masi61

The insoles I want to make I don't believe are made. At least not to the quality level where I need them to be.

You see I have neuropathy of my left foot. The pain from a Morton's Neuroma was supposed to be gone thanks to a surgery I had about 4 years ago. And largely the pain is gone. But now, I have sensation issues. Call it hypersensitivity. I literally can feel the sole of my cycling shoes underneath my insoles. And what I feel are irregularities.

I purchased a thin piece of flat carbon fiber that I was thinking of tracing the upper part of my insole onto the thin carbon fiber. Then I was going to use some type of small stainless steel screws and recessed nuts of some type to securely place it under my insole. This would probably help a lot but I would like to then engineer a high density (urethane - not sure what durometer would be ideal or how to custom shape it) metacarpal pad that could then be attached to the securely mounted thin shim of carbon fiber, again with small stainless steel screws. Once the metacarpal pad was securely placed beneath the insole, I would then use Power Steps heat moldable insoles and plunge the warmed insole into my shoe with my high performance understructure to form them over the metacarpal support.

I think this method could produce the most pain free cycling insole ever for me. I just have to discipline myself to do it.

Is anyone else thinking of something like this?

Ptcycles

Hello, I was thinking of the same thing, but I was going to order the metatarsal insoles instead.

masi61

The red Power Steps metacarpal insoles do help but they are a little soft and they break down over time too.

I’m looking for something practically built right into the shoe that will be comfortable for long hours in the saddle.

icemilkcoffee 

There is no need to re-invent the wheel, custom footbeds are commonly done in ski boot fitting:


Find a reputable ski boot-fitter near you and go from there.

masi61

I’ve heard of checking with a ski boot fitter one other time and forgot about this option. For the system in the photo, do you have an idea of how much a pair would be?

My idea of screwing a thin piece of carbon fiber to the toe box/ball of foot/ area behind the metatarsals (not the heel area) and then attaching an adjustable, custom urethane metatarsal support directly to this screwed on carbon fiber plate - Is something that a ski boot custom insole is not able to replicate.

Because if it works, my system should be more ergonomic in a way that will not only combat neuropathic pain, but it should also transfer power to the pedals better . I guess I’m going to have to build what I’m talking about and report back here. I wish that the stick-on metatarsal inserts I have tried (the shoe store sells these, powersteps brand) had their adhesive on the opposite side of where they apply the sticky tape.... I think I have an idea.... but I’ll need to go back to the running shoe place for a fresh set of those stick on metatarsal supports that line up behind the ball of the food (on the arch part of the foot).

icemilkcoffee 

I guess I misread your initial post. I thought you just wanted an insole molded to your foot. Now I see you want to attach a metatarsal pad to your cycling shoe.
Let's back up a bit- do your cycling shoes have insoles? Sometimes the insole is glued to the shoe and you have to rip it out. Assuming that is yes, then I think the best course of action would be to buy a metatarsal insole and trim it to fit the cycling shoe. If you trim it just right it will fit snug in there and not move around.

masi61

My cycling shoes do have removable insoles. My neuropathy (or whatever it is, call it post-Morton’s Neuroma surgery nerve damage) on the left foot is significant to the point that I need a really firm base. This is why I thought I not only need a nice, heat moldable insole with a metatarsal pad properly placed to spread out the metatarsals without restriction and allow full toe movement in the toe box, but I really would like to add a thin stiffener under the insole, thus the ultra thin sheet of carbon fiber that I’m considering using. This is necessary less so on super rigid soled shoes - like my Fizik Arctica winter cycling shoes whose soles seem really stiff. My Shimano mountain shoes on the other hand have a sole design with a kind of open honeycomb pattern where when covered with an average (non rigid) insole, my hypersensitive ball of my left foot can feel the honeycomb openings under the insole causing fatigue and you can tell that there is a lack of support.

shelbyfv

Sounds as if you have a plan. Please post an update after you get it done.

woodcraft

Isn't the shoe sole already a rigid surface?

Hard to imagine how screws and recessed nuts are going to end up smoother than the shoe sole while leaving room for the foot.

I suggest just tape what you want to the underside of the insole- easy to experiment.

noOriginalNames

I have no experience with them but Solestar make insoles for cycling shoes actually made out of carbon fibre with a metatarsal pad (the BLK model) that might be worth trying before you end up trying to make your own insoles out of the raw materials. If you are trying to limit the flex of the shoes though I think you might need a carbon plate rather thick that may effect the fit of the shoes and it might be easier to try a new pair of shoes. Lots of mountain or spd style shoes are now available with really stiff carbon fibre outsoles.