Kit question - cold feet on the bike

Since I got my turbo last year I don't go out on the bike in the crappy horrible weather, but I've got a little 24 mile jolly on 7 October with a certain Victoria Pendleton so need some kit help.  OK, so it's not just me and VP, but she'll be there and hopefully we'll get to meet her! 

I get really cold feet on the bike and as this ride is up in Cheshire so will probably be wet and cold (and I'm used to nice, dry Norfolk) I am thinking I need to get some of those waterproof overshoes to help keep my feet dry and warm.  Well, dry at least.  I'm not likely to be using them lots so don't really want to pay lots of money, but am a little concerned that if I just get the cheapest they'll be a bit rubbish.  Can anyone help with a suggestion? 

Also any suggestions to keep my feet from being blocks of ice would be welcome too as the friend I'm doing this ride with doesn't even own a bike, you can hire them on the day, so it's possibly going to take a long time for us to get round the course.

The other thing I need is some covers for the cleats on my bike shoes, as it's likely we'll be getting off and walking up hills, plus they'll be wondering around before we start.  Do I need to get the make that my shoes are or are they sort of interchangeable?

Check out Aldi on Thursdasy for overshoes.  Their cylcing kit is usually good for the low price.

When  it gets cold I always make sure my socks and shoes are warm before I go out.

I did notice they had socks on, but not over shoes, will check out their site. 

I do try and make sure I'm warm before I go out, but I'm a bit concerned that there will be a lot of waiting about while they organise all the different waves of ladies at this event and I'll get cold again.  Am going to go in normal shoes and leave putting my bike ones on as late as possible but for some reason they just get cold really quickly.  Have a similar problem with my hands, but they seem to be ok with silk glove liners and leather gloves, plus you can move your hands about a bit which you can't do with your feet.  Or maybe I'm just an Eastern Jessie!

1. Endura Neoprene Overshoes from Evans. 20 quid
2. Sealskinz socks from same. About 25 quid I think?

Aldi is a cracking solution if you get in there quickly.

And then you can go out in crap weather!

Planet-X were doing a bundle deal http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/

For a one-off, why not DIY overshoes - put a large, thick sock over your shoe, cut a hole for the cleat, then wrap the newly-insulated shoe in clingfilm to waterproof it.

Have just check out the Aldi site and if no-one says they are rubbish will go and get some on Thursday   The cycle stuff doesn't usually disappear too quickly from my local store, so should be ok for still getting some after work. 

Can anyone help with my cleat covers question?

What cleats have you got ? You can get covers for some of them - but if its a recessed or MTB cleat you dont need to. I dont think I'd bother with covers really - if you're in your bike shoes - you'll be with your bike - so aside from registering in a church hall or whatever - you really wont be walking far. Thats what the bike is for.

If its a gentle 24 miles I doubt they'll have chosen hills so steep that you cant ride up them in.

Oh and dont cramp your shoes with thick socks. You need the blood to circulate so thinner socks would be better if thick ones mean you cant wiggle your toes.  Same thing with the shoe - dont tighten them up massively.

Erm not sure what sort of cleats I have, just normal ones for a road bike, not sure of the make.  They're not recessed though and it's been recommended before that I get covers for them so they don't wear out so quickly when I'm walking on them.

It's this Cyletta ladies only event, so I fear there may well be a lot of milling about at the start as I think there will be a good few entrants and they may restrict riding about.   And I hope it's fairly gentle as I don't have any hills to practice on near me!  *whispers* not that I've even really been on the bike since January because of injury.

So a couple of pairs of thinner socks would be best?  I have a pair of angora socks and I thought I might try those as I thought they may trap the warm air in, but they may be a bit thick?

I've never bothered with covers for my Look style cleats and I've had no problems for the last er 25 years or so. They wear out eventually but never thru walking.

Tatton Park is big anyway so I dont think theres a problem with milling round.

As to the socks - see what you can get away with. Just dont restrict the foot too much with them.

Looking at the route I'm sure you'll be fine, Cheshire has some hills - but that area is rolling at best.

Don't know anything about cleats wearing out, my road shoes have been used for a fair few years and it's the soles of the shoes that are bashed up, not the meal cleats.

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CLPXOSH/planet_x_neoprene_overshoes currently on special offer.  Keep toesies lovely and warm.

TST, unfortunately there are lots of different types of cleats, but for starters how many screws does the cleat have, what material is the cleat made from or maybe best- can you post a picture?

I've got covers for my look cleats and appear to have done a job this year but they themsevles have weared out. (irony?) So not sure if worth getting or not at the moment. You can get them from decathalon and other places but best bet to start is wiggle.

Those Sealskinz socks are great - http://www.sealskinz.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=1

Also useful on trail runs in the rainy north, may not be an issue for you though in sunny Norfolk!

Cake, not sure you should be admitting to wearing cleat COVERS out from walking!

If you are short on pennies then certainly dont bother with cleat covers

Silk sock liners are very warm, the old sock over the shoes is a good trick and the only thing that you need to buy then are the neoprene waterproofs of which there are plenty of links above

If after 24 miles you are still a bit chilly then you can always go for a run to warm up 

I use 1000 mile liner socks with Seal skins over top

I don't like sealskinz socks so I wouldn't bother - but others obviously disagree.

If you want warm feet on the cheap get an old pair of socks, warmish ones if you have them, pull them over your shoes, then make a small cut out and pull the hole round your cleat so it doesn't foul your pedals.   Then get some cheap neoprene overshoes and put them over the top - or just get 2 pairs of cheap neoprene overshoes and put one pair over the other.   Or there are some windproof ones here - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-windproof-overshoe/ maybe put them over a pair of woolen socks over your shoes - that'll be fine.