Using running shoes for bicycling in 50"F = too coold for feet?

It's 50 degrees, you could bike in sandals and be fine.

I tried open shoes in 60F and my toes were freezing. However, I run in mesh upper running shoes down to 20F! I do not have experience bicycling with mesh shoes however.

Just take some extra socks.

Thanks but thicker or doubling socks will make the shoe uncomfortable. Plus I don't want to buy anymore socks.

Cycling in running shoes is extremelyinefficent due to the lack of rigidity in a running shoe's sole. (Will you at least be using toe clips and straps?). Also, asking other people how cold youare going to feel at a given temperature is useless, as different people will often have wild divergent reactions to the same conditions. My freezer might be your inferno, or vice versa.

That being said, and if you must cycle in inappropriate footwear...50F is not all that cold, but if you're worried about being uncomfortable and are pressed for space, get a pair of thermal socks, or cycling-specific shoe covers; they come in a variety of materials and thicknesses.

put some plastic baggies over your socks before putting your shoes on. it will create a wind block.

Wrap your feet in a plastic bag or plastic wrap. It will help a ton. When it warms up, remove it.

Plastic bags. Yes. Thanks. Will my feet warm up though if it's say 50F?

Cycling is very different from running. If done on flat roads/trails, you can ride slowly enough that you’ll never break a sweat at 50F. You’ll want at least long sleeves and pants for that, possibly gloves.

If the plan is to ride with some intensity then things changes. If there will be a lot of up and down you can expect to find it challenging to maintain a comfortable body temperature. Uphills will be hot and downhills will be cold. Flatter rides won’t present as much of a temperature challenge but expect to need one additional layer of clothing compared to what you’d run in.

wrthw wrote:

I will be going bicycling in a climate where the morning temperature could be as low as 50F and in the day as high as 63F. If I wear well breathable mesh running shoes might this be too cold for my feet? Should I only take closed shoes? I can only take one pair due to space limitations.

Why would you go cycling with running shoes? As someone else said, it is inefficient, and can end up causing foot pain and injury to cycle with flexible shoes. If you need a shoes that you can walk around a bit in too then get some mountain bike shoes, but do not go cycling in running shoes.

The running shoes I have are not flexible. They are stiff. They breathe well and can be used for town walking, of which I will also be doing. I don't want to buy new shoes for only this occasion. So I thought I would use running shoes. Like I indicated I am concerned that in the morning when it's 50F that my feet may be cold or uncomfortable.

Fairy Tales wrote:Why would you go cycling with running shoes? As someone else said, it is inefficient, and can end up causing foot pain and injury to cycle with flexible shoes. If you need a shoes that you can walk around a bit in too then get some mountain bike shoes, but do not go cycling in running shoes.

Are you going to tell him he needs a pro-fit next? If you are worried about inefficiency on a bike, cyclist position accounts for the vast majority of it after all.

Seriously, he hasn’t even mentioned how far or intense he plans to ride, what sort of bike, pedal, gearing, terrain, etc. and you guys are worried about shoe flex?

Even worse I’m spending my Friday night responding...

It can be too cold on long downhills, depends. Especially if wet. I remember cold feet often when I was a road cyclist.

Running shoes are fine on flat pedals if you pick a pair with a decent full rubber outsole than doesn't get torn up on the pins. Lael Wilcox, the woman who beats men in the super long distance races uses flat pedals with running or light hiking shoes. Personally, I'm definitely not using toe clips and straps any more - used them in the '80s and '90s - flat pedals are too good (recommend One Up composite pedals). Likely not using clipless pedals again either assuming I'm not going to race. I only mountain bike now, roads are probably a lot more dangerous these days with smartphone distractions than when I was a road cyclist.

Thinking about it again, 50F should be comfortable enough if not raining using flat pedals. I bet a lot of my cold feet when I was young was from tight cycling shoes and the toe straps cutting circulation. On my mountain bike, I 40F is comfortable in running shoes, 32F to 50 is uncomfortably cold but doable for an hour, would move to a warmer shoe or boot.

oops, meant 32F to 40 F in that sentence.

Agree with the plastic bag solution. I remember using bread bags.

Fairy Tales wrote:

[quote]wrthw wrote:

Why would you go cycling with running shoes? As someone else said, it is inefficient, and can end up causing foot pain and injury to cycle with flexible shoes. If you need a shoes that you can walk around a bit in too then get some mountain bike shoes, but do not go cycling in running shoes.

What kind of injuries and what type/ brand mountain bike shoes do you recommend?

I ride tourist speed (15/22 mph) on a road bike with toe straps and running shoes also.

Thanks

Hey OP , where are you going ?

I’m always interested since I can’t travel far anymore.

Have fun!