Brendan Rigby said:

Marc Bertucco said:

Seriously, today was a really nice day to ride. Really nice. Totally comfortable (and I'm a person whose toes have terrible circulation and get cold way too fast). JP was all like, "I think Marc overdressed, given how far he has his thermal jacket open." Actually, that's part of my technique. I had my thermal jacket, and exactly one long-sleeve baselayer on. And I zipped up and down depending on whether we were climbing, descending, cruising on the flats.

did you use chemical warmers for your feet?  i went for a ride the other day when it was 22 and my feet went numb after about 25 mins in, even with my 3mm neoprene booties.  i'm thinking it would be fine if i had some chemical warmers?

I agree with David regarding protecting your circulation by making sure you can wiggle those toes a bit. Alyoshas' set-up sounded like a recipe for cutting off your circulation, but he assured us that he had plenty of room.

My particular set up on the 18 degree day, was a pair of wool socks, chemical heat warmers on top of my socks underneath the shoe (removed insole so I had plenty of room), then a pair of Performance neoprene booties that have some fleece fuzzy stuff on the inside. Warm and toasty.

Yesterday, I didn't have the chemical warmers, and went with the same set up otherwise and was definitely feeling cold toes a bit about for the middle 90 minutes of the 4 hour ride. In the beginning and in the last couple of hours I was fine.

I will also say that my issues, that cause numbing toes I believe, based on several doctor visits, is nerve related. This, for me is alleviated by changing position somewhat frequently. Fortunately, most rides we do, there are enough out of the saddle climbing bits to keep me feeling okay. That said, I'm going to look into the "big artery" theory that Stokes mentioned.

Man this all sounds like a real pain in the ass. I think I had a 3 x 20 in on the trainer in the amount of time it took you guys to get dressed.

took about 10mins to get ready- not so bad.

I agree that changing positions helps and wiggling toes once in a while helps- same goes for hands.
I still had space in my shoe and Sidi shoes are very adjustable as well, the key is to take out the insole.

There are 2 main arteries providing blood supply to the foot: the anterior and posterior tibial arteries, both originate from the popliteal artery; both branch out into the dorsal digital arteries and plantar digital arteries.
Constricting the foot physically prevents the flow of blood to and from the foot, preventing fresh blood supply from entering the foot and normalizing temperature gradients.

@Aly. Thanks for the vocabulary. But where are these arteries and what pressure points should we worry about. Obviously, you don't want to cinch up your straps super tight, but I sort of thought that one of the arteries ran under the foot and that improper cleat placement or an incompatibly shaped foot bed could impinge on it even if you neglected to tie your shoe laces.

Don't see anything under the foot. So I guess you should just keep your shoe laces loose!

This is not a good drawing

It's my understanding that foot numbness on long bike rides comes from not a single vessel or artery being squeezed, but an overall squeeze to the foot, especially around the ball of the foot, after a longer period of riding due to the foot swelling (as it does when it gets hot and sweaty) and then being squeezed overall in a shoe. I generally try to readjust my shoes just before a race or ride, winter or summer, after a good 15 minute warm up, knowing that wherever I adjusted my straps at my front door, is going to be too tight once I get warmed up. Though I do find sometimes needing to tighten my shoes, as I've come across bed-warmth phenomenon where my hr and body temp are very high when I leave my door, due to, I can only imagine, a general enthusiasm to get on my bike. . . Now, nerves running through the foot? Well, that'll require another picture.

eragot said:

what?
Myles riding a bike?

Myles said:

Gonna be in my kitchen for two hours of rollers

Myles + kitchen + rollers ? That may be code for rolling pins and some sort of baked goodness

@Mark I'd be down for the latter proposition

have to be at school all day both days this weekend  ...rollers for me. can't even do the new member ride! and i am a new member!

Gonna ride prospect park at 10:30 a.m. if anyone wants to join.  I don't have a kit yet, so will be in a red top and a red helmet.   

@chris... Rick and I are meeting at grand army plaza at 11. Will see you around the park.

I'll be there sunday if the roads seem to be clearish.

@Aaron-Looks like JP will be leaving from GWB at 9 if it looks clear.  Assuming it's clear I'm intending to drive out to NJ from Brooklyn and head out from the Jersey side of the GW Bridge  at 9:00 as well.  I can take 2 riders/bikes with me in the car.  Leaving from 12th Street (between 7th and 8th Aves.) in Park Slope at around 8AM .If anyone's interested in a ride out, shoot me an e-mail at neilxross@yahoo.com and/or call me at 7:15 AM to confirm that I'm going (917-579-6580).

as much as I like cyclocross, I'm not mounting new tires for tomorrow! my ass will be on the trainer.

Looks too snowy out here riight now to venture to NJ..  I'll check out Prospect Park later/

Just spent some time walking around Prospect Park and it isn't so bad at all. Road is a little wet but clear, no strong wind, just chilly. Anyone up for a PP ride around 3pm today? Holla.

Would anyone be interested in a 5pm Saturday prospect park meetup for a brief recon and then a 1 lap race on a course of our choosing?

Road cross mnt bike. Whatever you want.

I'm interested in PP tomorrow but much earlier than 5pm.  I'll check the conditions in the am and if its reasonable I'm taking the CX bike.  I'll post.

I'm in for 9am provided there aren't trees crashing down and whatnot.  Wait are there any tress left or is it Prospect Field?

9AM CX party in PP, if the roads there aren't a complete mess I will try to make it. 

Me too

Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Where are we meeting ? 

CP snow race at 8am and PP snow race at 9am.......anyone want to be crazy enough to try both ?

ahh, I would rather see the KCC gang in PP - so see you at 9!

I'm headed out to PP on my mountain bike in about 5 minutes,  Call me at 917-579-6580 if you want to meet.

Me, Neil, Eric, Josh and Lt. Dan showed up for a snowy yet strangely slipless ride.  PP is plowed so you can ride it with slicks - just bring a fender because it's WET.