Rivendell MUSA Slpats

    The MUSA Splats that Rivendell offers have created a new bottomline for all bike fashions.  When it comes to attractive new fashions, these never made it out of the basement.  It's a piece of waxed cotton with a couple of pieces of velcro attached to wrap it around your foot.

 While intended to keep your feet dry in rainstorms, I was wondering if it would help keep them warm in freezing temperatures.  Most of us in the frozen areas, realize that keeping warm is a battle to trap heat in, and I thought this frumpy lookin' gadget might help do that.  As you can see, these wrap around any type of footwear and could create that extra wind barrier we need to keep our toes warm in the winter.  After I put them on, I thought it would also be possible to use velcro to attach an additional layer of fleece to the underside although I haven't tried that yet.
    On the day I tried them, it was a balmy 25-28 degrees so we weren't at dangerous frostbite level.  I rode about 6-7 miles (out to the mall for some last minute shopping).  I was a little concerned that the splats wouldn't fit, or would be a hassle fitting under the half clips I use on my winter bike.  They were not an inconvenience at all, the toeclip fit right over the top and helped keep the wind off the toes just as I wanted.

If you don't use toeclips I fear the splat could be a miniature sail and funnel freezing wind right onto the toes.  I think full clips with straps will probably work as well if the straps are loose enough and you have the splat pulled tightly over the shoe.  One of the nice features is the simplicity makes them infinitely adjustable.  After a 6-7 mile ride, I really didn't notice my toes at all (for you southerners-no they hadn't frozen off).  When I got to the mall, I pulled off my gloves and the splats, left them together on my bike and within seconds I was off in my normal walking shoes.
    On the ride back, I left the splats off and my feet were noticeably cold.  Not painfully, but you know, colder than the trip out.  It convinced me that these will help in cold weather, how much probably depends on the windchill factor.  I was more comfortable with them than without.   They were certainly more effective, although less convenient, than the nylon toe clip covers

I have used.  But on the other hand they were more convenient, but not as effective as the "booties"

which are so popular among the spandex hamster crowd.
    Would I recommend them?  Well, my feet were warmer with than without, they are incredibly easy to use and I will probably be very happy to have them on my next week-long tour in the summer.
      If you are any kind of "fashionista," you will either be too embarrassed to be seen in them anywhere on the planet, or love them for keeping your Gucci's clean.  Pick your poison I guess.