Ouch ouch my feet!

lost_in_thought
lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
edited August 2009 in Commuting chat
OK, so, as I have mentioned in the Ride Reports thread, I managed my first solo 100km today. Yay me.

Now, I had some minor backside achiness, and some very mild hand pain which was sorted out by moving hand positions, but my feet. My poor feet. They still hurt now, particularly the left.

When I'm riding along, they don't hurt when I'm turning the pedals, but as soon as I coast they start to ache.

It's sort of like a mild pressure pain on the balls of the feet, but the main ouchiness is along the outside of the foot, sort of from the outside of the ball of the foot to the point opposite the highest part of the arch. It's now achy and tingling slightly, which is very odd.

Ouch. Any suggestions?
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Comments

  • -spider-
    -spider- Posts: 2,548
    Do you need wider shoes? I had this problem with running shoes (many years ago).

    -Spider-
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,714
    You weren't wearing your SPD sandals were you?
  • No, I was not, whyamihere! I was wearing Mavic Avenirs with speedplays...

    And, Spider, possibly I suppose, although they don't feel too narrow.
  • Wallace1492
    Wallace1492 Posts: 3,707
    Can you get SPD sandals? Would hav loved some of them in France the last 2 weeks
    "Encyclopaedia is a fetish for very small bicycles"
  • Yep, search Shimano SD60 or SD65.
  • Wallace1492
    Wallace1492 Posts: 3,707
    Fantastic!! Never knew these existed, wish I had found out about these a month or so ago, as was cycling a lot in France for a couple of weeks and joked about getting SPD Sandals, do you use them?
    "Encyclopaedia is a fetish for very small bicycles"
  • Fantastic!! Never knew these existed, wish I had found out about these a month or so ago, as was cycling a lot in France for a couple of weeks and joked about getting SPD Sandals, do you use them?

    A lot, yes, for commuting from about may to about october. They don't make my feet hurt! I wonder if it is the shoes... but then I don't do that sort of distance on the FG.
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    edited August 2009
    Fantastic!! Never knew these existed, wish I had found out about these a month or so ago, as was cycling a lot in France for a couple of weeks and joked about getting SPD Sandals, do you use them?

    A lot, yes, for commuting from about may to about october. They don't make my feet hurt! I wonder if it is the shoes... but then I don't do that sort of distance on the FG.
    Could be they're too narrow. Sometimes it's diificult to tell until you do a long ride.

    It could be that you've done the straps/ratchet too tight and are restricting blood flow*. Feet tend to swell a bit on long rides.

    As the pain is mainly on the outside of the foot it could be you need wedges (my memory may be playing tricks but I think Jash uses some). May need a bikefit to diagnose.

    * Edit: I have inadvertantly over-tightened my mavics and got sore feet as a result.
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    As JG says, the straps might be a bit tight.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Aidy
    Aidy Posts: 2,015
    Ouch. Any suggestions?
    They don't make my feet hurt!


    Wear the sandals!

    SPD sandals are awesome :)
  • Sounds quite similar to ski boot ache. As JG suggested, maybe straps are too tight; possibly shoes are a bit narrow (for your flipper feet).

    If the shoes are new, they should spread over time. May also be new experience pain - IOW, your feet will adapt the more long rides you do and the pain will eventually go away.

    In short, it's the same advice as always.

    W

    T

    F

    U

    :twisted:
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • Aidy
    Aidy Posts: 2,015
    Greg66 wrote:
    In short, it's the same advice as always.

    W

    T

    F

    U

    :twisted:

    Widen The Footwear Units?
  • Hmmmm, I will have to experiment with strap tightness, methinks.

    I shall perhaps also swap the Northwaves that live in London for the Mavics that live up here, and see if I have the same problem.

    New experience pain? Well, although this is the first time I've gone over 100k riding solo, I've done several 40-50m rides with some foot pain, and a couple of other 100k+ rides with others, and there has been some foot pain, alleviated by removing shoes, but this is particularly bad. I can't quite work out what's changed.

    And yes, I do have flipper feet. That's why I was good at swimming.
  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    Lit - when you wear normal shoes ie non cycling shoes do the heels wear more on the outside or the inside ? Most of us don't put our feet down completely flat and this can cause some strain over long distances - I had this problem on my first long distance walk but it can be sorted by getting your shoes fitted properly
  • Harry182
    Harry182 Posts: 1,170
    I used to pump my tires up to the maximum - 120psi - and found the soles of my feet were getting sore on longer rides.

    Based on handling, rolling resistance, puncture resistance advice on other threads I now run my tires at 100psi.

    As well as experiencing the above mentioned benefits - no more foot pain!
  • snig
    snig Posts: 428
    try drinking loads and strectch before and after,with such a long ride your muscles will be taking a beating,if your hamstring starts pulling because of a lack of water or just the work load that will effect your feet but also your feet will swell over that distance so shoes that might fit at the start by the end may well be a size too small.
  • andrewjoseph
    andrewjoseph Posts: 2,165
    I had this when I first started riding on my roadbike, took me a long time to sort out. I still get it occasionally, but after I've been 'mashing' a bit, or when I pull up too hard from the bottom of the stroke.

    I find it a lot easier on my feet when I spin, and try not to pull up at all.
    --
    Burls Ti Tourer for Tarmac, Saracen aluminium full suss for trails
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    JonGinge wrote:

    As the pain is mainly on the outside of the foot it could be you need wedges (my memory may be playing tricks but I think Jash uses some). May need a bikefit to diagnose.

    * Edit: I have inadvertantly over-tightened my mavics and got sore feet as a result.

    I use some custom footbeds as I've got strange feet, those combined with Spesh shoes have eliminated any foot pain. But, yeah you may well have over tightened them. Also your feet will swell more on longer rides, esp when it's warm - perhaps that was a contributing factor?
  • Hmmm, I always have my tyres at the max PSI, so don't think it's that...

    Maybe you do have something with the 'warmer weather = more swollen feet' thing. The other 100k+ rides I've done have been in cooler weather, so maybe it's the distance in the warm weather that did it.

    I will try looser straps on the next ride. Thanks kids.
  • Harry182
    Harry182 Posts: 1,170
    Hmmm, I always have my tyres at the max PSI, so don't think it's that...

    Please let me clarify: Try running your tires at LESS than the max - say 90 or 100 PSI instead of 120. It's gotta be worth a try.
  • Harry182 wrote:
    Hmmm, I always have my tyres at the max PSI, so don't think it's that...

    Please let me clarify: Try running your tires at LESS than the max - say 90 or 100 PSI instead of 120. It's gotta be worth a try.

    Yes, I apologise, I understood what you were saying, but my point was seeing as I always run my tyres at or near to max PSI, the variant that is causing the foot pain can't be that as it's a constant over 3 bikes, not all of which give me foot pain...

    Does that make more sense?
  • Harry182
    Harry182 Posts: 1,170
    Harry182 wrote:
    Hmmm, I always have my tyres at the max PSI, so don't think it's that...

    Please let me clarify: Try running your tires at LESS than the max - say 90 or 100 PSI instead of 120. It's gotta be worth a try.

    Yes, I apologise, I understood what you were saying, but my point was seeing as I always run my tyres at or near to max PSI, the variant that is causing the foot pain can't be that as it's a constant over 3 bikes, not all of which give me foot pain...

    Does that make more sense?

    That does make sense.

    And not to belabour the point but... I only experienced ball-of-foot-numbness on my new bike with it's much more stiff (in a good way) frame and wheels compared to my classic (read "old") steel frame and open pros. I assume you did your 100+ ride on the Viner? It's probably your stiffest (again in a good way) bike/wheels.

    If loosening the straps doesn't work, try slightly lowering the PSI.
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    I was told that this is a symptom of feet being too wide apart. Is it possible for you to move your cleats to the outside of your shoes a bit? Say 5mm on both shoes?

    Des
    - - - - - - - - - -
    On Strava.{/url}
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    Harry182 wrote:
    Hmmm, I always have my tyres at the max PSI, so don't think it's that...

    Please let me clarify: Try running your tires at LESS than the max - say 90 or 100 PSI instead of 120. It's gotta be worth a try.

    Yes, I apologise, I understood what you were saying, but my point was seeing as I always run my tyres at or near to max PSI, the variant that is causing the foot pain can't be that as it's a constant over 3 bikes, not all of which give me foot pain...

    Does that make more sense?
    Lit, this is just because you aren't used to racing shoes. I bet your normal commuting shoes, particularly the sandals, are pretty soft in comparison.

    Hotspots are pretty common. Usually at the balls of the feet, but can be elsewhere depending on your pedaling style.

    Loosening will help, but you don't want to have your foot shifting around in the heel area as a result.

    Try some different insoles. Shoe makers like Carnac make high density foam ones which conform to your feet, but don't soak up pedaling energy. I'm sure you could find something similar at your local footwear emporium.
  • DesWeller wrote:
    I was told that this is a symptom of feet being too wide apart. Is it possible for you to move your cleats to the outside of your shoes a bit? Say 5mm on both shoes?

    Des

    That's a new idea... I have my feet as far out as they'll go on the pedals, because otherwise a) it feels a tad uncomfortable, and b) my heels rub on the stays.

    I'll add it to the list!
  • Lit, this is just because you aren't used to racing shoes. I bet your normal commuting shoes, particularly the sandals, are pretty soft in comparison.

    Hotspots are pretty common. Usually at the balls of the feet, but can be elsewhere depending on your pedaling style.

    Loosening will help, but you don't want to have your foot shifting around in the heel area as a result.

    Try some different insoles. Shoe makers like Carnac make high density foam ones which conform to your feet, but don't soak up pedaling energy. I'm sure you could find something similar at your local footwear emporium.

    OK, to clarify, although I take your point about my commuting shoes being softer, I don't think it's that I'm unused to the racing shoes, I've been wearing these since I got the bike, on some rides longer than 100k, and many rides shorter, but close. I've had some foot pain on previous rides in the same shoes, but this was worse.

    I'll look at the insoles though!
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    Lit, this is just because you aren't used to racing shoes. I bet your normal commuting shoes, particularly the sandals, are pretty soft in comparison.

    Hotspots are pretty common. Usually at the balls of the feet, but can be elsewhere depending on your pedaling style.

    Loosening will help, but you don't want to have your foot shifting around in the heel area as a result.

    Try some different insoles. Shoe makers like Carnac make high density foam ones which conform to your feet, but don't soak up pedaling energy. I'm sure you could find something similar at your local footwear emporium.

    OK, to clarify, although I take your point about my commuting shoes being softer, I don't think it's that I'm unused to the racing shoes, I've been wearing these since I got the bike, on some rides longer than 100k, and many rides shorter, but close. I've had some foot pain on previous rides in the same shoes, but this was worse.

    I'll look at the insoles though!
    I have just retired a set of ancient shoes, much softer than the "weekend shoes" I have. Even though both are several years old and I've used them both quite a lot, I still get hoptspots occasionally with the weekend shoes.

    Note also that a solo 100k is a lot harder a lot more of the time than a group 100k.

    Honestly, you young people, you won't be told.... oh, hang on, wrong thread.
  • Bugly
    Bugly Posts: 520
    try orthotics - same reasoning as with skiing - give your arches support

    good support = less or no pain
  • PinkPedal
    PinkPedal Posts: 180
    I suspect you've probably already looked at this but I had sore outsides of my feet and some knee pain which was solved by angling my cleats so my left foot could point slightly outwards when clipped in. Might be worth a try?
  • chaz81
    chaz81 Posts: 19
    Have you called the Swine Flu emergency telephone number? :oops:

    I think that might be a symptom of the terminal type...

    Sorry.