Cycle Shoes / Numb Feet

Hi

Advice please. I have been doing tris for 3-4 years with no previous cycling history. I have had
about 3 pairs of cycling shoes, and yet to find a pair that I can honestly say fit comfortably.
Current shoes are Carnac.

If I cycle for > 10-15km, I get numb toes, and suffer as a result when I start the run. I am also
get cramp occaisionally which may also be attributed to the shoes.

My questions are:

1. Is this expected ?
2. Have others experienced this ?
3. Any recommendations on shoes to try that may have a little more roon at the front of the shoe
4. I use Look cleats - would SPD be better - is this a factor ?

I am looking to buy again, so welcome feedback.

Thanks.
--------------
David, England

 

Not all Carnac shoes have roomy toe boxes. Be sure the model you're wearing is one of the ones
that's room at the front.

You don't talk about your bicycle training - if you aren't putting in enough time on the bike you
may not have adapted yourself to cycling in which case no shoe will solve your problem.

Have you experimented with fit issues on the bike? It's possible that moving your cleat further
forward, which will move your foot further back, will solve the problem. You should also investigate
your saddle to spindle position. In addition, numbness can be caused by problems with the spine, not
just with the area that feels numb, so keep that in mind as well (although my guess is that this is
not your problem based on what you've said so far).

If the shoe has a firm sole, as most high quality road shoes do, the type of cleat shouldn't matter
unless you have more or less float than you need.

Almost last but not least, you might want to see a podiatrist or at least try something slightly
more cushioned on the bottom of your shoe. I replaced the insoles of my cycling shoes with those
from a pair of running shoes and have been much happier since - I have a small bony protrusion on
the bottom of one foot, not enough to ever cause me discomfort *except* with hard-soled road cycling
shoes, and a slightly thicker/cushier insole was just what I needed.

Finally consider your strength and flexibility - if you're tight, e.g., your plantar fascias need
stretching, or you're weak in the foot area, you could be clenching your toes or the sole of your
foot which could lead to numbness.

-S-

dambox wrote:
>
> Hi
>
> Advice please. I have been doing tris for 3-4 years with no previous cycling history. I have had
> about 3 pairs of cycling shoes, and yet to find a pair that I can honestly say fit comfortably.
> Current shoes are Carnac.
>
> If I cycle for > 10-15km, I get numb toes, and suffer as a result when I start the run. I am also
> get cramp occaisionally which may also be attributed to the shoes.
>
> My questions are:
>
> 1. Is this expected ?
> 2. Have others experienced this ?
> 3. Any recommendations on shoes to try that may have a little more roon at the front of the shoe
> 5. I use Look cleats - would SPD be better - is this a factor ?
>
> I am looking to buy again, so welcome feedback.
>
> Thanks.
> --------------
> David, England

 

Thanks very much - plenty to try here.

On Wed, 23 Apr 2003 16:46:43 -0400, Steve Freides <[email protected]> wrote:

>Not all Carnac shoes have roomy toe boxes. Be sure the model you're wearing is one of the ones
>that's room at the front.
>
>You don't talk about your bicycle training - if you aren't putting in enough time on the bike you
>may not have adapted yourself to cycling in which case no shoe will solve your problem.
>
>Have you experimented with fit issues on the bike? It's possible that moving your cleat further
>forward, which will move your foot further back, will solve the problem. You should also
>investigate your saddle to spindle position. In addition, numbness can be caused by problems with
>the spine, not just with the area that feels numb, so keep that in mind as well (although my guess
>is that this is not your problem based on what you've said so far).
>
>If the shoe has a firm sole, as most high quality road shoes do, the type of cleat shouldn't matter
>unless you have more or less float than you need.
>
>Almost last but not least, you might want to see a podiatrist or at least try something slightly
>more cushioned on the bottom of your shoe. I replaced the insoles of my cycling shoes with those
>from a pair of running shoes and have been much happier since - I have a small bony protrusion on
>the bottom of one foot, not enough to ever cause me discomfort *except* with hard-soled road
>cycling shoes, and a slightly thicker/cushier insole was just what I needed.
>
>Finally consider your strength and flexibility - if you're tight, e.g., your plantar fascias need
>stretching, or you're weak in the foot area, you could be clenching your toes or the sole of your
>foot which could lead to numbness.
>
>-S-
>
>dambox wrote:
>>
>> Hi
>>
>> Advice please. I have been doing tris for 3-4 years with no previous cycling history. I have had
>> about 3 pairs of cycling shoes, and yet to find a pair that I can honestly say fit comfortably.
>> Current shoes are Carnac.
>>
>> If I cycle for > 10-15km, I get numb toes, and suffer as a result when I start the run. I am also
>> get cramp occaisionally which may also be attributed to the shoes.
>>
>> My questions are:
>>
>> 1. Is this expected ?
>> 2. Have others experienced this ?
>> 3. Any recommendations on shoes to try that may have a little more roon at the front of the shoe
>> 5. I use Look cleats - would SPD be better - is this a factor ?
>>
>> I am looking to buy again, so welcome feedback.
>>
>> Thanks.
>> --------------
>> David, England

--------------
David, England

 

Glad to help out. Just reread my posting and noticed I said one thing backwards; allow me to
correct, please.

For most people, if cleat has been properly fit, e.g., by a bike shop, the ball of the foot will
line up with the pedal spindle. This is the texbook correct position. It has, however, been my
experience and that of quite a few other cyclists that moving your foot forward on the pedal, which
means moving the cleat back, is often more comfortable. This means you're moving yourself a little
towards that position you might have had as a child, when you pedaled with the center of your foot,
under the arch, over the center of the pedal. You do give up a bit of power this way but it does fix
a lot of foot/knee discomfort problems. I usually ride these days with my cleat as far back as it
will go which, for the proportions of my foot, finds the ball of my foot just a little in front of
the pedal spindle. I use Speeplay X-series pedals and Carnac road shoes that are quite a few years
old at this point, probably 7 years, of the wide toe box variety.

-S-

dambox wrote:
>
> Thanks very much - plenty to try here.
>
> On Wed, 23 Apr 2003 16:46:43 -0400, Steve Freides <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Not all Carnac shoes have roomy toe boxes. Be sure the model you're wearing is one of the ones
> >that's room at the front.
> >
> >You don't talk about your bicycle training - if you aren't putting in enough time on the bike you
> >may not have adapted yourself to cycling in which case no shoe will solve your problem.
> >
> >Have you experimented with fit issues on the bike? It's possible that moving your cleat further
> >forward, which will move your foot further back, will solve the problem. You should also
> >investigate your saddle to spindle position. In addition, numbness can be caused by problems with
> >the spine, not just with the area that feels numb, so keep that in mind as well (although my
> >guess is that this is not your problem based on what you've said so far).
> >
> >If the shoe has a firm sole, as most high quality road shoes do, the type of cleat shouldn't
> >matter unless you have more or less float than you need.
> >
> >Almost last but not least, you might want to see a podiatrist or at least try something slightly
> >more cushioned on the bottom of your shoe. I replaced the insoles of my cycling shoes with those
> >from a pair of running shoes and have been much happier since - I have a small bony protrusion on
> >the bottom of one foot, not enough to ever cause me discomfort *except* with hard-soled road
> >cycling shoes, and a slightly thicker/cushier insole was just what I needed.
> >
> >Finally consider your strength and flexibility - if you're tight, e.g., your plantar fascias need
> >stretching, or you're weak in the foot area, you could be clenching your toes or the sole of your
> >foot which could lead to numbness.
> >
> >-S-
> >
> >dambox wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi
> >>
> >> Advice please. I have been doing tris for 3-4 years with no previous cycling history. I have
> >> had about 3 pairs of cycling shoes, and yet to find a pair that I can honestly say fit
> >> comfortably. Current shoes are Carnac.
> >>
> >> If I cycle for > 10-15km, I get numb toes, and suffer as a result when I start the run. I am
> >> also get cramp occaisionally which may also be attributed to the shoes.
> >>
> >> My questions are:
> >>
> >> 1. Is this expected ?
> >> 2. Have others experienced this ?
> >> 3. Any recommendations on shoes to try that may have a little more roon at the front of the
> >> shoe
> >> 5. I use Look cleats - would SPD be better - is this a factor ?
> >>
> >> I am looking to buy again, so welcome feedback.
> >>
> >> Thanks.
> >> --------------
> >> David, England
>
> --------------
> David, England