any ideas about foot pain???

I rode my bike today after not riding for about 3 weeks. One of the reason that I haven't ridden was that I didn't have any biking shoes, wore tennis shoes and my feet were really, really hurting. So, I thought maybe a break from riding to let my feet feel better would help. I just about died this morning riding, my feet hurt so bad it almost made me cry. It hurts right in the arch of my foot. I only went 10 miles and really wanted to stop after about two miles as my feet were in such pain. I have only been riding a road bike since probably Feb or March, (thank you uncle sam for the tax refund!!) Any ideas???

Where is your foot on the pedal? The pedal should be under the ball of your foot, not under the arch. Position would be contributing to your foot pain - but I believe that tennis shoes are a contributing factor too.

A stiff-soled biking shoe should help. Biking shoes come in all price ranges, and shops often put a sale price on last year's models so maybe you can find something that fits (somewhat) into your budget. I'd recommend a trip to your local bike shop to see what is available.

--- Denise

For reasons that others can probably explain better than I can, bicycle shoes, i.e., designed for biking, really do make a big difference! They are stiffer so that you are using the foot more efficiently plus it is not flexing so much. I have to be kind of careful with my feet due to very high arches and other things, and I also use orthotics in my bike shoes; others here have mentioned things like 'buttons' behind the ball of the foot. My first shoes were some relatively inexpensive MTB type shoes which you can put cleats into, but would not have to. You might give biking shoes a try.

These women are right...the stiffer the shoe (the sole) the better. They make inserts made for road biking if you can't afford the high-end stiff shoes off the bat. Keeps the pressure evenly distributed amongst the foot.

I bought some diadora biking shoes and wore them on my ride today. I really thought that would alleviate my foot pain. Is there a wrong way to pedal?? I feel like my bike fits me and I don't have pain in my knees or anywhere else.