Shoe covers?

[PixelPaul]

I spotted some people wearing shoe covers at a recent criterium. Looked like just some thin Lycra material, didn't seem heavyweight enough to provide any warmth and it wasn't really cold. Is this for aerodynamics or just some kind of cool "Euro" look? Either way, it looked rather silly.

[Longhair-NL]

Shoes that are breathable, like running shoes, the shoe covers would provide warmth by blocking the cold air from flowing in. Some are made out of water proof material and fluorescent colors for better visibility.

For the most part, the people who are wearing them are using them for function, not fashion.

[ZoSoSwiM]

I recently started wearing Defeet Slipstreams.. They add a bit of warmth without a lot of bulk or weight.. Plus I wore them when I might be riding on dirt.. Nothing worse than getting a stone kicked into your shoe. Shoe covers like these will protect against that.

Some covers are 100% for the aero benefit..

[BostonG]

It was most likely for warmth. Even if it wasn’t a cold day. They either thought it was going to be cold and put them on or they wanted them on just in case. It likely wasn’t for fashion.

And it definitely wasn’t to get more aero…that’s silly.

[ziscwg]

I'd say if they were in a crit, it was for aero unless it was kind of cold. In that case it may have been just to keep the wind out.

I have thin, non thermal toe covers that are wind proof just for that reason. I hate my toes getting cold as the wind zipps through my shoes.

[gamara]

If it was a crit, then the cyclists wearing them were doing so for aerodynamics. At the higher levels of the sport, aerodynamics have become a greater focus for the pro cyclist. Thats why the UCI is getting more vocal on matters of clothing.

The UCI is trying to level the playing field like Nascar. They want to make sure that the technology is available to all the teams & not some. Case in point is the Pearl Izumi tt suit that Garmin used previously with the built in fairing in the front.

Aero clothing like the bikes can save a significant amount of wind drag. Of course this only matters if you can maintain a speed in excess of 40 kph. If not, then the casual cyclist would of course look silly doing so. Sort of like someone that shows up on a group ride with a hybrid with tri-bars & tt helmet. Seriously.

[Ppopp]

I have two pairs of shoe covers. A heavier pair of Adidas that have a fuzzy lining and are great for winter riding. I have another pair that are just lycra, and I like them for spring and fall riding. If I wore the heavier ones my feet would overheat, but the lycra ones provide just enough shelter from the wind to add a little warmth when needed.

The crit riders were probably wearing them for some perceived aerodyamic benefit, but maybe they get cold toes too.

In any event, there's nothing wrong with dressing to look euro-cool on the bike.

[BostonG]

So wait, you guys are saying that shoe covers will give someone an aero advantage that makes any sort of significant difference in speed in a crit? That’s news to me. No wonder I’ve not podiumed yet.

I’ve seen pro’s with shoes covers for their TT’s (but not all the time, some pro’s don’t use them) but don’t think I’ve ever seen them in other types of races.

Anywhoo, this is from a study of prominent sport engineers (Gibertini, Grassi, Macchi&De Bortoli, 2010):

The results showed that the amount of power associated with the aerodynamic resistance of the shoes is a non-negligible part of the total power and that a proper choice of the shoe can produce a power gain. The best choice was shown to be a very simple laced shoe closely fitting the cyclist’s foot. On the contrary the use of the overshoe produces a noticeable disadvantage.

See page 160, Fig 13, model A = fastest = laces w/ no shoe cover.


And from the same authors:

The choice of the shoes is a typical problem of the aerodynamic optimization of a time trial cyclist. Of course this choice depends on many aspects and not only on the aerodynamic point of view, but nevertheless it is interesting to evaluate the amount of drag (and thus the amount of power) due to the shoes. An interesting point that is a valid example to compare the two cited wind tunnel testing approaches is the effect of the overshoes: this accessories are widely used in the time trial competitions with the aim of drag reduction. In the study already mentioned here before (Gibertini, Grassi, Macchi & De Bortoli, 2010) this subject was investigated by means of wind tunnel tests with a shank and foot model. These tests showed that the overshoes produce a drag increasing instead of a reduction. This counter-trend results could not be taken as conclusive because the tests were carried out on a static partial model (reproducing just the shank and the foot) that could not include all the real effects. A recent series of tests was carried out with an elite team of six cyclists. The aim of these tests was mainly the optimization of cyclists position (see Gibertini, Campanardi, Guercilena & Macchi (2010)) but it has been a precious occasion to get some confirmation of the results obtained with the shank and foot model.

Here’s a link to the paper:

http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/16686...pproaches_.pdf

And the above is all for TT’s – not a crit (where there are many places to hide). I guess my point with all this is that (although the study info is not super conclusive, what study really is, it leans towards there being no advantage) if those guys wearing shoe covers were doing it for aerodynamics in a crit, it got them as much advantage as shaving the hair off their legs in order to go faster.

[Longhair-NL]

So wait, you guys are saying that shoe covers will give someone an aero advantage that makes any sort of significant difference in speed in a crit? That’s news to me. No wonder I’ve not podiumed yet.

I’ve seen pro’s with shoes covers for their TT’s (but not all the time, some pro’s don’t use them) but don’t think I’ve ever seen them in other types of races.

Anywhoo, this is from a study of prominent sport engineers (Gibertini, Grassi, Macchi&De Bortoli, 2010):

The results showed that the amount of power associated with the aerodynamic resistance of the shoes is a non-negligible part of the total power and that a proper choice of the shoe can produce a power gain. The best choice was shown to be a very simple laced shoe closely fitting the cyclist’s foot. On the contrary the use of the overshoe produces a noticeable disadvantage.

See page 160, Fig 13, model A = fastest = laces w/ no shoe cover.


And from the same authors:

The choice of the shoes is a typical problem of the aerodynamic optimization of a time trial cyclist. Of course this choice depends on many aspects and not only on the aerodynamic point of view, but nevertheless it is interesting to evaluate the amount of drag (and thus the amount of power) due to the shoes. An interesting point that is a valid example to compare the two cited wind tunnel testing approaches is the effect of the overshoes: this accessories are widely used in the time trial competitions with the aim of drag reduction. In the study already mentioned here before (Gibertini, Grassi, Macchi & De Bortoli, 2010) this subject was investigated by means of wind tunnel tests with a shank and foot model. These tests showed that the overshoes produce a drag increasing instead of a reduction. This counter-trend results could not be taken as conclusive because the tests were carried out on a static partial model (reproducing just the shank and the foot) that could not include all the real effects. A recent series of tests was carried out with an elite team of six cyclists. The aim of these tests was mainly the optimization of cyclists position (see Gibertini, Campanardi, Guercilena & Macchi (2010)) but it has been a precious occasion to get some confirmation of the results obtained with the shank and foot model.

Here’s a link to the paper:

http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/16686...pproaches_.pdf

And the above is all for TT’s – not a crit (where there are many places to hide). I guess my point with all this is that (although the study info is not super conclusive, what study really is, it leans towards there being no advantage) if those guys wearing shoe covers were doing it for aerodynamics in a crit, it got them as much advantage as shaving the hair off their legs in order to go faster.

Placebo effect in place because wallet is lighter from buying into the whole "aerodynamics makes you go faster" even though the engine is human powered, not mechanically powered.

[Clipped_in]

I've worn insulated toe covers for the last several years when temps. were cool. I picked up a pair of Louis Garneau Slick shoe covers because they were on sale, and they made sense. I really like them for cool rides, and they keep water out on wet ones. And, they are compact enough to easily stash in a jersey pocket if conditions warm or dry out.

I don't care what they look like - they are quite functional. Castelli makes some really kewl looking covers for the more fashion consious. I see a woman on some of our group rides that wears them. The LG's I have are a litte more compact however.

[JackDaniels]

Point:
Velominati › The Rules

Rule #23 // Shoe covers are for cold or wet.
If it’s not cold or wet and you are still wearing shoe covers it’s because you’re a *****.




Counterpoint:

[MR_GRUMPY]

I was just about to look up that rule and post it.


I will wear shoe covers in the wet, or if it is below 40 degrees.
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