numb foot when clicked in

[makbike]

A couple of thoughts, first are your shoes too tight? Can you loosen the laces? Have you tried a wider shoe?

Second, it takes time for your muscles to warm-up - have you tired stretching or light riding prior to your normal ride. Also, are you watching your cadence? If not, try pay attention to how many revolution your foot makes in a minute when you have a good rhythm established. Once you know what your cadence is try to keep your rpm close to that consistently. Cadence is a personal thing so what works for one rider may be to easy for your or too hard - find your magic number. You should also find as your strength and endurance increase your cadence should also increase.

Third, hills take time and patience. The more you ride the stronger you will become and in turn the hills should get easier. Also, pay attention to your gears - are you using to big of a gear?

Finally, have you taken your bike to a bike fitter. It could be your bike needs some adjustments and these pains hopefully will disappear after your fitting.

Hope this helps!

[Grog]

Hi and welcome!

Regarding your foot, I second everything Makbike said. I'd just add : what about your shoes? and : how well adjusted are your cleats?

Shoes: I have found that very stiff shoes help not only with power transfer but also prevent my feet from going numb. I'm not sure, but I think soft soles are particularly a problem with mountain SPD pedals.

Cleats: Perhaps your cleats are too far forward under your toes instead of the ball of your foot?

[bctf70]

Thank you for your replies. I did have my bike fitted, however I am not sure they did a great job. My shoes are mountain bike shoes so maybe I'll check into some road shoes that are a bit stiffer. If any thing the shoes are a tad big and when I have adjusted the cleat it seems to move back up on me. So I probably should get some new ones. THanks again for all the help.
Holly

[blondiebiker]

I had the same thing happen with my MTB shoes, then I switched to hard sole road shoes and it doesn't happen any more...

[Grog]

Some mountain bike shoes are much stiffer than others... but they're also much more expensive.

[DDH]

I have mountain bike shoes rather than road shoes, and I have the same problem, but I dont think it's my shoe, I think maybe my cleat is to far forward and I constantly forget to move it or have my husband do it.

slight thread drift, can your saddle not fitting properly cause this too?