FOOT NUMBNESS



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Tom

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I have purchased many pairs of bike shoes hoping to find a solution for my numbness. Nothing has
worked, my feet get numb after 6 to 10 miles.

But earlier this summer I decided to ride my bike with just my leather sandals. NO NUMBNESS after 15
miles, since then that's all I have been using and still no numbness.

A few days ago it was cool out so i decided to ride with my stiff soled shoes, numbness came back to
plague me after 6 miles.

Question, do any of you know of a soft soled bike shoe.

I live in Minnesota so I will need to have a warmer shoe fairly soon.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Tom R40 and R50

ps I always use a wide platform pedal, if i use one (narrow) with toe straps my feet(foot) goes numb
even sooner.
 
> ps I always use a wide platform pedal, if i use one (narrow) with toe straps my feet(foot) goes
> numb even sooner.
>

My MB clipless are much less stiff than my roadie clipless. FWIW Personally I've gotten relief by
tying my shoes loosely and buying one size bigger than I wear otherwise.
 
tom wrote:
>
> I have purchased many pairs of bike shoes hoping to find a solution for my numbness. Nothing has
> worked, my feet get numb after 6 to 10 miles.
>
> But earlier this summer I decided to ride my bike with just my leather sandals. NO NUMBNESS after
> 15 miles, since then that's all I have been using and still no numbness.
>
> A few days ago it was cool out so i decided to ride with my stiff soled shoes, numbness came back
> to plague me after 6 miles.
>
> Question, do any of you know of a soft soled bike shoe.
>
> I live in Minnesota so I will need to have a warmer shoe fairly soon.
>
> Thanks in advance for any info.
>
> Tom R40 and R50
>
> ps I always use a wide platform pedal, if i use one (narrow) with toe straps my feet(foot) goes
> numb even sooner.

I actually switch from shoes to sandals when it gets cold. I put on a pair of heavy wool socks,
wind/waterproof oversocks, and then the SPD sandals. I have found this combination to be warmer than
shoes with neoprene booties.

Tom Sherman - Near the confluence of the Mississippi and Rock Rivers
 
In article <[email protected]>, hndricks10 @juno.com says...
> I have purchased many pairs of bike shoes hoping to find a solution for my numbness. Nothing has
> worked, my feet get numb after 6 to 10 miles.
>
> But earlier this summer I decided to ride my bike with just my leather sandals. NO NUMBNESS after
> 15 miles, since then that's all I have been using and still no numbness.
>
> A few days ago it was cool out so i decided to ride with my stiff soled shoes, numbness came back
> to plague me after 6 miles.
>
> Question, do any of you know of a soft soled bike shoe.
>
> I live in Minnesota so I will need to have a warmer shoe fairly soon.
>
> Thanks in advance for any info.
>
> Tom R40 and R50
>
> ps I always use a wide platform pedal, if i use one (narrow) with toe straps my feet(foot) goes
> numb even sooner.
>
I ride with a pair of Birkenstock shoes with the top hole not laced and tied loosely, hard cork foot
bed. Works very well for me.
 
"tom" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I have purchased many pairs of bike shoes hoping to find a solution for my numbness. Nothing has
> worked, my feet get numb after 6 to 10 miles.
>
> But earlier this summer I decided to ride my bike with just my leather sandals. NO NUMBNESS after
> 15 miles, since then that's all I have been using and still no numbness.
>
> A few days ago it was cool out so i decided to ride with my stiff soled shoes, numbness came back
> to plague me after 6 miles.
>
> Question, do any of you know of a soft soled bike shoe.
>
> I live in Minnesota so I will need to have a warmer shoe fairly soon.
>
> Thanks in advance for any info.
>
> Tom R40 and R50
>
> ps I always use a wide platform pedal, if i use one (narrow) with toe
straps
> my feet(foot) goes numb even sooner.

I too suffered from numbness after about 6 miles. Then I read either here or one of the foums that
not having the shoe tight would make a difference. I now use the same shoes, but have the laces
quite loose and no longer get and numbness. Give it a try, you've nothing to loose.

Cheers John
 
I'm beginning to believe that this is one of those cases where there are multiple causes that result
in foot numbness. I think a person may have only one or a combination is problems and these can be
totally different from the next person that has foot numbness. I've been fighting this issue for
some time now and trying all the advice I can get from this newsgroup and other sources. I made a
good reduction in numbness by getting a high quality shoe insert that has both good arch support and
metatarsal support. I can't have my shoes too loose as my feet will spread and cause pain - I need
the support of a fairly snug shoe. The metatarsal support was the best advance I've made, but I
still have a ways to go. I'm going to see a foot specialist is Nov. (2 months to see this guy - he
better be good!).

"tom" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I have purchased many pairs of bike shoes hoping to find a solution for my numbness. Nothing has
> worked, my feet get numb after 6 to 10 miles.
>
> But earlier this summer I decided to ride my bike with just my leather sandals. NO NUMBNESS after
> 15 miles, since then that's all I have been using and still no numbness.
>
> A few days ago it was cool out so i decided to ride with my stiff soled shoes, numbness came back
> to plague me after 6 miles.
>
> Question, do any of you know of a soft soled bike shoe.
>
> I live in Minnesota so I will need to have a warmer shoe fairly soon.
>
> Thanks in advance for any info.
>
> Tom R40 and R50
>
> ps I always use a wide platform pedal, if i use one (narrow) with toe
straps
> my feet(foot) goes numb even sooner.
 
"Dave Harney" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> I'm beginning to believe that this is one of those cases where there are multiple causes that
> result in foot numbness.

...I think you are right on the multiple causes to foot numbness.

I've been trying to cure mine for about 3 months now and have made small steps in curing my problem.
My problem is that after an hour, if I don't put my foot down for just 30 seconds, both big toes
just go numb. If I just take a 1 or 2 minute break every hour I'm cured.

Here is my 3-month quest:

1. Stared with my trusty Victoria Mountain bike shoes size 43 and SPD 858 pedals

2. Switch to $139 SS EggBeater Pedals

3. Moved cleat from far back to far forward. Can not move cleat towards outside of shoe.

4. Read where if shoe is too tight this might be problem. Got $75 SPD sandals and mounted EggBeater
Pedals. Sandals were Worse! Foot went numb in 30 minutes and liked to stay numb.

5. Threw SPD Sandals out the garage door on trash day. I hope the trash man picks them up out of
the street.

6. Bought new size 44 Specialized Mountain bike shoes. Mounted SPD clips. I had notice when putting
the EggBeater cleats on my Sandals, they cannot be adjusted left and right on the shoe. Where my
old SPD have minor adjustment left and right. Because it's my Big toe going numb, I thought I
would push the cleat more to the outside of my foot. This was the first minor step that helped
my foot numbness. But it only helped a little. It made my whole foot feel better.

7. Foot broke out in a hive like Rash because I'm allergic to neoprene and the whole inside of the
Specialized shoe is covered with the stuff. Took a sharp knife and cut the neoprene out of a
brand new $150 pair of size 44 Specialized Mountain bike shoes. Cried 2 days later on garage
floor when the Rash on top of feet got worse. I really loved the way these shoes feel while
riding. There sole is STIFF and angled perfect for riding. But I couldn't cut all the neoprene
out of the suckers, so I threw Specialized shoes out the garage door on trash day.

8. Bought $189 Sidi Dominatrix Size 44 shoes. When not riding these

my wife and I are happy.

9. These Sidi's do not like the old SPD 858 pedals. When you engage the cleat into the pedal, the
side plastic spikes on the bottom of the Sidi sole now hit the top/side of the SPD pedal
platform and these sharp plastic spike like things drive upward into the sole of your shoe and
into a healing Rash covered foot. This felt like ****.

10. Since I like the Specialized shoe, I pulled out it's patented "molded and contoured insole
which functions like an orthotic insert to add comfort and support while increasing pedaling
efficiency" and put it in the Sidi shoe. Now I had the Sidi sole spikes driving upward into my
feet, PLUS a Specialized spike they call the "Metatarsal Button" hitting dead center in my
arch. This felt like double ****.

11. So I threw Specialized insole out the garage door on trash day.

12. Ordered insoles, Peterson Power Beds from Colorado Cyclist $25. Oh do these babies make my feet
feel GOOD! Numbness reduce some. Not gone, but delayed.

13. Numbness Testing continues……….

Don
 
Truestorys wrote:

> "Dave Harney" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:<[email protected]>...
>> I'm beginning to believe that this is one of those cases where there are multiple causes that
>> result in foot numbness.
>
> ...I think you are right on the multiple causes to foot numbness.
>
> I've been trying to cure mine for about 3 months now and have made small steps in curing my
> problem. My problem is that after an hour, if I don't put my foot down for just 30 seconds, both
> big toes just go numb. If I just take a 1 or 2 minute break every hour I'm cured.
>
> Here is my 3-month quest:
>
> 1. Stared with my trusty Victoria Mountain bike shoes size 43 and SPD 858 pedals
>
> 2. Switch to $139 SS EggBeater Pedals
>
> 3. Moved cleat from far back to far forward. Can not move cleat towards outside of shoe.
>
> 4. Read where if shoe is too tight this might be problem. Got $75 SPD sandals and mounted
> EggBeater Pedals. Sandals were Worse! Foot went numb in 30 minutes and liked to stay numb.
>
> 5. Threw SPD Sandals out the garage door on trash day. I hope the trash man picks them up out of
> the street.
>
> 6. Bought new size 44 Specialized Mountain bike shoes. Mounted SPD clips. I had notice when
> putting the EggBeater cleats on my Sandals, they cannot be adjusted left and right on the
> shoe. Where my old SPD have minor adjustment left and right. Because it's my Big toe going
> numb, I thought I would push the cleat more to the outside of my foot. This was the first
> minor step that helped my foot numbness. But it only helped a little. It made my whole foot
> feel better.
>
> 7. Foot broke out in a hive like Rash because I'm allergic to neoprene and the whole inside of
> the Specialized shoe is covered with the stuff. Took a sharp knife and cut the neoprene out of
> a brand new $150 pair of size 44 Specialized Mountain bike shoes. Cried 2 days later on garage
> floor when the Rash on top of feet got worse. I really loved the way these shoes feel while
> riding. There sole is STIFF and angled perfect for riding. But I couldn't cut all the neoprene
> out of the suckers, so I threw Specialized shoes out the garage door on trash day.
>
> 8. Bought $189 Sidi Dominatrix Size 44 shoes. When not riding these

> my wife and I are happy.
>
> 9. These Sidi's do not like the old SPD 858 pedals. When you engage the cleat into the pedal, the
> side plastic spikes on the bottom of the Sidi sole now hit the top/side of the SPD pedal
> platform and these sharp plastic spike like things drive upward into the sole of your shoe and
> into a healing Rash covered foot. This felt like ****.
>
> 10. Since I like the Specialized shoe, I pulled out it's patented "molded and contoured insole
> which functions like an orthotic insert to add comfort and support while increasing pedaling
> efficiency" and put it in the Sidi shoe. Now I had the Sidi sole spikes driving upward into
> my feet, PLUS a Specialized spike they call the "Metatarsal Button" hitting dead center in my
> arch. This felt like double ****.
>
> 11. So I threw Specialized insole out the garage door on trash day.
>
> 12. Ordered insoles, Peterson Power Beds from Colorado Cyclist $25. Oh do these babies make my
> feet feel GOOD! Numbness reduce some. Not gone, but delayed.
>
> 13. Numbness Testing continues……….
>
> Don

For me it is my little toe that goes numb. I've found that if I curl and uncurl my toes to get the
blood curculating I can get my feeling back. My experience has been that sometimes the numbness
stays away for the rest of the ride until the next rest stop or it stays away altogether. All I wear
is some old tennie shoes that were designed for walking/jogging ($20 at Shopko, Walmart or Target).
There is nothing special about my pedals. Nothing attaches to them. I also noticed that the numbness
occurred more if I didn't keep my foot 90 degrees to my shine (like I'm standing) while I am
pedalling.

Your mileage may vary.
 
"Truestorys" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Dave Harney" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> > I'm beginning to believe that this is one of those cases where there are multiple causes that
> > result in foot numbness.
>

>
> 5. Threw SPD Sandals out the garage door on trash day. I hope the trash man picks them up out of
> the street.
>
, so I threw Specialized shoes out the
> garage door on trash day.
>
>
> 11. So I threw Specialized insole out the garage door on trash day.

Well Don, you've mad feel GREAT 'cause all I had to do was loosen the laces. Mind you I'm still only
doing minor milages. Maybe my problems are just waiting for a few more miles ;~)

Where do you live? I'll come over to the states for my holls and camp outside your garage on
trash days!

Cheers

John
 
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