gary@welsh.com

I have a fused big toe which prevents me from using "normal" cleats and shoes. Anyone have any ideas for shoes or cleats that would allow me to "attach" to the pedal farther back on my foot than usual. More toward the instep or heal would be great as I have a lot of pain in the ball of my foot when I walk or place weight on it.

Thank you for your help.

meb

Mountain bike SPD shoes usually have the cleat farther back, but the sole is more flexible.
Road shoes are stiffer but mount the cleats more forward.
Might be picking the lesser of 2 evils.

Maybe a cobler can modify a shoe.

Hocam

Anyway to use a size or two up and pad the inside so it's the right size?

4cmd3

Probably true as a generalization, but you can get very stiff mountain shoes if this is a concern. For example, Sidi's top end mountain shoe uses the same full carbon role as their road shoe... I'm sure the same is probably true with Specialized etc.

DaveSSS 

How do you achieve comfort in ordinary walking shoes? I would think that walking would be a bigger problem than cycling.

I would also think that custom orthotics that transfer a lot of the pressure to the arch area would be wise. Not all brands of shoes can adequately accomodate custom orthotics. D2 and Rocket 7 shoes can both be had with custom orthotics, but both are pricey. I use the D2 myself. Just about any shoe that has a real carbon fiber sole can be custom drilled to reposition the cleats. I recently modified my D2 shoes to mount the Speedplay cleat directly to the shoe, without the 3-hole adapter. There is no longer any cleat fore-aft adjustment, but I don't need it. I got the cleats where I wanted them and no longer have to worry about the position. I drilled and tapped the carbon with M4 threads. If the threads ever strip out, I've got some small metal thread inserts that I can glue into place to repair the threads.

milnerpt

1st MTP fusion.... when you walk, your foot is designed for that great toe to extend as you transition from the ball of your foot to push off. having a rocker bottom or rigid sole in walking shoes helps.

for cycling, i would think there really isnt any 1st toe pushoff. just get a really rigid sole, put the cleat placement just behind your MTP joint (the arch side of the ball of your foot). I would think putting some crazy placement way back in your arch would not only feel crazy akward, but also cause some weird other problems up your leg.

this is all assuming your 'fused great toe' is at your MTP joint and not at the IP joint... at the ball of the foot, not the knuckle in your toe..

gary@welsh.com

I also lost both sesamoids so the ball of my foot is pretty tender and will be for awhile, but your comment is very helpful and I see your point about placing cleats too far back.

Thank you for your thoughtful response.

Regards,

Gary

gary@welsh.com

Dave,

Thank you for your suggestion. I will check out both D2 and Rocket7.

Regards,

Gary

Machka 

So fusing the big toe created more pain?

I've got arthritis in the joint that attaches the big toe on my right foot to my foot ... I'm in constant pain when I walk, and even cycling can be quite painful. Apparently there is enough bone degeneration that the Drs are now suggesting fusing it. I was thinking that perhaps fusing it would reduce the pain.

gary@welsh.com

Yes, the fusion has helped a lot, but I also lost both sesamoids so that is where the pain is coming from. After much experience I would definitely recommend avoiding orthopedists and try to find a podiatrist that does exclusively recontructive work. I have the name of a phenomenal one in Boston if that is of any help now or in the future.

pnuts5

I know exactly where you are coming from. Fusing my great toe was the worst decision I have ever made. It has ruined my life.

pnuts5

After toe fusion, it is typical for the entire foot to shrink. The joint is shortened significantly. This causesthe affected foot to need a size smaller. A larger size would be disastrous.

thin_concrete

Well, I’m hoping in the 13.5 years since this thread was started the OP has found a solution.

Iride01 

It's taken the Zombie resurrectionist six months to get over the trauma sustained in their first zombie resurrection to get enough courage to return. So I suppose we need to be gentle and maybe they'll start conversing with the living and current conversations.