Daily Commuting Tip - Keeping your Feet Dry

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A colleague of mine cycled into work yesterday. It was raining. Hard. He sat, all day in the office, with a bad case of Cyclist's Trench Foot. I bet he wished he'd followed this advice...

Commuting by bike inevitably means engaging with the elements and the hardest of our bodily extremities to keep dry are our feet. They're right down there in the firing-line, mixing it with the road spray and are often forgotten, whilst the rest of our bodies are cosseted in waterproofs, hats, gloves and overtrousers. But don't forget your feet. Warm, dry, happy feet make a huge difference to your cycling comfort and your general well-being. Here are a few handy hints:

Fit a full front mudguard WITH A MUDFLAP

The Mudflap bit is really important. The vast majority of ‘full coverage' guards stop way too short of keeping your feet dry. The best option is to make your own. Cut a triangular shape from a suitable piece of material (e.g. rubber, plastic, leather) and attach it with bolts or rivets to the bottom of your mudguard. Make it long enough so that it almost reaches the ground. This, in combination with your mudguard will keep your feet completely clear of road spray. Your bike's chainrings and bottom bracket will also thank you - ‘cos they'll stay dry too.

Footwear Option #1 - Neoprene/Goretex Overshoes

A good option if you use narrow cycling specific shoes (though there are some models available for use over normal footwear). If you can live with the penguin looks they'll keep your plates of meat warm and dry

Footwear Option #2 - Waterproof Shoes/Socks

Look for a travel/outdoor type shoe with a Goretex layer. A mid length boot is a good option as it will stop most of the water going down the top of the shoe. You can also get waterproof socks (Google ‘Sealskinz') which are pretty effective. You'll still get wet shoes, though the feet inside will be dry.

Footwear Option #3 - Always keep dry shoes and socks at work

By far the best option. Even the finest waterproof shoes won't keep your feet completely dry in a full-on deluge. There's nothing better than changing into warm, dry footwear after your feet get a proper dousing.

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