wheels78

I tried loosening the shoes, I moved the cleats back as far as they will go. I tried "superfeet" with zero improvement. Same problem in all my shoes and with different cleat systems. Nothing has worked so far. It's gotten worse over the years. Now I'm considering going to a podiatrist but I really can't imagine what he'll do that I haven't already tried. Anyone here with the same problem go to a foot doctor with good results?

I'm thinking about trying something like the Wellgo B184 Flat Pedals with regular walking shoes but I really prefer using cleats. I'm running out of options here.

Thanks,
Bob

Jandro 

Have you gone in for a proper fitting with an experience (well-regarded/reviewed) fitter?

chil2makefun

i got the same problem and something which has helped me a lot (not completely) is the fizik 3d flex custom moldable insole. my feet were killing me, pain in the arches... now these are completely gone but i still had some numb toes. Maybe this will be gone the next time i ride since i've moved my cleats back. If you'd like i'll shoot you a pm when i ride again but this will not be too soon since i have exams atm.

jsharr

I would try new insoles as well. I move the Specialized BG inserts from my Specialized MTB shoes to my Sidi road shoes.

merlinextraligh

There's a technique issue here too.

Purposefully relax your foot. You may be curling your toes, foot, up to grab the pedal; wiggle your feet in your shoe if they start getting numb, try raising your cadence and lowering your gear, also concentrate on the up stroke, giving your foot a break from the downward pressure.

If you've got good shoes, that fit well, on a bike that fits you, and you've ruled out medical problems; it's your technique.

merlinextraligh

Custom shoes also are very nice but expensive.


www.rocket7.com

RT

YES. In my 20 years of foot issues, noting medical has done nearly as much for my feet as adjusting to a proper pedal motion.

Hapsmo911

I had outer toe numbness wedges and esoles worked for me. stevehoggbikefitting.com

Mountain Mitch

Just possible that your problem is your saddle. Pressure on the inside of your crotch can compress the nerve and make it feel as if your foot is numb. I'd be suspicious of this if it is one sided and affects a neural distribution (i.e. only a portion of the foot).

darb85

Check your size as well. alot of riders are in way to small of shoes.

JoelS

And a lot of riders have shoes that just don't fit their feet properly. Both of these will cause numbness and pain.

wheels78

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Hopefully I'll get it worked out.

Bob

yochris 

Do you know such a fitter on the Bay Area that is well versed in foot issues, or just one you recommend? I had a pretty thorough fitting when I bought my new bike, but he didn't have a lot of special insight on my foot issues. I get numb toes pretty quickly into my rides and I am on my third pair of shoes. Would love to talk to someone who has experience dealing with these kinds of things.

Clem von Jones

Saddle too far forward? Iv'e noticed my toes start to get numb if I have insufficient setback and having the bar too low might be why you've set it up that way.

fstshrk

Go to retul usa website and search for a fitter in your area. Then call a couple fitters and talk to them or go to their shop and talk to them. Once you find a fitter you like, make an appointment.

yochris 

Interesting Clem. Definitely not the bar height as I don't have much drop as is and am actually thinking about losing some spacers. Saddle placement is also interesting because I switched to a post with less setback after my fitting. On the stock one, I had the saddle all the way back and and still felt myself scooting off the back edge to get myself in the right spot.

Could be my feet are just picky or I have ****ty circulation. I used to get numb toes in my snowboard boots too, so maybe I just need to find the right shoes to minimize it.

Clem von Jones

If you sit upright in your chair with your feet tucked close in and then scoot forward by degrees you'll see more and more weight is transfered onto your toes. This is what cuts off circulation. Your shoes might be cinched too tight though too. I bet you're falling off the back of your saddle because it's too low. First settle the setback issue then start raising your saddle by increments until you no longer fall off the back. Since your bars aren't too low it's possible you have insufficient reach. It's great to be really stretched out with the noise of your saddle slightly up, this creates a dynamic tension which keeps you from scooting forward while transfering maximum power to the pedals. The Competitive Cyclist fit calculator suggests what seems to be really crazy-long reach but I think it's accurate.

Bob Dopolina 

+1000.

How are the discs in your lower back? This is how it started for me and it ended up with spinal surgery.

MKahrl

How do your feet do in regular shoes in day to day walking life? Although you prefer cleats you might be surprised how much retention you get with comfortable shoes with grippy soles on a pedal like the MKS Grip Kings. Try it for a couple of weeks to get used to it and see if that alleviates it.

ovoleg

Where did you buy the esoles...I've been looking for them everywhere!

SirHustlerEsq

I've spent about $600 on fittings, $400 on shoes, $100 on insoles and three toes on the outside of my right foot still go numb every five miles. I'm doomed.

Bob Dopolina 

You're looking in the wrong place. This really sounds like nerve compression.

Mountain Mitch

That's exactly what I meant when I mentioned 'neural distribution' above. Bob Dopolina is correct. You need to have investigation higher up. May be the sciatic nerve being pressed by the saddle or may be in the nerve root at the spine itself due to a disc pressing, muscle spasm or narrowing of the opening.

TeleJohn

Try metatarsal arch supports. You can make your own with molefoam.

Juan Foote

This

Back and forth with a fitter, wedges, inserts, blah blah...it turned out that I was "grabbing" (flexing) with my toes. I just have to think about relaxing my foot.