Categories: IrreverenceKitMusings from the V-Bunker

The Punter

Socks over the booties? Please say it ain't so.

They say you can measure the quality of a man’s character by his ability to admit when he’s wrong. That in itself seems wrong, since it would obviously be better to be right in the first place, but I’m probably missing the point because I’m Dutch and everyone knows Dutch people are 97% more righter 84% of the time than the rest of the world.

I must confess to a certain hubris when it comes to kitting up for a ride; I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I’ve gotten accustomed to making good decisions about what to wear and how to wear it. But today I strayed from the path: my socks were carefully and deliberately pulled out over the tops of my overshoes. Not only is it the most concrete evidence that my socks are too long, it looked like I had two orange gaskets stuck to my ankles. Not to mention that this resulted in only a tiny amount of my shins being exposed between my knee warmers and socks.

Sometimes we must stray from the Path in order to understand where it lies; today I have wandered far indeed but have found my way back. Do not lose faith and always seek to return to the Path.

VLVV.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

chuckp says:

Dec 2 2015 at 11:58 am

@Mike C

I’m a real pussy when it comes to cold toes though.

This.
Ron says:

Dec 2 2015 at 12:16 pm

@wiscot

Oversocks are great. I have a bunch of shoe covers of every kind from lycra to fleece-lined neoprene. However, if sleeves are short = no oversocks. If shorts are worn = no oversocks. With knee warmers? Yes. With leg warmers? Yes. Kelly rarely wore overshoes. Most of the time it was just another pair of socks pulled over the shoes. That pic of him with the blue overshoes is just . . . weird. Maybe another Brancale helmet-type deal.

Pretty sure it’s Van Der Velde in the B&W pic. He finished 19th. It’s not Vanderaerden (10th). It’s not Lubberding (28th) or Lammertink or Plankaert (35th and 36th).

I just ordered another pair of overshoes specifically for commuting in regular shoes/sneakers. That'll be four. It's becoming a fucking joke how many multiples of ALL cycling things I have. Helmets, bikes, shades, shoes, on and on. I keep telling the VMH, "Okay, I need ______ and then I won't need any more cycling stuff. Period." I truly believe it when I say it. But, the fact is that since I ride 7 days a week, in one form or another, I'm always encountering some situation that could use the more perfecter bit of kit.

Yes, I'm going insane. Now I just need to save up to build a proper bike house in our backyard. We have the space, just have some other house works needs taking precedence. 2016 will be the year I get it though, one way or another. I can dream...
frank says:

Dec 2 2015 at 12:20 pm

@Mike C

@Matt

It sounds like I’m in the minority here, but having my feet covered keeps me far warmer than having my legs covered. Arm warmers, a gilet, and booties have been sufficient in my experience. My knees and shins are probably the last thing to get cold.

I was originally unsure, but I think booties look fine sans knee warmers. Never without arm warmers though.

I’m actually with you on this one Matt. My legs are the last thing to get cold. I’m a real pussy when it comes to cold toes though.

Having spent many years racing cross country skis in Minnesota, I am basically immune to cold feet.

One important note: riding with bare knees is actually quite dangerous, so I highly recommend covering them below 6 or 7 degrees. This is where knee warmers really come in handy as full leggings will likely be too warm.

I have taken to riding in full leggings lately on easy rides even when the weather does not call for it, because I'm trying to get back to some amount of form and am doing low intensity work at the moment. I find it virtually impossible to ride hard with my legs covered.

Belgian booties can be worn any time, but it is best if at least arm warmers are also deployed. Neoprene demands more intense cold and long sleeve jerseys and at least knee warmers.
Ron says:

Dec 2 2015 at 12:20 pm

Chuck - I bought a pair of PI gloves for $40 when I was just a Pedalwan. I couldn't believe I was paying that much for gloves that didn't even have fingers! They're still going strong and I probably purchased them in 2006. Bonkers.
frank says:

Dec 2 2015 at 12:25 pm

@Ron

I was wondering why my one of my bigger cycling drawers wasn't didn't have room for my long sleeve jerseys anymore.

Apparently this is why.
Matt says:

Dec 2 2015 at 12:29 pm

@frank

One important note: riding with bare knees is actually quite dangerous, so I highly recommend covering them below 6 or 7 degrees

Dangerous, physiologically? I've never considered that but I will now. Fortunately I do not have to cope with temperatures below about 7*, and even then it's only for the first hour of a ride.
frank says:

Dec 2 2015 at 12:46 pm

@Matt

@frank

One important note: riding with bare knees is actually quite dangerous, so I highly recommend covering them below 6 or 7 degrees

Dangerous, physiologically? I’ve never considered that but I will now. Fortunately I do not have to cope with temperatures below about 7*, and even then it’s only for the first hour of a ride.

It also depends on the humidity - here in Seattle the lower limit is closer to 10C.
Teocalli says:

Dec 2 2015 at 12:48 pm

@Mike C

Shorts should be shorts, pants should be full length and worn around the waist. Anything in between seems, well, indecisive…

Pants should be worn inside your trousers (or shorts) unless you are Superman.
Ron says:

Dec 2 2015 at 12:48 pm

Well, that makes me feel less bad about my stockpiling. Thanks, Frank!

I was just gifted a new drawer by the VMH. Hot damn, more space! And hopefully I'm not the only one...but I have trouble tossing kit, even when it is definitely shot. When the hell am I going to go for the threadbare bibs that the VMH told me I can absolutely not wear? Since I don't ride rollers anymore, the answer is never. But I'll be damned if I'm tossing 'em.
wiscot says:

Dec 2 2015 at 2:10 pm

@frank

@Ron

I was wondering why my one of my bigger cycling drawers wasn’t didn’t have room for my long sleeve jerseys anymore.

Apparently this is why.

If some of those are new, I'll take them off your hands to make room for the jerseys. On the other hand, I doubt my fat ass could fit into them. Your definition of "fat" and mine are undoubtedly incompatible.