etc, but never managed to find a way of keeping heat in my feet.

This year I am determined to do so, therefore I am looking at retiring my CX145's and getting something significantly warmer. If anyone wants the CX145's then let me know, they are free if you come and get them.

So! 45Nrth? Something else?

Your shoes?

Just got some Giro Alpineduro off t'bay. Too warm to use as yet, but they feel nice, good and low at the back for back-forth ankle rotation, and they don't really look like cycling shoes, so shouldn't look out of place not changing them in the office, especially if I change out the daft orange laces.

They'll be for mtb / commuting, Northwave boots still going for road riding.

I need new boots too; after a couple of years useage my northwave's soles just felt very flexy last winter.

I'd just use actual shoes and appropriate pedals if your special cycle shoes are too cold.

For commuting, I'm right with you. For 3/4/5/6 hour countryside rides, my Nike high tops aren't gonna cut it. Also also, biggest problem with commuting in actual shoes is rain. XXL overshoes help but aren't perfect.

I'd just use actual shoes and appropriate pedals if your special cycle shoes are too cold.

And your suggestion for which these would be is?

Not that I'll use clips and straps on a proper bike, that said.

'Proper' meaning 'sport'?