Balls of feet keep cramping up

[Crankin]

I've been using Speedplay for years. I did have this problem, but it was from wearing Sidis that were too narrow for my average width foot. Then, when I got my new Shimano shoes, the special molded to your own foot insert was so thick and awful (my LBS thought I was nuts), I wore my shoes for 2 weeks without any inersoles, and then went out and got the blue Superfeet ones. I need thin, thin, thin inersoles. I seem to have this issue with my hands, too, hence the need for gloves with no padding or gel. I can't stand anything thick or tight on my extremeties when riding, as it causes immediate pain and swelling, even in cool weather. Not swelling that is visible, no medical cause. Problem solved.
I do get the hot spot a bit, still, with my mtb style shoes and Frog cleats, but only on 40+ mile rides, on the foot with a bunion. But, it was much worse with spd style pedals that had a platform.

[Donna1960]

Oakleaf...I wore good ole sneakers with my toe clips. The shoes are brand new along with the pedals. When I put them on there feels to be plenty of room in them which leads me to beleive that the fit is proper. The shoes are very stiff. I just spent 115 on the pedals and 150 on the shoes. Money that I really didn't have to begin with so I need to try and make this work with as little as possible additional expense but more importantly without damage to my feet..

When I go for my ride tomorrow I will try them without any insoles and see what happens. Thanks everyone for your replies. I'll keep you posted

Off the bike foot exercises? I have never done any.....

[OakLeaf]

Here are some foot exercises. http://www.runnersworld.com/injury-p...-FootArchReset There's a link in the article to the Phase 1 exercises, but not vice versa, which is why I'm linking to Phase 2/3.

This is from a running site, but IMO foot strength and flexibility are just as important on the bike as it is walking/running - maybe even more so, since while you naturally get some foot exercise from running, on the bike your feet are locked into position and not bearing your full body weight, and it's really easy to ignore them. The most common cause of cramping is unaccustomed use. "Unaccustomed use" can definitely come from poor fit. But it can also just be what it is.

[Donna1960]

Thank you I will work on these. I did ride without any insoles one day for about 33 miles and it was slightly better. Then I tried the insoles from my favorite sneakers which fit the shoes perfectly and that was even better. Still a slight problem with my left foot which may be due to a bunion of sorts. I wish I could have "tried before I bought". I am going to ask a friend who wears the same size shoe as me to let me try her bike out. She does not have the lollipop pedals. I am curious to see how that will work out. Thanks for all the replies everyone!

[Amazellen2]

Hi Donna,
I've had hot foot and charlie horses for years. New shoes, new pedals, new shoe plate positions, etc... nothing worked. I've started taking Magnesium, and voila.... no more hot foot or cramps. Not sure if it's the same issue at all... but give it a try.
Cheers,
E

[withm]

When I see the title of this thread a fumy mental image comes to mind - picture a ball of string, a ball of twine. Now a ball of feet?