My toes feel like I've been dancing in stilettos after riding

[TrekJeni]

I've been gone awhile. Sorry about that. Life has been pretty busy.

Here's a question I thought you guys could help me with.

I'm sick of getting hot foot while riding and then having my toes feel tender afterwards.

Background -

• this happens both road and mtb
• I get hot foot at mile 11 (doesn't matter if it's dirt or pavement / hilly, flat)
• happens in multiple pairs of shoes - crappy ones and high dollar
• I've had several pro bike fits
• I have shims in my cleats
• I ride Speedplay frogs on my mtb and cross bikes & Speedplay light action on my road bike

I'm not new to the sport by a long shot. I've done 160 mile road races. 6, 12 and 24 hour mountain bike races and race at the Expert level for mtb.

I just did a 6 hour solo mtb race and now I'm tenderfooting around.

It really does feel like I've been clubbing on four inch heels.

I have my first 24 hour solo in a month and I'm starting to really get fed up!

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Jeni

[KnottedYet]

Dropped metatarsal head.

Try a metatarsal arch support (button like thing that goes behind the ball of your foot) About $12 per pair.

[Owlie]

Hi, TrekJeni. I'd been wondering what happened to you.

I don't have much of a useful suggestion for you. Perhaps a larger platform? I seem to remember that Speedplay Light Actions, etc have a relatively small platform, but I don't know how that cleat plays into it. Don't know about the Frogs...

Don't mind me. Listen to Knot.

[marni]

possibly a stiffer sole and a size larger to accommodate swelling?

custom made orthotics?

Sorry it is so frustrating- I am currently going through the same thing only with saddle and sore labia issues.

marni

[pinsonp2]

I finally got rid of my 'hot foot' by getting a Specialized BG footbed. They have a metatarsal 'bump' as well as arch support. These work for me with my MTB shoes and Shimano A520 pedals.

P2

[new2ride]

I thought I was the only one who suffered with this. I'm no stranger to biking & it seems to be extremely prevalent this year. It happens to me around the same mile mark too. I hate it.

[skywalkerbeth]

Wow, did you call it. Great analogy, too. I was just going to write something about this. New shoes, and higher miles and ouch.

I did some googling and apparently this is a common complaint. I'm going to try some of these. Hope this helps.

http://www.active.com/cycling/Articl...le-Cycling.htm

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/di...23521&posts=14

http://www.livestrong.com/article/40...bness-cycling/

[alexis_the_tiny]

Don't know anything about shoes and orthotics but how's your pedal stroke? I used to get a numb spot on my toes really fast while pedaling because I was pointing my toe downwards through the entire pedal stroke. Change my pedalling so that when my pedal hit 3 O'clock position, I kept my foot flat and pulled back like I was scraping dirt from the bottom of my feet. It's helped some. Maybe worth having a try along with everything else.