shoes and numb foot

[KnottedYet]

I have never been able to ride on a saddle that came with a bike, cuz I have very.... eh-hem, womanly hips. Any bike shop worth it's salt will trade out the seat and give you a discount (maybe only $10, but everything helps) on a new seat.

I second what Nanci said about the shoes. If your foot is crammed, then the shoe is too small. I have a pair of men's Specialized Tahos, and they are just as comfy as my Keens.

[Deborajen]

I went through some problems with numb feet (mainly in the middle toes) with bike shoes and with running shoes, too. Several people on these boards made some good suggestions - make sure your bike shoe has a stiff sole and make sure the shoe isn't tied too tight. My bike shoes do have pretty stiff soles so I tried loosening the straps a little, and sometimes a little more about 20 minutes or so into a ride, and that helped a lot. Also, I switched to a running shoe with a slightly bigger toe box and have been tying them a little less tight and that's done the trick with running as well.--

Deb

[Duck on Wheels]

As I read your post, it's the cleet that's "crammed", not your foot. But if your foot is crammed, then that is definitely a big part of the problem. Any activity shoe (well, with some exceptions such as ballet or rock climbing, but no exceptions for bike shoes) should sit well back at the heel -- no slipping and sliding that would create blisters -- but should leave you plenty of toe wriggle room out in front. The cleet, i imagine, should sit so that your pedal is where you want it, where you can apply pressure with your whole foot sole. So if you feel the cleet is crammed too far forward, then maybe moving it would help.

[Wisconsin]

Thank you again for all your advice. I took the bike to the good bike shop-not where I purchased, and they helped adjust a few things without a technical fitting. They raised the seat height and tilted my handle bars more up as I was debating on switching to a shorter stem. They also installed my new bike computer I bought from them that has cadence as the initial shop didn't have one with cadence and I had them just install a regular one. I went back to the yucky bike shop to have them adjust my cleat and to return the bike computer and swap seets. They said they wouldn't return the computer as I didn't have the box or b/c it was installed already. I noted they didn't give me the box after installing it and that there was nothing wrong with it I just wanted one with cadence and they didn't have one. Note I haven't even had the bike a week or gone more that 30 miles on it yet. They also weren't very great for bike seats as they only had a Selle Royal I think a flowgel WSD and another Bontrager WSD. My Pilot came with the Bontrager so I said I didn't want another one so I am trying the Selle Royal. They would only credit me $10. Is that normal? Otherwise the good dealer has specialized dolce seats and I know I may get one at a different dealer closing nearby for $20? Anyone ride these?

Anyway back to the foot problem. They moved my cleat back a bit as it was all the way forward before so I will try it out along with loosening the shoe as much as possible. I am tempted just to return the shoes as they may be just a bit too tight on one foot and as I am not happy with their service all together? I'm still kind of appalled that they never measured me in any way nor put me on a trainer for any fitting. I think I'll write a letter to Trek? Thanks for letting me vent and for all your suggestions.

Frustrated,
Wisconsin Bike Queen

[Duck on Wheels]

just had another foot thought today: Sometimes when I feel a foot or leg cramp (either one) coming on in spin class, it seems to be because I've forgotten to keep my heels down and am sort of "tip-toeing" on the pedals. I say "seems to be" because I can't know for sure, but it does often help to get my heels down again, and sometimes also wriggle my toes for a bit while I'm at it.