foot problem

[jimbeard]

AFTER ABOUT 40MILES FOOT GOES TO SLEEP
DOES ANYONE HAVE A SUGGESTION.

[mtnroads]

Make sure your shoes are wide enough as feet swell and the pressure can cause numbness. Also try Superfeet orthotics and stiffer soled shoes if nec, especially if using SPD clipless, which concentrate pressure on ball of foot. I have been through all of this and found the Sidi Dominator Mega (wide) worked wonders. Not cheap though.

[jimbeard]

thanks mtn road I may try superfeet i ride mostly in Lake bike sandals  with toeclips.
[excellent rain shoes]

[ptaylor]

I had an interesting experience today. I rode my commuter bike about 40 miles (I normally ride it for about 8 miles max). My feet got numb, then got painful. I think my toes got scrunched up against the front of the shoe.

I guess my advice would be to adjust your shoes so that the heel of the foot is at the heel of the shoe - thus leaving lots of wiggle room for the toes.

Paul

[jimbeard]

I guess i will live with this foot problem as i have for last 15 years. My guess is that it is caused by pinched nerve in saddle area. I have tried many many saddles am now back to Brooks Prof.

[mtnroads]

Something I just discovered recently that was making it worse - pedaling toes down, with the seat too high, was  putting more pressure on the ball of the foot. I guess in hindsight it seems obvious. After lowering it about 1/2 " over a week it helped a lot with the foot pain.

Also, I have found that riding in the drops periodically helps - it feels like it is stretching the hamstring out further and allows the feet to go flatter, providding that the seat is low enough to begin with. Weird, but it works for me, ymmv.

[RussellSeaton]

Toeclips?  The edges of the pedal are putting pressure on your feet and causing your toes to go to sleep.  Long, long ago when I used sneakers with toeclips the thin metal pedal edges pressed into the soft soles of the sneakers.  Your Lake sandals do not have too stiff of a sole.  I have those sandals.  You are transferring all of your leg force through the two very thin (1/8") by very short (3") edges of the pedal.  Pretty high psi.

[Styx]

Some sites to help :

http://www.fpnotebook.com/SPO4.htm

http://www.footankle.com/

http://www.bicyclesource.com/body/pain/injury-and-orthotics.shtml

http://www.uortho.com/foot.html

Hope these help!

[pmspirito]

Buy a recumbent

best wishes from the back of the pack,  Peter & Judy Spirito

[tofubicycle]

There are a number of factors that could be contributing to your foot problems. Some of these have already been mentioned by the fine folks in this community.

-Proper cleat adjustment
-Well fitting, supportive shoes
-Insoles
-Platform size of your pedal
-Proper bike fit

These are bessed addressed by someone who can get a good look at you. I'd call around to some local bike shops and see if there is anyone there who deals with bike fitting.

Also, to you and everyone here, I highly recommend the book Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists. It's a great book for casual and serious cyclists alike.

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i'd rather be biking.

[g2]

I have experienced something similar. One day, after about 30 miles, my feet went numb and tingly as they always did. Then I found myself in the middle of a major down-pour. My shoes got soaked, I continued to ride as any dedicated rider would, and by the time they dried out my numbness went away. I think when my shoes got soaked they stretched to fit my feet. Now it's nothing by happy peddling and happy feet!

Maybe you should soak your shoes and then go for a long ride until they dry out.

[pmspirito]

We like the Shimano sandals with SPD's.  They allow your feet to breathe.  But then we are recumbent riders, pedaling to the beat of a difference cadence

best wishes from the back of the pack,  Peter & Judy Spirito

[jimbeard]

  I think i solved my foot problem .
I switched from a Brooks Pro. to a Brooks B.17 special
So far 1,800 miles no problems.
   From original poster
       jim :

Jim

[jimbeard]

I have one[ A Recumbent ] I live near a lot of hills .

Jim

This message was edited by jimbeard on 9-20-06 @ 8:21 PM