cycling foot problem

murphy.m.j

Many times after pedaling, for 2 hours, my feet feel numb, mostly at the toe area.  I am assuming that this is due to my foot being pointed down when i pedal, when I get off and out of the shoes, everything is ok.

So I am asking what to do, new shoes, try to be more careful on the pedal stroke and push down more on the heel?

thanks ahead of time for your ideas.

 

 

Al Truscott

Personal experience here. 1997, I biked across the country, and my big toes went numb and stayed that way after about a month. I got back, and serendipitously read a little pearl in Bicycling magazine from one of those RAAM riders. Bascially the suggestion was to move the cleat on your shoe back - meaning farther away from the front, toe end of the shoe - so it wouldn't press on a little nerve running under the ball of the foot. I did that, and haven't had any problems since, 5000+ miles a year.

Norton

Forefoot problems are a big issue for those of us who are on the bicycle for long periods. My experience is that they don't get better on their own, in fact, the symptoms show up earlier and earlier in the ride.

An idiotic-sounding quick fix is to take a Tums. Sounds stupid but it works.

Al's suggestion is a classic; it also helps unload the calf muscles and saves them for the run.

The underlying issue is pinched nerves in the forefoot. Often shifting to a wider shoe is enough to fix the problem; for me, it wasn't. I wound up trying Specialized insoles, the medium strength; voila! A happy-footed Bill!

Bob Irwin

I switched to the specialized insoles like Bill - I vote for them as well.

gopetego

A little late to thread - but my .02 = I have the same issue Mike with toes going numb. I did what Al mentioned and that helped alot plus alleviated pressure on my achilles.

On a slightly different note, I also have fiddled quite abit with shoe wedges in order to fix a leg length problem (left longer than right at the hip). In addition to fixing my leg/fit issue, adding the wedges changed the angle of my foot/shoe on the pedal and that has also helped (or hurt) the numb toe issue depending on the # of cleats I use. Right now I have 2 wedges on left and a 1/4 qtr wedge on right - seems to work - but I still get a little numb now and then....

Spokane_Al

I also went through a period while experiencing numb toes and/or various hot spots. As Al said, the problem is nerve related and like Bill, the Specialized foot beds, with their metatarsal button support, worked for me and have permanently solved the problem.

rondesign

I also had this problem cycling, but I think I must have read what Al did and that seem to work for me as well. Didn't take much, just moved the cleat back a little.

Barbara Spitler

Question regarding this thread; a friend of mine gets cramps in her toes, every time she cycles for any length of time. She said that it seems to be one foot morseo than the other. What do you guys think this is related to? It happens after she's been riding for about an hour.