Specialized Footbeds - any good?

macondo01

I'm flat footed. Are these footbeds any good?

http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/eshop.asp?wce=SHOSP06FB101&wci=product

Thanks

FOAD

I hit the road twelve months ago in a pair of Sidi Genius 5's with the standard wafer thin footbed.

I suffer from flat feet and in the SIDI's mine were always giving me jip, and I also suffered from constant aching calves which was constant when off the bike as well as on it (I was riding about 200 miles per week over 4 days commute and at least one good ride). I put this down to me being a heavier rider and putting down lots of power etc. and hoped as I lost weight it would get better, but it didn't

In January this year I dropped in a set of the red Spesh insoles. Almost all foot pain (hot and numb feet etc. disappeared) and also miraculously the pain in my calves went (the calves over about 3 days gradually). The only pain I can still get in my SIDI's occasionally is from the tendon in the bottom of the foot being aggravated by flexion in the sole (Plantar Fasciitus) because they aren't stiff enough for me.

Went and bought a pair of Spesh Pro Road on the basis of this and my feet are now in heaven. Still love the look and finish of the SIDI's so may get a carbon soled pair later and just use Spesh insoles.

Three mates also hit the road at the same time, all in Spesh shoes with these insoles in and I know they have never had any problems at all.

They also come with 3 varus wedges for foot alignment if you fancy using them (I would try the insoles first then when you are happy then experiment with the wedges if you want, rather than doing it all at once).

Have seen them closer to £20 on JE James.

macondo01

Thank you. Really useful information. I'll try some in soles. Much appreciated.

sungod

they get my vote too, i pronate quite a lot and have custom footbeds for running shoes, just never thought of it for the bike until...

i had a couple of months with a niggling knee pain that would not go away - tried bike fit, doctor, rest, knee brace, etc.

i got some as i use spesh bg shoes - which give a fair bit of support and i learned have already built-in the equivalent of a 1.5mm yelow shim (thicker on the inside edge of foot)

fitting the yellow shim was an almost instant cure, but to get full support i found the blue footbed plus the shim was what i needed

the red ones are the same as the footbed in spesh bg shoes

the blue gives quite a lot of support

the green is massively arched

hopper1

I use an orthotic arch support insert in my day shoes and runners, but I use these in my Sidi Ergo II's.
Very comfortable.

macondo01

Thanks sungod.

The guide for which foot bed seemed a bit back to front when I first read it. Red = min support for people with flat feet, green lots of support = people with high arches, normal feet.

I thought flat footed folk like me would need lots of support. Then again I suppose if you have a high arch you need a higher support and vice versa. I suppose its about stabilsing the foot rather than jacking it up?

sungod

Macondo01 wrote:

Thanks sungod.

The guide for which foot bed seemed a bit back to front when I first read it. Red = min support for people with flat feet, green lots of support = people with high arches, normal feet.

I thought flat footed folk like me would need lots of support. Then again I suppose if you have a high arch you need a higher support and vice versa. I suppose its about stabilsing the foot rather than jacking it up?

yes i think that's it

there are shops that will do an 'official' bg fit, not sure if it costs any extra, but might be worth seeing if there's one near you tha does it

macondo01

Cheers sundog!

Solis

sungod wrote:

Macondo01 wrote:

Thanks sungod.


there are shops that will do an 'official' bg fit, not sure if it costs any extra, but might be worth seeing if there's one near you tha does it

Macondo - Leisure Lakes 2 minutes off Jct2 M66 do the footbeds and fitting advice if that's any help.

macondo01

Thanks Solis.

White Line

FOAD wrote:

I hit the road twelve months ago in a pair of Sidi Genius 5's with the standard wafer thin footbed.

I suffer from flat feet and in the SIDI's mine were always giving me jip, and I also suffered from constant aching calves which was constant when off the bike as well as on it (I was riding about 200 miles per week over 4 days commute and at least one good ride). I put this down to me being a heavier rider and putting down lots of power etc. and hoped as I lost weight it would get better, but it didn't

In January this year I dropped in a set of the red Spesh insoles. Almost all foot pain (hot and numb feet etc. disappeared) and also miraculously the pain in my calves went (the calves over about 3 days gradually). The only pain I can still get in my SIDI's occasionally is from the tendon in the bottom of the foot being aggravated by flexion in the sole (Plantar Fasciitus) because they aren't stiff enough for me.

Went and bought a pair of Spesh Pro Road on the basis of this and my feet are now in heaven. Still love the look and finish of the SIDI's so may get a carbon soled pair later and just use Spesh insoles.

Three mates also hit the road at the same time, all in Spesh shoes with these insoles in and I know they have never had any problems at all.

They also come with 3 varus wedges for foot alignment if you fancy using them (I would try the insoles first then when you are happy then experiment with the wedges if you want, rather than doing it all at once).

Have seen them closer to £20 on JE James.

+1!

I use Spesh insoles in my Sidis as well. Got rid of all pain in my feet and tendons behind my knees.

toontra

On long multi-day rides I'd get hot-foot regularly, the worst case being 4 months of loss of sensation in my toes after LEL 2009. I've also suffered from a dodgy right knee for years.

A couple of weeks ago I got fitted for some footbeds - turns out I have a ridiculously high arch, so definitely green for me! At the weekend I got a chance to give them a proper try on a 300 mile audax, and the results were impressive. Not only no more hot-foot, but the yellow shim seems to have corrected my knee alignment (I think they used to track slightly inwards) so no knee pain either.

If this performance continues then it will be the best £25 I've ever spent - and I don't mean just cycling!