Bike Shoe Advice, please

[ace]

I have Shimano sport shoes, spd cleats. They are lace up, with no straps.

Yeah, I don't think it's the type of cleats that are causing the problem, or probably even cleat placement, though it's possible- I'm not feeling one SINGLE area of pressure on my foot, it's an ache along the entire bottom of my foot, and it starts as soon as I clip in.

Thanks for the isuggestions, I'll try switching inserts, etc.

[Thistle]

Hi all,

I got a pair of Shimano Sport bike shoes and spd pedals.

I've been putting my orthotics in the bike shoes, figuring that if I need them for my other shoes, I need them for the bike shoes. plus one foot is almost 1/2 a size bigger than the other.

Hey Amy

I too wear orthotics, have one foot 1/2 size bigger than the other, but i've never put them in my shimano spd shoes. the bike shop told me not to, and i think it was good advice. i havent had much foot pain, sometimes a little towards the end of a ride, but it's usually cos i've tensed my feet up.

If you havent already, give it a go without them. If you are reluctant, i can understand, i can hardly walk without my orthotics, but i've been fine. If i'm cycling somewhere i will be walking, i carry them and another pair of shoes with me. A bit of a pain, but better than achingly sore feet.

Hope this helps.
Thea

[ace]

Eager to try out some of this advice, I went for a brief (3 m.) ride this afternoon, no orthotics, with the original insert that came with the shoe (the foam pad thing) and thicker socks than I've been wearing. No foot pain!!

I think I need to try 2 socks on one foot though, that shoe feels like I'm gonna slide out of it.

One thing I'm liking about riding clipless is that it's making me watch the road very, very carefully, because I still need some mental prep time to unclip.

[Thistle]

that's great that you had no foot pain on your ride it's a real shame the people who sold you the shoes didnt know about orthotics.... cos if you're like me you usually have to buy 1/2 size bigger to fit the orthotics. the guy at the bike shop convinced me not to put them in, so i bought a size to fit me without them... hence the smallest size i've bought since 92! and they are great.

hope you get many more pain free rides. foot pain sucks big time... i know

[Thistle]

[QUOTE=ace;114533]Eager to try out some of this advice, I went for a brief (3 m.) ride this afternoon, no orthotics, with the original insert that came with the shoe (the foam pad thing) and thicker socks than I've been wearing. No foot pain!!

QUOTE]

Ace, just wondered how you were going with or without the orthotics? I went to my physio for a bike fit yesterday (cos i've got sore wrists and wanted to make sure i had the setup right, and she specialises in bike stuff being a well-seasoned rider and does "bike prescriptions" isnt that the best term ever ) and during all the measuring and stuff i told her i had orthotics but dont wear them in my bike shoes... and this has been good for me ie no pain.

but... she said i probably should she told me to try it and see how i went. well i had them in yesterday arvo on the ride home, but they werent comfortable. I dont know if this is just cos i'm getting used to them ... and my new position on the bike (she says i ride like a cowboy with my knees turned out and cos i have one really messed up knee i need to straighten them and have them over my foot)

so i'm a bit sore in the knees today from the changed riding position, but since my feet were sore on the way home, just wondered how you got on with the whole orthotics question.

[KnottedYet]

Ask about "posting" the inner edge of each orthotic. The foot mechanics are different for walking vs. biking. A simple wedge (post) on the medial (inside) edge of the forefoot of your usual orthotic will usually turn it into a biking orthotic.

Specialized "Body Geometry" shoes have the posting built into the shoe so you can just put your orthotic in and out of the shoe without modifying the orthotic.

[ace]

Hey guys,

Thanks for checking to see how I'm doing!

So what happened was that I went to a LBS where I'd been told they had great fitters. They were sooo nice to me and did an extensive fit, moved my cleats, made a bunch of adjustments, got me some inserts (smartfeet). I had to go back cause the first adjustment didn't quite work. But after the second fitting I went for about a 25 mile ride and had zero pain.

I was afraid they'd be snotty with me when I went in, because I ride a hybrid and am a big woman, but turns out the owner of the store who did my fitting is even fatter than me! We bonded...

Plus it gave me an opportunity to talk to them about how I should approach buying my road bike in the spring. They had some beautiful entry level Serottas...I drooled.

Unfortunately I have been working literally 100 hours a week since, so I haven't touched my bike. I miss it......Can't wait until the case I'm working on slows down and I can at least ride around the freakin' block!

Cheers,
Amy