Shoe Q's

[sarahkonamojo]

A couple questions regarding cycling shoes.

1. Anybody have custom shoes? Contemplating customs for my next pair because my feet are so differnt from each other and apparently so different from the masses, very narrow heel, very wide forefoot.

2. mtb to road shoe. I have always used mtb shoes on the road so that I can walk and peddle before I clip in. We all know walking is a necessity at times, but I can take up the waddle. But I don't think I can peddle in road shoes without clipping in. Is it just slickness of the sole? Could I solve this with some rubber and glue? Or is there more to it? I like to cross intersections unclipped, i.e. 4 way stops.

thanks,
sarah

[KnottedYet]

"if it ain't broke..."

Why would you switch from mtb shoes to road shoes? Despite the "Fred Factor", a lot of road bikers use mtb shoes. (i wear men's Specialized Taho on my road bike. And they have wide toes and narrow heels, which I like.)

Custom shoes: if there is a brand of shoe you really like, call the company and ask if they have a shoe-mates program. Quite a few shoe companies have programs where they can give you a pair of shoes with different sizes. Most require you have 1 1/2 (or more) size difference to provide this service for free.

[sarahkonamojo]

Well, I have foot problems (hot foot) and road pedals have been suggested as a solution. And I definitley need new shoes...

Sarah

[KnottedYet]

Aah, i think I remember this now. And you've already tried met head pads and insoles.

I've never used road shoes, so i can't comment on them and hot foot.

good luck!

[betagirl]

Road shoes certainly help with the hot foot :) I've never done custom so can't comment there.

I have Sidi Women's zeta mesh shoes:

http://www.gearandtraining.com/ProductImages/sidi/sidi_Zeta-Mesh-Women_Silver.jpg

Before these I had Lake CX160's.
http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/LK-CX1604.gif

The sidi's do a better job keeping my foot cool and comfortable. Can I pedal with them? That's tricky. My answer is yes but not very well or very fast. I use Look pedals, and clip in with my left foot to get started. I don't walk at all, just push down and and hop in the saddle. Sometimes I don't clip my right foot in fast enough and find myself having to keep pedaling anyway :) So I put my foot completely centered on the right pedal and push carefully. I pull up with my left foot more than anything to keep going. In theory you can pedal with 1 foot for a while and just keep your right foot balanced on the pedal. But you are correct, the bottom of the shoe is smooth so pedaling is a bit tricky. I've learned with trial and error and some "OUCH!" as my foot slips out and I rack myself how to do it. :)

Hope that helps.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Well, I have foot problems (hot foot) and road pedals have been suggested as a solution. And I definitley need new shoes...

Sarah
Forgive my lack of knowledge, but just in case this helps...
Is the hot foot caused by shoes that aren't stiff enough? If that's the problem, there are mountain bike shoes that are just as stiff as road shoes. I wear Sidi Dominators, and they are very stiff.

I don't think you're going to want to ride with road shoes unclipped.

--- Denise

[sarahkonamojo]

It is a little difficult to tell exactly what causes hot foot, but I think it is width of shoe across the ball of my foot... Most of the shoes I've tried are stiff. (Diadora, specialized, shimano)

I'll keep trying different mtb shoes until I find a pair wide enough.

I haven't tried sidis due to price. They approach a custom shoe in $$... And also finding the shoes locally is a little difficult. If they fit, though, I'd pay twice the price.

sarah

[KnottedYet]

I stretch most of my (left) shoes with a broom handle, right where they are tight at the ball of my foot. My Tahos were easy to stretch, don't know how much a road shoe would stretch. Do you need more room than what you can get by stretching the shoes?

Who does custom bike shoes? that could be a very cool business to be in... (gears are grinding in Knotted's head, always looking for new things to investigate)

[DeniseGoldberg]

It is a little difficult to tell exactly what causes hot foot, but I think it is width of shoe across the ball of my foot... Most of the shoes I've tried are stiff. (Diadora, specialized, shimano)

I haven't tried sidis due to price. They approach a custom shoe in $$... And also finding the shoes locally is a little difficult. If they fit, though, I'd pay twice the price.

sarah
Sarah -
I wonder if it would help to try a shoe with a men's last as opposed to a women's. Maybe that would be a little wider. (Or not... I have really small feet so that wouldn't even begin to be a possibility for me, you could be the same!). I just looked on the Sidi site because I thought I remembered their shoes coming in widths. It's not as obvious as that though. From their web site:
...in a variety of lasts that include narrow, women-specific and mega (for wide, large-volume and high-arch foot shapes). Too bad it doesn't appear to be as simple as the shoes coming in women's sizes but in different widths.

If you decide to try the Sidis and you end up ordering online - in my experience their shoes run small. I wear a size 6 women's shoe, but a 38 in a Sidi. According to a shoe conversion site a women's US 6 converts to a European 36.

--- Denise

[sarahkonamojo]

2 companies I've heard about.
rocket7 (http://www.rocket7.com/)

and

D2 (http://www.d2customfootwear.com/bike.html)


$$$ Who would have known that golf shoes could be custom, much less cycling shoes? Makes sense. The shoes are a little fred-like but hey.

Sarah