Numb feet while cycling!

[islandmom]

HI, I am a new rider, just bought a nice road bike last year. However, whenever I ride, my feet start to loose circulation and go numb. This happens if I wear good quality running shoes. I just bought a pair of cycling shoes and it seems to be worse instead of better. The only shoes that seem to help are my TEVA sandals which I can wear for about 40 minutes before this starts to happen. Does anyone one have any suggestions? I thought it was my shoes but now maybe it is a technique problem or a bike fitting problem?? Thanks

[Bike Goddess]

It might have something to do with shoe fit as well. Sheldon Brown (Google him) and lots of others on the internet will give you advice.

I would also suggest you try some inserts. I have Superfeet from REI (you can get them other places as well - on the internet too). I took out the original inserts that came with my shoes and put in these. Work just fine. These will give you arch support as well as change the position of your feet in the shoes. You might try these in your running shoes as well.

[madisongrrl]

Are you using toe clips or clipless pedals? Could you explain your bike set-up with more detail? Is this happening when you are not cycling?

Every time that I've used toe clips (in spin class), my feet go numb. It's like clockwork. I have clipless pedals on all my bikes and I really haven't had too much of a problem after making all the cleat adjustments and choosing the proper fitting shoes.

What spots on your foot are going numb? Is it only during exercise? I've had just about every foot problem in the book (bursitis, bunions, neuromas, nerve damage etc) and the sad fact is that I'm 30 years old and have two foot doctors. If you specifically explain you foot ailment, then maybe I can point you in a direction where you can find more information (or maybe see a foot doc?).

[Lise]

I have a problem with the middle toes of my left foot going numb, both while running and cycling. The only thing I've found that helps is to wear the laces very, very loose over the highest part of my foot. Any pressure there, and my middle toes will soon be numb. In my efforts to figure this out, at one point I bought some inserts recommended by my running store. I took off for a 4 mile run; by 2 miles, both feet felt numb and tingly (and not in a good way!), and I still had to get back home! Argh! Good luck to you. It can be so many things--for me, overly tight laces are unbearable.

[bike4ever]

Mortons Neuroma can be strongly aggrivated by cycling. My suggestion (to Lise) is to have your feet checked by a podiatrist. If you do a google search on Mortons Neuroma, you will find it is an enlarged nerve. Mine was on my right foot and greatly interfered with cycling. I also began having issues with driving.

[Grog]

Searching "hot foot" in Google and searching this forum and others will certainly help.

To me, first culprit is shoe-too-tight. Your feet swell a bit when cycling, and will be in pain if you don't leave yourself a little room in there.

But there are other causes, including pedalling technique. But I'd try loosening the ties up a bit first...

[CorsairMac]

Yuppers - and don't keep your feet so static, curl and flex the toes inside the shoes to keep the blood flowing in there. I've also noticed my feet can go numb when I'm climbing which means I'm "mashing" instead of spinning and pushing down way too hard on the clips. On long rides, I'll take my shoes off during my rest stops and walk around barefoot (or sockfoot).

[KnottedYet]

It's the middle toe-zone of my left foot, too. I wear Keen's, cuz they don't squish on my neuroma. A pair of Spectrum Stabilizers (much like Superfeet) keep me from collapsing onto the inside of my foot and thereby jamming the outside of my foot over into the edge of the shoe (squish the neuroma again!) For a looooong time I biked in Birkenstocks because they were the only shoes I could tolerate. Your forefoot splays out a good bit when you are weightbearing on the ball of your foot on the pedal, so make sure the toebox is very roomy.

I love Brooks Ariels and Addictions, and Chaco sandals. I'm very picky about shoes.