the spirit was willing but the knees and arches were week.

[madscot13]

I tried out the superfeet Berry insoles. I think it may take some time. My left foot is okay with them for any amount of time but tmy right foot can only take so much before I have to swap it out for a lame no arch contour insole that came with the shoe. I don't think it is because I have low arches, I've actually decided if anything I have high arches. I think the pain has something to do with this sort of thick muscle mass (well I am guessing it is muscle but it could also be some other connective tissue). I thought everyone had this area but I think it might just be me. Maybe the pain comes from comes from arches coming too high on the instep. this area gets super hard and painful on bike rides longer than 10 miles. Insoles with a lot of arch create pain within 5 minutes.

[Torrilin]

If the insole is *causing* pain, don't use it. You can hurt yourself if you try. (This is not a sign to panic, just be sensible and recognize that pain means something is wrong)

And no, not everyone has what you're describing. Matter of fact, because of the bone deformities in my feet, chances are my muscles just *can't* do what yours are doing. Your feet are different so your pain doesn't necessarily mean what my pain does (and trust me, if you had the disorder that gave me my misshapen bones, chances are a doctor would've found it already. usually it makes your feet visibly the wrong shape).

Are you making sure to keep the ball of your foot on the pedal? I keep my feet in place without the usual toe clips or clipless assists because if I don't... my feet hurt. Nice little immediate feedback loop. A lot of people don't keep the ball of their foot in the right place as easily tho, and toe clips or clipless pedals are meant to help them maintain the right form.

Have you tried taking breaks before your feet start to hurt? Have you tried using gentle stretches and massage to reduce the pain? What happens if you only use the insole on the left, and let your right foot support itself?

[madscot13]

I listened to everyone's advice and the results are better knees and less inflamed arches.

1. Bike shoes are better than Pumas. I picked up a pair of Sidis from Nashbar fore pretty cheap- as much as I pay on a pair of shoes anyways. The rigid support is noticable.

2. I picked up a pair of Superberry's for my everyday walking shoes. I picked up a paif SOLE custom footbeds to deal with my high arches and strange shape of the Sidis. I eased my time into these soles. At first I just walked around the house and then built up my time with the new insoles

3. I haven't put on clipless pedals yet. I am just getting used to the shoes but I think I am ready to do it as soon as I get my hands on a pedal wrench.

4. My seat height was good, I think, but I was out for a short ride today and another biker passed me and turned around and said "Looks like you have to raise you seat a bit." So I guess the new setup requires that I adjust my seat. Think I will do that now.

[RolliePollie]

3. I haven't put on clipless pedals yet. I am just getting used to the shoes but I think I am ready to do it as soon as I get my hands on a pedal wrench.

You might try just a regular wrench. I was able to switch my pedals out with an old adjustable wrench that I found in my junk drawer. I may have been lucky though...evidently my pedals weren't on too tight. Just remember that the "righty-tighty-lefty-loosey" rule only works on one pedal. Both pedals will come loose when you're turning the wrench towards the back of the bike.

[Torrilin]

Yay! I'm glad you're hurting less.

And I hear you on the seat height thing. I have to watch my seat post, it seems to want to slip down a bit.

[northstar]

Hey, Madscot, have you already purchased clipless pedals?

[madscot13]

ZenCentury passed on a pair of campus forte pedals. I think I will use those until I decide that I want to do a century this autumn or I fall on my face/ side of face too many times. I will probably upgrade sooner or later. What system do you have?