Foot pain? Arch pain??

[ny biker]

Well I thought I had replied to this but I'm not seeing it.

Do you wear the same shoes for spinning that you wear while riding your bike?

Also, are they new shoes?

[tongue_tied]

My spin and road shoes are not the same. My spin shoes are quite old (and well used) and my road shoes are just a few months old. The pain didn't start until this Sunday's century ride. Think it's something to do with my spin shoes?

[GLC1968]

It sounds similar to a pain I get in both feet (but more on the right) after biking for extended periods. This only started happening when I started doing more things (including running) barefoot or in barefoot type shoes. My podiatrist thinks it's because my bike shoes are more structured, stiffer and with less room for toe splay when I press down on the pedals. Because it's not really a weight-bearing sport, it takes quite a while for the pain to surface. Pain is alleviated almost immediately upon removal of my shoes and walking around in sock feet allowing my toes to splay out naturally. In my case (and maybe yours), tendons are getting squished and eventually, they start to complain.

I would bet that if you went a few days without cycling, the pain would be gone for the next ride and probably won't resurface until you do another longer ride. That's how it works for me. (I also wore specialized carbon road shoes). Unfortunately, I don't really have a solution for you. My podiatrist wanted to cut my road shoes but before I got that far with him, I got injured and had surgery so it's a whole new game for me now.

I hope you figure it out soon!

[tongue_tied]

It sounds similar to a pain I get in both feet (but more on the right) after biking for extended periods. This only started happening when I started doing more things (including running) barefoot or in barefoot type shoes. My podiatrist thinks it's because my bike shoes are more structured, stiffer and with less room for toe splay when I press down on the pedals. Because it's not really a weight-bearing sport, it takes quite a while for the pain to surface. Pain is alleviated almost immediately upon removal of my shoes and walking around in sock feet allowing my toes to splay out naturally. In my case (and maybe yours), tendons are getting squished and eventually, they start to complain.

I would bet that if you went a few days without cycling, the pain would be gone for the next ride and probably won't resurface until you do another longer ride. That's how it works for me. (I also wore specialized carbon road shoes). Unfortunately, I don't really have a solution for you. My podiatrist wanted to cut my road shoes but before I got that far with him, I got injured and had surgery so it's a whole new game for me now.

I hope you figure it out soon!

Did you switch road shoes? I'm sure I'm not helping matters by going from a fairly neutral running shoe, one day a week, to spin shoes, which a much more flexible sole that I wear 2-4 times a week, and on top of that, cycling shoes with an uber stiff sole which I wear 5-6 times a week.

[GLC1968]

Did you switch road shoes? I'm sure I'm not helping matters by going from a fairly neutral running shoe, one day a week, to spin shoes, which a much more flexible sole that I wear 2-4 times a week, and on top of that, cycling shoes with an uber stiff sole which I wear 5-6 times a week.

Well, before my surgery, I did find that the problem was less with my mountain shoes (also specialized carbon pro) than with my road but it was still an issue. I purchased my mountain shoes slightly less fitted so that I could fit thicker winter socks on under them, so maybe that's why. Now I can't wear either pair anymore because my foot is totally different. I was also off it (running, cycling, and most walking) for about 4 - 5 months, so everything has changed for me. Actually, now that I think about it...if I put on ANY hard or structured shoe, I immediately get a similar pain as before...but now it's immediate. I did find a pair of Northwave mountain shoes (that reviews were saying ran really wide) that I can wear for riding as I recover. I'm so out of shape that I haven't done a ride over 25 miles since the beginning of the year though...so my judgement is off. At least with these new wider shoes (I think I need the wide toe box...not wider overall), I can tolerate the pain for a few hours or so.

Again, my situation has really changed though, so I'm not a very good judge anymore!

[tongue_tied]

Well, before my surgery, I did find that the problem was less with my mountain shoes (also specialized carbon pro) than with my road but it was still an issue. I purchased my mountain shoes slightly less fitted so that I could fit thicker winter socks on under them, so maybe that's why. Now I can't wear either pair anymore because my foot is totally different. I was also off it (running, cycling, and most walking) for about 4 - 5 months, so everything has changed for me. Actually, now that I think about it...if I put on ANY hard or structured shoe, I immediately get a similar pain as before...but now it's immediate. I did find a pair of Northwave mountain shoes (that reviews were saying ran really wide) that I can wear for riding as I recover. I'm so out of shape that I haven't done a ride over 25 miles since the beginning of the year though...so my judgement is off. At least with these new wider shoes (I think I need the wide toe box...not wider overall), I can tolerate the pain for a few hours or so.

Again, my situation has really changed though, so I'm not a very good judge anymore!

Gotcha. I'm wearing the Specialized Pro Carbon Road shoe - and I've had a few problems since getting them a few months ago that I've never had before. These weird little problems are the worst. Okay. not the worst. But, they do stink.

[tzvia]

Tongue_tied-
I've got the same shoes, they are really stiff in the sole, and that is good. But they also come with the BG footbed which is available with various amounts of arch and metatarsal button; red- little support, flat foot, blue- more arch support for flat to regular arch and green-for high arch. There are also wedges that fit under the footbed in the toebox area to position the foot/leg at the right angle. It may be that the standard footbed isn't quite right for your feet.

And yes also check cleat position.