suggestions for ball of feet pain from lock in pedals

[deanandeileen]

 My husband & I ride tandem recumbents.
One is made by Longbikes - the other - a TRIKE was made by ICE.
 My feet are on FIRE a majority of pedaling 50+ miles!
ALL health issues have been ruled out.
 We have tried to move the cleats BACK - it doesn't help! Ditto with pro orthodics & cycling sandals!
ANY suggestions please???
 Please e-mail forevercycling@aol.com
1,000,000 thanks!
   "E"

[Pat Lamb]

Not going to email back -- you post here, I post here.

You probably need new shoes.  Either your shoes are not wide enough for your feet, such that after a few hours your feet have swollen and are being constricted by your shoes; or the soles are not stiff enough, so that the soles of your feet have to flex around the pressure point of the small pedals and cause problems.

Larger pedals might also distribute the pressure.  Shimano A530 or Crank Brothers Mallet pedals have a platform surrounding the clip that might help.

[John Nelson]

Classic hot foot--it's very common. There are dozens of possible solutions, and all are expounded on various web sites. You may have to try them one at a time to see which one works for you. For me, the solution was metatarsal buttons.

Here's one web site to start with:

http://www.roadbikerider.com/injuries/how-solve-painful-hot-foot

[rondickinson]

One cause of hot foot is the friction caused from your foot moving slightly inside the shoe.  I use two products to help.  Body Glide is a product you rub on the foot before putting your sock on.  Also use my butt butter or similar product on foot.

When I stop for breaks I loosen my straps and give my foot a breather. 

Then if I still get hot foot, I unclip that foot and place a different part of the shoe on the pedal for awhile.

[bogiesan]

Your foot is hot all over or is the pain isolated just to the ball? Real medical orthotics or inserts from Costco?
Many of us can pretend to be orthopedists but all we are capable of is relating our experiences. A doctor can evaluate nerve or tissue issues for you but if you have tried hard road shoes, sandals and mountain bike shoes with no change in your symptoms, only a doctor can figure it out for you. I went through several pedals and shoes before finding a good combination. I hope you figure it out but it could get complicated and expensive. Tandems rule. Recumbents are the best way to travel.

[XXLHardrock]

I was getting what I believe was "hot foot"and started tying my shoes loosely near the toe and normally tight at the top. This seems to have worked for me. 

[Westinghouse]

Stop and take off your shoes. Rest. Start again. As you go longer the pain should go away. On a long tour it requires a transition. Palms on handlebar, posterior on seat and feet in pedals are the contact points that need getting used to. My experience is that those five points will stop hurting after a time.

[litespeed]

When I finally decided to wear oversize shoes and keep them plenty loose I pretty much got rid of foot pain. I also set my SPD cleats as far back on my shoes as possible to take the pressure off the balls of my feet.

[DoubleD]

I have the hot spot problem with my right foot only.  I fixed it by inserting an old credit card (expired) into the shoe between the cleat and insole, raised numbers down.  After resetting their location a couple of times when they slipped, a couple of small pieces of duct tape to hold them in place worked quite well.  Worked for me.

[bogiesan]

I have the hot spot problem with my right foot only.  I fixed it by inserting an old credit card (expired) into the shoe between the cleat and insole, raised numbers down.  After resetting their location a couple of times when they slipped, a couple of small pieces of duct tape to hold them in place worked quite well.  Worked for me.

Guess that would be a shoe boot..

[becky4545]

You can lubricated with alcohol. it helped me

[zzzz]

From the outside or inside?