Shoe trouble

Hi there. I ride a road bike but with spd cleats (specialized shoes - can't remember the model but ones you can walk around in). I've had them for about 2.5 years now. I started to notice last summer and its starting again this spring that when it get's hot I get a really hot foot and feel like I can feel the cleat pressing right againt my foot. Sometimes it get's so bad I have to stop, take off the shoe and rest (which is quite incovenient). Has anyone had this trouble before? Is it time for new shoes?

I'm thinking of moving over to road shoes as I'm basically a road cyclist. I started with the spds as they were my first set of bike shoes and seemed easier to use. Are road shoes/cleat just as easy? I like to be able to click in and out of them easily, will I be able to do this with road cleats?

Thanks in advance for any comments.

cheers J

This sounds like a "hot foot" (nerve compression between two of your metatarsal bones). If so, then you need a wider shoe with a stiff sole, and possibly with a shaped inner sole to cause splaying of your metatarsals. You don't need to change your pedal system.

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Thanks artemidorus. Now that I know what it is, I've googled it and found a whole lot of other tips. Will try some of them.

cheers J.

This is a pretty common complaint in the world of bike fits.
As has already been explained in this thread, the discomfort is usuallya result of nerve compression in your foot. One basic remedy for this is to use a different footbed in yourshoes. If you find a specialized dealer they should be able to look at your feet and decide which of their "body geometry" footbeds will suit your foot. All of these have a metatarsal bump molded in to them. This spreads your metatarsals appart slightly which prevents the nerves from getting compressed.

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