BUYER’S GUIDE
With or without mudguards on your bike, your feet will get hammered by just about everything that your front wheel rides over. It’s not too bad when it’s a bit of dust in the summer but rain and road crud aren’t so much fun. You could get extra sets of shoes – ones suitable for each of the various seasons – but most serious riders prefer to use regular shoes and protect them with some form of shoe cover.
Overshoes, as the name suggests, it over your shoes. They are usually constructed with some form of cutout to allow the cleats to poke through and attach to your pedals, and often the same at the heel so that you don’t tread on them, while others have reinforced Kevlar heels and toes to reduce wear. Various thicknesses and styles are available, from simple toe covers to full booties, made of different materials that promise varying degrees of protection from the elements. We’ve pulled together a selection to show you just what’s out there and what features they offer.