SPD setup - discomfort on outside of foot

digitaldave

I've been riding with SPDs for a couple of weeks now, and generally I find them OK. However, I find that after a while, I get some discomfort on the outside edge of my foot, particularly the right foot. I've tried moving my foot a little in the show whilst pedalling (as much as I can of course), and it seems to ease a bit when the foot is slightly further forward. Should I adjust the position of the cleats so my foot is a little further forward, or could it be something to do with the angle of my feet on the pedals?

Thanks for any advice you can give .

Dave.

wizzlebanger

I've had the exact same problem since moving to SPD pedals. Pain in the outside of my right foot.

I've tried everything apart from different shoes and having a professional bike fit. Only 2 things seem to have eased it.

1. Try to adjust your cleats so that you have the same amount of float either way (left / right). Hopefully, your foot can find it's natural position.

2. I find it's worse if my shoe is over tight so now I wear them quite loose. (Not enough to slip off)

Strangely, it only bothers me for the first 5-10 miles. After that it goes away or I just get used to it so ignore it!

Monty Dog

2 probable causes - shoes too tight or cleat position incorrect.

Cleat position is very much down to the individual - and not everyone's feet are symmetrical. The fact that the pressure is on the outside suggest that you need a greater 'toe-out' for the shoe i.e. your foot inclinationvis to twist the heel in. Make sure you mark your present cleat position on the shoe first to give a reference point and only make small adjustments and allow yourself time to get used to them. Any knee pain for example is an indication of it not being right.

peanut

make sure that the centre of your sole is exactly over the centre line of your pedal. If your foot is too far back it can cause you to unconciously clench your toes which can strain your foot muscles and set up a painful ache and spasm in your foot.
If your SPD cleat adjustment is at maximum in any direction you may have to make some DIY adjustments to increase the adjustment by accessing your cleat clamp plate from inside your shoe.

Don't assume that your feet will be best alighned with the axis of the bike. I walk perfectly normally with no under or over-pronation but I need my SPD shoes to be pointing inwards like pigeon toed :oops:
Once I'd found that out I have never had any pain in my feet or knees since.


My method of setting up is to pre-tighten the cleats almost fully tight so that the cleats will just about move when i twist my feet with some force . Clip in normally and either use a turbo trainer or have a quick hack round the block.

Move your shoe alignment by twisting your feet around until it just 'feels right' Try standing on the pedals for a few minutes cycling which should tell you if the fore and aft position over the pedal is correct .

Then take your feet out of the shoes and mark the cleat position before removing the shoes from the pedals. All you need to do then is reposition the cleats and tighten fully to the marks on the sole of your shoes.

night_porter

+1 for over tight shoes

Before moving the cleats just go for a ride with your laces fairly loose and see if that makes a difference.

I suffer exactly the same problems if my shoes are over tight even though I bought a pair of shoes 1 size too big because I had read Shimano shoes were quite snug.

Rich Hcp

Tight shoes cause a lot of discomfort.

I have Spez BG shoes and these have velcroe straps, s you can vary the tioghtness over the foot.

I found laced shoes not so good in this respect, but everyone is different

wolftone

Talk about "everyone is different". I had the same problem with my new shimano pedals and shoes from wiggle. After fiddling about with the cleats on a couple of rides, i managed to find a position that wasn't agravating my right knee, but it was only when I did my shoes up really tight that the pain in the outside of my right foot went away. Hey- Ho.

StillGoing

Strangely I think there's a third possible cause; seating position. I regularly came back from rides with pain in the outside edge of thethe foot hasn't caused me any problems during those rides. foot and in extremes left me limping for over a week afterwards. someone suggested it might be becaue the seat was too high as the stretching causes pressure on the knee that in turn has an effect lower down the leg etc etc. Sceptical I lowered my seat about 5mm and voille! no more pain in the outside of the foot. I've done a 40 and 50 since and

digitaldave

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone . Last night I tried riding with the shoes not done up as tight as before, and it did make a difference. I'll keep an eye on things to see how that helps, and if the problem comes back, I'll look at some of the other options suggested.

Dave.

Peddle Up!

I have large feet and I spent an absolute age trying to get my cleat adjustment right. In the end I watched carefully where my feet fell naturally on a bike with flat pedals, and realised that the best position for the cleats put my heel INSIDE the crank rotation!

If I tried to bodge it adjusting as close as I could without my heel actually touching the crank I was OK for short rides, but anything over 20 miles gave me knee pain.

A pair of pedal extenders was the solution, allowing my cleat adjustment to suit my "toe-out" stance. Not the most elegant setup, but pain free.

peanut

Peddle Up! wrote:

I have large feet and I spent an absolute age trying to get my cleat adjustment right. In the end I watched carefully where my feet fell naturally on a bike with flat pedals, and realised that the best position for the cleats put my heel INSIDE the crank rotation!

If I tried to bodge it adjusting as close as I could without my heel actually touching the crank I was OK for short rides, but anything over 20 miles gave me knee pain.

A pair of pedal extenders was the solution, allowing my cleat adjustment to suit my "toe-out" stance. Not the most elegant setup, but pain free.

the opposite of my foot alignment Never realised you could get pedal extenders . I'll have to get some.