Do you wear your custom orthodics inside your cycling shoes?

[GLC1968]

Ditto Celerystalkme.

I have flat feet and also have special custom orthotics designed specifically for high impact athletics (running, step, etc). Even when I use them for these activities, I still have foot trouble. In fact, that's the reason I started cycling - for the low impact cardio.

Anyway, I purposely bought high-end super stiff cycling shoes and I use the Ultegra SPD-SL pedals and have had no problems riding distances without orthotics. I did have trouble with my first pair of shoes and SPD pedals after mile 15 or so. The pain would be so bad by mile 35 that I thought I'd never be able to do centuries. Walking after riding was almost impossible, too! Better shoes and different pedals made all the difference in the world (though I changed them both at the same time, so I don't know which one was more beneficial). Oh, and I use only Specialized shoes because they are desgined for people who pronate, which I do. This was under recommendation from my bike fitter who also happens to be a foot/leg alignment expert/specialist (I forget the proper term!).

[Kiwi Stoker]

Not me but DH has custom ones. He has very flat feet and had pain along the outside edge of his foot when riding. He saw a running/cycling specialist who asked him to bring his bike and shoes and watched him ride and took casts of his feet.

He ended up with a thin neoprene type insole with very hard plastic reinforcement in certain places. He uses them in all his cycling shoes. No more pain.

[Fujichants]

Just make sure when you get them in your shoes, that your shoes still fit. I got those Specialized footbed ones for my shoes, and now I can only wear certain socks, otherwise my feet feel cramped. Now with the hotter weather, my feet swell up and my shoes feel way too tight one hour into a ride. It sucks.

[Zen]

Another ditto for Celerystalksme.
Just yesterday I was just at the foot/ankle specialist who wants me fitted with custom orthotics.

I specifically asked him if I should wear these inside cycling shoes, thinking that not wearing them would undo any benifit from wearing them in regular shoes.

He told me it's not necessary as you aren't weight bearing while cycling. Also said most cycling shoes are too narrow to fit them anyway.

I'm inclined to think hot spots would be more due to cleat placement or platform size.

[tctrek]

+1 - I wear orthodics in my running shoes (although I only walk/jog), but not in my cycling shoes I have no foot pain riding except occasional numbness if I accidentally adjust the cycling shoes too tight or wear thicker socks.

[OakLeaf]

I don't get any foot pain on the bike, which I get a lot if I stand, walk, run or do aerobics without my orthotics, but my massage therapist really thought that not wearing them on the bike was contributing to my calf problems. (Which are mostly due to tight hip flexors. I need my own massage table just to get a surface that's firm and high enough to stretch them! )

[Fujichants]

I don't get any foot pain on the bike, which I get a lot if I stand, walk, run or do aerobics without my orthotics, but my massage therapist really thought that not wearing them on the bike was contributing to my calf problems. (Which are mostly due to tight hip flexors. I need my own massage table just to get a surface that's firm and high enough to stretch them! )

Oakleaf, I had overly tight hip flexors to the point where running hurt like crazy. My physical therapist taught me the following stretch:

Find a bench/side of bed. Put left foot on it. Turn your right foot so that your toes point in. Stand straight, and slowly push your hips forward. You'll feel the stretch. Hold it for a minute. Repeat on the other side.

The other one is where you're on the floor on your hands and toes, lunge one foot forward between your legs and stretch the other leg. You'll really feel this one.

Both feel great and helped me get the tightness out of them.