Keeping the bottom of your legs warm in very-cold-weather biking I come from a country with a warmer climate,but am now living in the Netherlands. It's not that bad really, but in winter, it sometimes gets to -5°c / -6°c - and occasionally with strong head wind when I cycle to work. I'm also very sensitive to the cold, and can catch a cold very easily, so I need to cover up. I'm wearing street clothes, rather than cycling-specific gear.

Now, I'm doing that well enough - for the most part: Gloves, balaclava, winter coat with a head piece, wind-and-rain overpants (is that a word?), gloves and well-insulated shoes. So, I mostly stay nice and warm. 

There's one problematic spot though: Where my shoe ends and my pant-like clothing begins:


None of it is long enough to "grip" the shoe, nor do I think I want it to be.
It's a shoe, not a boot (and I dislike boots); so not long enough to tuck the pants inside the boot/shoe.
If I wore two pairs of socks, one on top of the other, I would have a hard time fitting my foot into my shoe.


What do you do, or what would you suggest, to keep that tricky area warmer?
I would suggest shoe covers, which look like a boot and cover the ankle.

Or wear mid-calf or knee length socks and roll the upper part down for double or triple coverage on the ankles.

Or, mini ankle warmers :-). 

Pics of my Pearl Izumi MTB overboots. The sole is exposed so walking is possible. (Not a product recommendation, just what I happen to own.)