Shoes and feet

In aus.bicycle on Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:02:36 -0700

Brendo said:

I've (finally) started doing 3 or 4 rides a week after work. They're
only short at the moment (15 to 20km) and they last around 30 - 45
minutes. I've got entry level size 48 Shimano shoes (SH-RO74S - they
have only two velcro staps) with shimano cleats. I've found, though,
that my toes are getting a little numb, and my feet are cramping a
little.

Sound like the shoes are too narrow.

If you have wide feet, getting cycling shoes can be hard. Go for the
widest you can find.

If you can't find wide shoes, try Shimano cycling sandals. OK, all
the cool guys will laugh at you or tell you with utterly straight
faces that you will rip your toes off in a crash[1] but on the other
hand comfortable feet are a nice thing...

Zebee

[1] I ask them where their kneepads are then.

Brendo said:

I've (finally) started doing 3 or 4 rides a week after work. They're
only short at the moment (15 to 20km) and they last around 30 - 45
minutes. I've got entry level size 48 Shimano shoes (SH-RO74S - they
have only two velcro staps) with shimano cleats. I've found, though,
that my toes are getting a little numb, and my feet are cramping a
little.

Could this be due to the shoe, or is it more likely to be due to my
feet being used to do things they're not used to doing?

Cheers
Brendo

Two things come to mind. The shoes may be too narrow for
your feet. I take 45's and struggle to find shoes wide
enough. It usually takes a few months for new shoes to
mold to my feet. Second, try loosening the strap nearest
your toes as much as possible. I get aching feet if the
straps closest to my toes are too tight.

DeF

--
e-mail: d.farrow@your finger.murdoch.edu.au
To reply, you'll have to remove your finger.

Quoted message said:

Sound like the shoes are too narrow.

If you have wide feet, getting cycling shoes can be hard. Go for the
widest you can find.

I have fairly narrow feet, so I don't think the width is an issue.

Quoted message said:

If you can't find wide shoes, try Shimano cycling sandals. OK, all
the cool guys will laugh at you or tell you with utterly straight
faces that you will rip your toes off in a crash[1] but on the other
hand comfortable feet are a nice thing...

Zebee

Even if width was an issue, I think I'd rather ride in pain. 🙂

Cheers
Brendo

Brendo said:

I've (finally) started doing 3 or 4 rides a week after work. They're
only short at the moment (15 to 20km) and they last around 30 - 45
minutes. I've got entry level size 48 Shimano shoes (SH-RO74S - they
have only two velcro staps) with shimano cleats. I've found, though,
that my toes are getting a little numb, and my feet are cramping a
little.

Could this be due to the shoe, or is it more likely to be due to my
feet being used to do things they're not used to doing?

Cheers
Brendo

I had a similar problem and had success with Specialized shoes. They
seem to have a bigger toe box than most. I'm still slow though.

Paul

Brendo said:

I've (finally) started doing 3 or 4 rides a week after work. They're
only short at the moment (15 to 20km) and they last around 30 - 45
minutes. I've got entry level size 48 Shimano shoes (SH-RO74S - they
have only two velcro staps) with shimano cleats. I've found, though,
that my toes are getting a little numb, and my feet are cramping a
little.

Could this be due to the shoe, or is it more likely to be due to my
feet being used to do things they're not used to doing?

It could be the shoe is too tight, you generally don't need the shoe
done up tightly when riding, and it could also be cleat position, and
it could be ill-fitting shoes. It's hard to say without knowing a lot
more.

paulh said:

Brendo said:

I've (finally) started doing 3 or 4 rides a week after work. They're
only short at the moment (15 to 20km) and they last around 30 - 45
minutes. I've got entry level size 48 Shimano shoes (SH-RO74S - they
have only two velcro staps) with shimano cleats. I've found, though,
that my toes are getting a little numb, and my feet are cramping a
little.

Quoted message said:

Could this be due to the shoe, or is it more likely to be due to my
feet being used to do things they're not used to doing?

Quoted message said:

Cheers
Brendo

I had a similar problem and had success with Specialized shoes. They
seem to have a bigger toe box than most. I'm still slow though.

Paul

I'll try loosening the toe-end strap and see if it makes a difference.
I would have thought a tight fit would be better, but maybe it is an
ill fitting shoe. I wouldn't be surprised, given the newbie enthusiasm
when I bought the stuff 18 months ago!!.

Cheers
Brendo

In aus.bicycle on Mon, 10 Sep 2007 23:34:35 -0700

Brendo said:

I'll try loosening the toe-end strap and see if it makes a difference.
I would have thought a tight fit would be better, but maybe it is an
ill fitting shoe. I wouldn't be surprised, given the newbie enthusiasm
when I bought the stuff 18 months ago!!.

Also check where the cleats are in relation to your foot.

If loosening the toe strap doesn't work, try moving the cleat forward
or back on the shoe.

Zebee

Quoted message said:

Also check where the cleats are in relation to your foot.

Quoted message said:

Zebee

They're on the bottom.Where do you bent guys have them?

Brendo

In aus.bicycle on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 01:17:11 -0700

Brendo said:

Quoted message said:

Also check where the cleats are in relation to your foot.

Quoted message said:

Zebee

They're on the bottom.Where do you bent guys have them?

What, you pedal with your feet?

"bent riders have the cleats as far back along the foot as possible,
no idea why doing otherwise leads to hotfoot but it does...

Zebee

Zebee Johnstone said:

In aus.bicycle on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 01:17:11 -0700

Brendo said:

Quoted message said:

Also check where the cleats are in relation to your foot.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Zebee

Quoted message said:

They're on the bottom.Where do you bent guys have them?

What, you pedal with your feet?

"bent riders have the cleats as far back along the foot as possible,
no idea why doing otherwise leads to hotfoot but it does...

Zebee

How far back? Heel mounted or more arch mounted?

Brendo

In aus.bicycle on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:05:48 -0700

Brendo said:

Zebee Johnstone said:

"bent riders have the cleats as far back along the foot as possible,
no idea why doing otherwise leads to hotfoot but it does...

How far back? Heel mounted or more arch mounted?

As far as the shoes[1] will let them go. So that's just on the edge
of the ball of the foot in my case. If I get hot foot I push the feet
further up the sandals (they are a fraction large for me) and I feel
better. Some day I might get energetic and cut the cleat slot a bit.

Zebee

[1] or in my case sandals. Which are much more comfortable and
practical than the widest shoes I could find. Seeing as I'm a 'bent
rider I don't have to worry about the cool kids[2] thinking I look funny,
I know they do!

[2] Although how cool you can be with your [censored] in the air and
wearing a designer nappy is hard to judge....

"Bleve" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Brendo said:

I've (finally) started doing 3 or 4 rides a week after work. They're
only short at the moment (15 to 20km) and they last around 30 - 45
minutes. I've got entry level size 48 Shimano shoes (SH-RO74S - they
have only two velcro staps) with shimano cleats. I've found, though,
that my toes are getting a little numb, and my feet are cramping a
little.

Could this be due to the shoe, or is it more likely to be due to my
feet being used to do things they're not used to doing?

It could be the shoe is too tight, you generally don't need the shoe
done up tightly when riding, and it could also be cleat position, and
it could be ill-fitting shoes. It's hard to say without knowing a lot
more.

Sidi sell shoes with a range of widths for wide feet as well. Mega blacks
from memory. I got a pair from probikekit a while back for a mate and they
were a lot cheaper there.

Don't know how much money you want to spend but I saw an article in a
recent cycle magazine spouting off about shoes that can be custom fit
to your feet.

Essentially, the shoes are baked in an oven to soften them up, then
you put them on and they mould themselves to your feet as they cool
and harden.

The mag quoted a price of $400 or so...out of my price range but then
what price comfort...

Bugbear said:

Don't know how much money you want to spend but I saw an article in a
recent cycle magazine spouting off about shoes that can be custom fit
to your feet.

Essentially, the shoes are baked in an oven to soften them up, then
you put them on and they mould themselves to your feet as they cool
and harden.

The mag quoted a price of $400 or so...out of my price range but then
what price comfort...

They're the top end shimano road shoes. Probably not what he's
looking for.