BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I've been lusting after a couple of Lake models, specifically this (ouch! pricey!) and this (OUCH. PRICEY.).

I have the pearl izumi X-alps, which are shown on the bottom of your amazon page link. They're basically a mesh upper with a thick tongue. I wear them rain or shine. I find that the only time my shoes become really wet is in a heavy downpour. And they dry easily overnight next to a radiator when completely soaked.

Also, they're very cold in the winter if you're riding for more than an hour.

Your shimano's look like a similar construction. Based on that. The shoe may be okay for 40 degrees and rising, but wear the booties for 39 and below.

I got the Lake boots on sale this summer. Can't wait for it to be cold enough to wear them. Can't say that I would wear them until it gets below 30 degrees though. Major insulation. For the icky wet weather in between 30 and 60 degrees I wear Danner combat boots (light tactical boots) with Power Grips http://powergrips.mrpbike.com/ pedals. The boots are high on my calf and keep me dry, and I can clean them up and sport them around the office.

The other approach is to wear booties, but some are lower than others and the bottoms get ripped up from off and on use combined with the dismount and walking at destination abuse. My cleated shoes are also more dangerous walking in wet weather or indoros when wet, so I tend to wear the combat boots more often. And I think they are really cool.

+1 on the combat boots. Footwear with built-in cuff protection.

I've had great experience with the neoprene booties that slip over my regular mtb clipless shoes. pearl izumi makes the ones I wear, I got them from REI. Just check REI website- price reduced from 50 to 35: http://www.rei.com/product/765122

The booties don't fit over my mtn bike shoes.

Thanks for the suggestions. Makes me wonder where the east coast representation is in bike shoe design.

As somebody who rides a lot in the winter, I have tried a lot of options. My buddy that I ride with got the lake winters shoes and said that is the final solution.

This winter in 7 degrees for 4 hours 45 minutes:

http://thesteevo.blogspot.com/2009/01/95-pounds-of-clothing.html

- 1 pair cannondale wicking socks

- 1 pair Defeet woolie boolie socks

- 1 pair diadora road shoes

- 1 pair bellweather booties

- 1 pair of potenza booties

That's a lot of clothing. Last year I used platform pedals and my Merrell winter boots and my feet were plenty warm, I just don't like riding with platforms.

I ride a little bit in the winter, but never as cold as 7F. I am happy to ski at that temperature, but it just gets hard to operate the bike controls with bulky mittens on. I can't remember when it even got that cold here in Pittsburgh. The coldest I have ever biked at was 14F and I was sweating. You don't need waterproof shoes at those temperatures.

I wear a pair of skate-style SPD shoes that are one size too large, with heavy wool socks, and neoprene booties over everything.

The booties don't fit over my mtn bike shoes.

Maybe you just need to find some big booties?

Yes, big booties are what would make my life complete. Can't believe no one put that one together yet!

Yeah I have a size 12 american foot, which I understand to be relatively large. I use the booties and they are the bomb. They were a challenge to put on at first, but I figured out a strategy and now its quick and easy. As far as operating controls in the coldness. I like to use the bull horn handlebars in the winter on a fixed gear bike with wind/waterproof over-mittens (mine might be a kayaking product, but they are extremely warm) over cycling gloves.