I have two different pairs of waterproof socks and they sort of work ok'ish, but they always feel like such a compromised half solution compared to an actual good waterproof winter shoe. I also wouldn't say they provide much more in terms of warmth compared to a good wool sock except in very specific wet conditions and not for very long exposure, and then you are still left with a completely drenched shoe and insole that needs to be dealt with as well as a drenched and muddy waterproof sock. They were at least cheap enough to try but they were not a good long term 3-6 day a week solution, and I would still freeze in the cold cold.
I rode for years in the seemingly ubiquitous Lake MXZ 303's and those shoes served me quite well until I stopped using clipless pedals. They were warm (to a point) and very waterproof and very well made. With SO MANY people riding mountain bikes with flat pedals (I think wayyy more now than ever before) and the popularity of winter riding and fatbiking in many regions of the world, I would really expect there should be some array of comparable options that are genuinely designed specifically with flat pedals in mind.
The persistent lack of flat pedal options is probably due to a few things, but my purely speculative and narrow ascertainment is that cyclocross is the biggest reason, coupled with historic MTB buying habits (99% of advanced riders all ride clipless pedals, and only advanced and committed riders will still be out in this cold, dark, miserable shitty weather) and cycle commuters. CX is the biggest racing scene in shittier cold weather and certainly must drive most of the demand for this type of cold and wet cycling footwear, and probaly overlaps with a majority of the customers in the second and third places as well. Looking at the "winter specific" clipless pedal demand from CX racing, manufacturers must see it as a much safer investment, and the lack of anything else in the market aimed at flat pedals reinforces the assumption of zero demand.
I also think that part of the zero demand is a product of zero legitimate supply (Maybe not after learning about Blivet!). Buyers can't buy what doesn't exist (or that they do not know exists), and I do not count winter hiking boots, or clipless winter riding shoes with a bolted on rubber cleat insert as a legitimate good option especially in those prices. If a winter boot has a sole stiffness, thickness, sensitivity and tread pattern that you would never think about riding with in the summer, why would you want to ride with it in the winter?
Dec. 18, 2023, 8:07 a.m. - Metacomet
I have two different pairs of waterproof socks and they sort of work ok'ish, but they always feel like such a compromised half solution compared to an actual good waterproof winter shoe. I also wouldn't say they provide much more in terms of warmth compared to a good wool sock except in very specific wet conditions and not for very long exposure, and then you are still left with a completely drenched shoe and insole that needs to be dealt with as well as a drenched and muddy waterproof sock. They were at least cheap enough to try but they were not a good long term 3-6 day a week solution, and I would still freeze in the cold cold. I rode for years in the seemingly ubiquitous Lake MXZ 303's and those shoes served me quite well until I stopped using clipless pedals. They were warm (to a point) and very waterproof and very well made. With SO MANY people riding mountain bikes with flat pedals (I think wayyy more now than ever before) and the popularity of winter riding and fatbiking in many regions of the world, I would really expect there should be some array of comparable options that are genuinely designed specifically with flat pedals in mind. The persistent lack of flat pedal options is probably due to a few things, but my purely speculative and narrow ascertainment is that cyclocross is the biggest reason, coupled with historic MTB buying habits (99% of advanced riders all ride clipless pedals, and only advanced and committed riders will still be out in this cold, dark, miserable shitty weather) and cycle commuters. CX is the biggest racing scene in shittier cold weather and certainly must drive most of the demand for this type of cold and wet cycling footwear, and probaly overlaps with a majority of the customers in the second and third places as well. Looking at the "winter specific" clipless pedal demand from CX racing, manufacturers must see it as a much safer investment, and the lack of anything else in the market aimed at flat pedals reinforces the assumption of zero demand. I also think that part of the zero demand is a product of zero legitimate supply (Maybe not after learning about Blivet!). Buyers can't buy what doesn't exist (or that they do not know exists), and I do not count winter hiking boots, or clipless winter riding shoes with a bolted on rubber cleat insert as a legitimate good option especially in those prices. If a winter boot has a sole stiffness, thickness, sensitivity and tread pattern that you would never think about riding with in the summer, why would you want to ride with it in the winter?