Arch supports in cycling shoes?

[nic840]

I was having numbness issues in my feet after about 20 miles and the LBS checked out my shoes...Shimano SPDs.... and he said the fit/width was fine but they lack arch support. He recommended I try the Specialized inserts, there are three kinds, Minimal/Normal/Supportive. I believe they are red/blue/green??? not sure.
Anyways I got them on a Friday, wore them for 65 miles on Saturday and the numbness was almost gone. They were great and only about $45. Way better than buying new shoes or paying a podiatrist to make orthotics. My feet are average arched, got the blue ones.
His explaination is that unlike running the pressure on your feet is limited to the front half of your foot therefore the arch support is different than in a running shoe. It feels like the support in the cycling insole is more pushed up under the front of my arch.
Give a shot the sizing is in cycling shoe sizing. I wear a 49 and got a size 49/50. Good Luck - Nic

[ehirsch83]

I was having numbness issues in my feet after about 20 miles and the LBS checked out my shoes...Shimano SPDs.... and he said the fit/width was fine but they lack arch support. He recommended I try the Specialized inserts, there are three kinds, Minimal/Normal/Supportive. I believe they are red/blue/green??? not sure.
Anyways I got them on a Friday, wore them for 65 miles on Saturday and the numbness was almost gone. They were great and only about $45. Way better than buying new shoes or paying a podiatrist to make orthotics. My feet are average arched, got the blue ones.
His explaination is that unlike running the pressure on your feet is limited to the front half of your foot therefore the arch support is different than in a running shoe. It feels like the support in the cycling insole is more pushed up under the front of my arch.
Give a shot the sizing is in cycling shoe sizing. I wear a 49 and got a size 49/50. Good Luck - Nic

Interesting Nic- I was having numbness also, and I contributed it to my shoes being to big(they were) but when I got smaller shoes, I also got the specialized inserts- now I am curious as to which, the inserts or the shoes- or both combined, helped stop the numbing sensation