Socks/Pedals - need wisdom/opinions!

[Cari]

I'm thinking about switching over to Looks but............I have to walk my bike into the office or the store etc etc and wasn't sure if the Look cleats are walkable?......would love to hear your opinion

also, I got a great deal on the Look pedals and cleats but they are the red cleats which I understand have more float........something I Don't want. Which cleats do you use?

Look cleats on road shoes are not recessed (like SPD cleats are on MTB shoes) so it's a bit harder to walk in them. You can, however, get rubber cleat covers which will keep you from slipping around.

Which Look pedals did you get a deal on? Look cleats aren't that expensive -- around $20, I think. If they're regular Look pedals, you can buy the black delta cleats, which have zero degrees float. If they're Look KeO pedals you have three choices. They usually come with a gray cleat which has 4.5 degrees float, and you can also buy the black (0 degress) or red (9 degrees) KeO cleats.

~Cari, who's been doing her homework

[Kimmyt]

Corsair, I have the red cleats, the ones with the most float. I got these because 1) they were the cheapest and 2) they offered the most float which at the time I understood as being most amenable to a newer rider's knees.

Walking in Looks is.... interesting. They can be quite slippy, as Cari said. I have seen the ads for the cleat covers, but I don't know if they would help with the ease of walking. It might help with the slip factor (let me warn you about the TREACHEROUSNESS of using a port-a-potty during a ride while wearing these shoes...heh). Looks have some degree of thickness which causes you, when walking, to tend to walk back on your heels (your toes, for example, are up higher off the ground than your heels). This makes it difficult to walk, especially if walking up a hill.

I don't personally mind walking shorter distances (into buildings, across roads, etc.) in my shoes, but if you are used to a MTB style shoe it may be annoying for you.

However, don't get me wrong, I am a new road biker, and I have found these cleat/pedal systems to be extremely easy to use and my learning curve has been very sharp with them!

K.

[bcipam]

Your first post was almost written by me... except I switched from Speedplay X-2's to Dura Ace which I think is similar to the Ultegra pedal. I still get hot spots but not as bad. The Dura Ace pedal like the Look pedal has a broad platform.

I've tried it all - carbon soles shoes, different shoes (but I always come back to Sidi's), socks, fittings etc, I still get hot spots. Doctor has explained my foot has been injuried over and over again and I have a neuroma and I just have to deal with it (or have surgery). The wider platform helped a lot. Having good fitting shoes (not to wide or too narrow) shoes do as well. But I just know my feet will start hurting (around 40 - 50 miles) and I have to 1) wiggle my toes around, 2) stop and rest my foot, 3) unclipped from the other pedal (alternating my feet), 4) spin not push etc.

As to socks, most cycling socks are pretty thin which is why I like them. I like Defeet, SockGuy, Pearl, etc. Most are thin, supportive and comfortable and will wick away moisture (also important).

[tprevost]

Okay, so today I went around looking at pedals etc. and bought 3 new pairs of socks and a pair of specialized shoes to check out. I also made an appt with a guy for a cleat fitting to see if perhaps it has more to do with where my cleats are on my shoes etc.

I'm doing this tomorrow and will look forward to seeing how it all feels on Monday... so Pam, you're probably the one who'll get to hear the whining! Just kidding!

This is just really bothering me because I have never had this issue before so I know its possible to get rid of it, I just have to keep testing different things to see what works!

Thanks!

Tracy

[Jones]

I have one bike with Dura-ace pedals and one with Ultegra pedals and they are virtually the same. I have a neuroma in my left foot and have to be real careful with all shoes, not just bike shoes. These may be the goofy looking socks ever but they really help. http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...cat=REI_SEARCH

[KnottedYet]

Ooh,I've been wanting to try a pair of those! (neuroma in my left foot too) I'm doing an REI shopping expedition with a friend this weekend, maybe I'll get a pair!

[Nanci]

Hey, I wear those Injinji socks for long runs. I have the black and sand, and have just bought a pair of the new pink ones. They are great for preventing blisters. They have somewhat of a reputation of wearing more quickly than normal, so I "horde" them and only wear them on my serious runs- like marathon or longer. They feel weird when you first put them on, but you forget about them after a little while. Tons of ultrarunners wear them.

Nanci

[caligurl]

good luck with the shoes! i hope they work for you! (especially as i sang specialized's praises so much!)

[tprevost]

Caligurl,

I ended up getting the Women's Specialized comp carbon (its black/silver with a tiny touch of very light metalic blue - it looks a bit green to me though) and it looks good w/my bike! I think you are rubbing off on me hee hee hee!!!! Of course it fits well and I love the shoe - but its always cool when it looks good too!

I'm excited to go get my pedals checked, I'm really thinking that is the bulk of my issue so I'll get to test it out on Monday's ride. I've got my fingers crossed!

Trac'

ps. I am really mad at myself for not buying that red tank top at CTC! UGH!!

[caligurl]

OH! i meant to ask you about that... cuz when we got done talking and left... i looked over.. and it was gone! thought maybe you had changed your mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tprevost]

dang it! Now I am really mad!!!!! Someone got my top!!!

Next time I'm just going to buy the darned thing! Hmph!

T~

[bcipam]

. These may be the goofy looking socks ever but they really help. http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...cat=REI_SEARCH

OK those are about the weirdest socks Ive ever seen but I might just run over to REI after work today and buy a pair to wear on Monday - so Tracy - you might hear me whining!!!!! Actually they look like they might also help with my hiking so I'll give them a try.

[SadieKate]

I'm finding more and more articles recommending custom rigid orthotics for hot foot. It isn't a heat issue, it is pressure on nerves. I've even seen articles recommending them for Morton's Neuroma.

http://www.cyclingforums.com/articles/a-104.html

Google Andy Pruit, orthotics, hot foot, etc., and you'll find loads of info.

TsPoet - how rigid are those eSoles?

[maillotpois]

I almost always wear ultralight smartwool running socks:

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...cat=REI_SEARCH

They are super thin and light. Never get too hot.

Those tetra socks are wild. They sponsor the FC 508, and a lot of ultra endurance folks love them. I don't know if I owuld like the material between the toes, though. Hmm.

[tprevost]

Looks like I'm going to be making a trip to REI soon for some of these socks! I've got three different kinds now to pick up!

I did my cleat fitting today and he made some significant adjustments in placement so we'll see how that goes.... he did say that if that didn't work we could try some of those orthotics - he said that they heat them up and then you step on them to customize them to your feet. I really hope that between the cleat adjustments and the new socks, I'll be okay!

Keepin' my fingers crossed!!!!

Tracy

ps. thank you for that link SK, it confirms I'm trying all the right remedies!!!