Hello, I'm your new ambassador!

Hello, my name is John Gruber and I'm going to be one of Spoke-n-Sport's Cycling Ambassadors for 2017.  My goal is to create opportunities for you and your family to connect with Spoke-N-Sport and join others in the community who enjoy biking.  Chad and I began talking about this position last year and now my official start date is right around the corner.  I am getting more and more excited! As you can see in the picture below, my love of riding a bicycle started many years ago.  I have always enjoyed nature and combining this with bike riding, I naturally gravitated toward mountain biking.  I worked at Spoke-N-Sport right out of college for approximately three years and this solidified my love of cycling.  In the years after working at Spoke-n-Sport I started a family and this meant adding more bikes to the stable for my wife and kids.  We moved back to Sioux Falls four years ago and now you can spot us enjoying the city on two wheels throughout the year whether on the pavement or in the dirt.

I have already begun planning events for mountain biking and family biking here in Sioux Falls and the surrounding states.  We will be exploring the bike trail, local restaurants, coffee shops and single track both near and far.

You can follow me on Instagram @johnmgruber and I will also be posting regularly here on Spoke Ends with gear reviews, ride previews/recaps and other stuff related to cycling.  Look for #RideSNS for all ambassador related posts.

Winter Gear: Footwear

Giro Empire, 45Nrth Japanther, 45Nrth Wolvehammer, 45Nrth Wolfgar

If time and money were as abundant as the winds of South Dakota, I'd recommend buying some Giro Empire cycling shoes for the summer and the full line of 45Nrth boots for the winter. Japanther (25 - 45 degrees, Wolvhammer (0 - 25 degrees) and Wolfgar (-25 - 0 degrees).  The You'd cover temperature ranges for winter and look awesome in the summer. Unfortuantely.....there is more wind than time and money and 45Nrth kicks are expensive (but worth it).  If your feet are cold, read on.  The solutions may not be that hard to find.

I use.  Keen winter boots.  I use them because I don't like being clipped in and they keep my feet warm.  I can ride for over an hour at 0 degrees and the piggies can still get to market when I get home.  Before you rush out and buy stock in Keen....be sure to read the rest of the info below for some things to consider when choosing a boot to wear in the winter.

My winter cycling shoes

Pedals

If you are going to ride in the winter (you definitely should), you need to make some decisions.  Are you going to ride with clipless pedals or with platforms?  Generally speaking, clipless pedals have a spring loaded retention system on the pedal that engages a metal cleat on the bottom of the shoe.  This engagement helps you keep your feet on your pedals as well as a host of other benefits.  Platform pedals are just that. A platform with teeth or pins that are meant to prevent your shoes from slipping off the pedals. 

Clipless vs. Platform

Clipless allow for more efficient pedaling, but can also transfer cold from the bike to your feet causing your extremities to get colder quicker.  My dad's a science teacher and I still can't remember if that means metal is a good or bad conductor of temperature.  Regardless, if the metal attached to your foot is cold...your feet will get cold. When riding in winter snow you move at slower speeds using your front wheel as a wedge to wiggle through mashed potato-esque snow.  Platform pedals give you the freedom to easily put a foot down for stability which happens often.  It will also let you self adjust for some fit issues.  Just something to think about.  Toe clips used to be very popular in the 80's and 90's.  I can't recommend them.  Consider a clipless pedal before going with a toe clip.  You will have a hard time finding a good boot that that will fit in a toe clip so I don't feel this is the correct forum to discuss it.

Make your choice wisely.

Circulation

Having been on a few New Year's Day Bike Rides over the years, I've gotten used to seeing what not to put on your feet.  I've seen everything from sandals to moon boots.

Summer cycling shoes are ventilated to keep you cool in the summer.  Using them in the winter will do the same.  The vents will blow air over your feet cooling them as fast as possible. At the very least if this is your only option.....put bread bags between your shoe and your sock or use duct tape on the inside or outside to block the vents.  As well as holes in the sole of the shoe.  

Adding more socks does the same thing in the winter as it does in the summer.  It tightens the fit of your shoes and further reduces the circulation of blood to your feet.  That warm blood needs to circulate to keep you warm all over.  When your body gets cold it already constricts your vessels to keep your core warmer than your extremities.  Tight shoes will only make it worse.  The chills will come quicker and it's downhill from there.

Here's the curve ball.  Sandals!  Bike fit, trail debris, singletrack....those are the reasons I'll never wear sandals, but there are many that do.  The beauty of a sandal is you can add a few extra pairs of socks...loosen those straps and head to the library with warm feet.  Just make sure the outer pair of socks is waterproof.  I'd check out Seal Skinz...they work great for more than just sandals.

Wider sole of the shoe pushes my feet out increasing stress on knee and hip joints and possibly the inside edge of the foot.

Bike Fit

Bike fit is often forgotten when considering winter riding gear.  As I stated above, I use Keen snow boots.  You can see from the picture that the soles of the shoes are very wide (and thick...more on that later).  This pushes my feet out from the center of my bike.  This causes an extra strain in my pedal stroke.  The stress on my body has increased because my pistons (legs) are no longer moving up and down...they are moving from the center of the bike....out.  Additionally, fat and plus bikes have a larger Q-factor (space between the pedals.  Does this mean you shouldn't wear boots or ride fat or plus bikes?  Nope.  If you are going to race professionally you may want to find some long term solutions to decrease your Q-factor.  This will increase your pedaling efficiency, power and comfort. You do have the option of pedaling through the pain and just getting used to it.

Left crank is much wider than right crank.  Increases the Q-factor.  

My Keen soles are thick.  They are a lot thicker than my summer cycling (with clipless pedals) shoes.  That insulating thickness keeps my feet warm.  I need to adjust my saddle up about an inch in the winter to accommodate a taller shoe.  The 45Nrth Wolfgar is even thicker yet.  They have a thick insulating layer to prevent the coldness of winter and metal (clipless pedal cleats) from chilling your piggies.  I'd guess you'd need to raise your seat 1" - 1 1/2".

Length of your boots may also create some issues if you are using clipless pedals.  Added insulation to the front of the shoe may interfere with your front wheel in sharp turns.  A little overlap is common....a lot of overlap puts you on the grounds.  Less of an issue if you have platform pedals.

Resolution

Pick the pedal that will work well for you.  Keep in mind, riding on winter ice and snow you may want to start off with platform pedals that let you get your feet to the ground quicker than your head or hips.  Find a boot that is warm and lets you wiggle your toes.  Remember your knees and hips may get a bit sore because of Q-factor.  Check your seat height if the soles of your boots are thick.  Then ride as much as you can!