"I saw this deal, and thought someone might like it" thread.

[Lt. Dan]

Every time I find what I think is a good deal on that website, I do a quick google search and find that’s the normal price for the object, or I find it cheaper somewhere else

[Powerful Pete]

@ Lt. Dan, often the case, but not always. I believe that other online shops are increasingly aligning prices with them on some of the name brand bits.

Their return policy is very good (once returned an item at no cost to me three separate times on occasion of funky shoe sizing…).

[GovernorSilver]

@KayakCyndi 128807 wrote:

Seems like The Clymb checked our weather today. Good deals on crappy weather cycling gear for men and women to be had.

http://www.theclymb.com/

Thanks, I might go for a pair of those $20 Castelli shoe covers. I didn’t mind getting my feet wet in the summer rain – winter wet though I imagine would suck more. I do have merino wool socks.

[GovernorSilver]

Finally overcame my indecisiveness and ordered Gore Bike Wear Thermal Overshoes and a set of Lezyne LED lights for the new bike. Thanks, Powerful Pete!

[hozn]

I have some of the non-thermal gore (gore-tex) covers which only resist water for about 30 minutes. The Endura covers I have are truly waterproof, but keeping water out of shoes is pretty tricky — water tends to come up from bottom — or top, depending on pants configuration (length). Monday and Tuesday were pretty soggy — esp. feet and hands, though my Endura Venturi jacket proved again its supreme status.

[vern]

@hozn 129188 wrote:

I have some of the non-thermal gore (gore-tex) covers which only resist water for about 30 minutes. The Endura covers I have are truly waterproof, but keeping water out of shoes is pretty tricky — water tends to come up from bottom — or top, depending on pants configuration (length). Monday and Tuesday were pretty soggy — esp. feet and hands, though my Endura Venturi jacket proved again its supreme status.

I also have some Endura shoe covers and they are quite excellent at keeping out water. On Tuesday my left shoe stayed dry but the right leaked in some water from the bottom. I had taped the soles on the inside of each to stop water leaching in from underneath, but I guess I need to re-tape the right shoe.

[GovernorSilver]

@hozn 129188 wrote:

I have some of the non-thermal gore (gore-tex) covers which only resist water for about 30 minutes. The Endura covers I have are truly waterproof, but keeping water out of shoes is pretty tricky — water tends to come up from bottom — or top, depending on pants configuration (length). Monday and Tuesday were pretty soggy — esp. feet and hands, though my Endura Venturi jacket proved again its supreme status.

Both of my bikes have fenders so I’ll see how much water comes up into my shoes from the bottom. I know fenders aren’t perfect either, although the new bike’s fenders has flaps that extend past the fender itself. Took me a while to decided between the Gore, Pearl Izumi, and Giro thermal shoe covers, which were all around the same price range at Competitive Cyclist. The prices were pretty much the same as at other shops but at least I got the 20% off on the Leyzne LED light set.

Due to the latest round of spending already, I didn’t want to buy Lake winter cycling boots ($300-ish, something like that) or even the $150 Chrome Storm (waterproof) boots, so I went for $50 thermal shoe covers.

[hozn]

@GovernorSilver 129216 wrote:

Both of my bikes have fenders so I’ll see how much water comes up into my shoes from the bottom.

Yeah, I use fenders on the rain bike too. With my Gore covers the problem is just that the fabric lets water through after it gets saturated. But mine are different covers, so hope yours are more waterproof. IME the PI covers are really nice for warmth, but covers are definitely not as warm as boots. I have Northwave boots. The first set I got on Geartrade (used) for $80; then I bought the “Artic” [sic] warmer fully sealed boots (for $200 from the UK which is street price). When winter hits those are great.

[GovernorSilver]

Yeah, I’m not expecting any of these thermal shoe covers to be as warm as boots. I guess if I were more patient and less particular I could try the used market for good cycling winter boots. But I’ll give the Gores a try for this winter season and see how it goes.

My Vasque hiking boots are great for walking winter weather in our area but there’s something off about the sole-pedal connection when I ride with them – I have platform pedals on both bikes. I don’t know if it’s the sole design or something else.

[dkel]

@hozn 129219 wrote:

I have Northwave boots. The first set I got on Geartrade (used) for $80; then I bought the “Artic” [sic] warmer fully sealed boots (for $200 from the UK which is street price). When winter hits those are great.

How are those in snow with the whole clipless thing? My problem has been that if I put a foot down in actual snow, my cleats get packed with frozen stuff and won’t clip in anymore, and then I’m sunk. I’ve been coveting winter boots for two seasons now, but have hesitated, thinking regular winter shoes and platform pedals might be the safest, ever-reliable choice in snow.

As an aside, the “Artic” name causes me to shudder.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@dkel 129226 wrote:

How are those in snow with the whole clipless thing? My problem has been that if I put a foot down in actual snow, my cleats get packed with frozen stuff and won’t clip in anymore, and then I’m sunk. I’ve been coveting winter boots for two seasons now, but have hesitated, thinking regular winter shoes and platform pedals might be the safest, ever-reliable choice in snow.

As an aside, the “Artic” name causes me to shudder.

Not being able to clip in: no problem. Not being able to clip OUT: big problem. Seriously though, I’ve never had a problem with snow/ice in my cleats…just banging your shoe on your pedal a couple times usually will knock out any buildup.

[dkel]

@TwoWheelsDC 129227 wrote:

Not being able to clip in: no problem. Not being able to clip OUT: big problem. Seriously though, I’ve never had a problem with snow/ice in my cleats…just banging your shoe on your pedal a couple times usually will knock out any buildup.

That didn’t always work for me last winter. On the worst occasion I could barely pedal at all on one side, since there wasn’t much pedal surface, and no flat area on the bottom of the shoe. Maybe it’s just me.

[hozn]

Yeah, what TwoWheels said, just bang shoe against pedal before clipping in. This will be my first year in SPDs instead of Time Atacs (which are notoriously great at not getting jammed up with mud, etc.), but I suspect it will be fine.

Typically those sort of conditions are only when riding the mtb off-road. I can’t ride my commuter through deep snow for any distance (I.e. the commute), but hasn’t been necessary lately with all the snowblowing.

I haven’t ever had problems unclipping either, but mountain biking trained me well to unclip fast when things go wrong. In general I would probably rather be clipped in when going over the ice ruts we get here.

[mstone]

@dkel 129226 wrote:

How are those in snow with the whole clipless thing? My problem has been that if I put a foot down in actual snow, my cleats get packed with frozen stuff and won’t clip in anymore, and then I’m sunk. I’ve been coveting winter boots for two seasons now, but have hesitated, thinking regular winter shoes and platform pedals might be the safest, ever-reliable choice in snow.

What kind of clip? Some are better than others.

[hozn]

And not all snow is the same either; I am sure that some conditions allow snow to really pack/freeze in there. I haven’t had occasion to experience that, I guess.

[Author]

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