Custom footbeds... worth it?

JimboPlob

Hi

I have had a retul bike fit so I am confident my position is good on the bike. However, the fit did not pay any attention to my foot/cleat setup.

I am aware that during hard riding, my left foot collapses inwards, which causes my left knee to track in towards the top tube. I also saw a physio who said my left foot does collapse when standing behind me.

I am confident my cleats are set-up fine, as I had someone look at them separately.

I currently use blue specialised insoles, but I am wondering it would be worth spending the £150 odd for custom made insoles.

Thanks

EnglishChris

I have very flat (collapsing) feet. I used the green Specialised footbeds for a while in my BG Tahoes and they made a huge difference to the foot ache that I had been getting with the original footbeds.

However, my physio has since suggested I use my custom made orthotics (which I use for every day walking etc) - and these feel even better, as they fit each foot properly. Whether or not you can use 'normal' orthotics apparently depends on how they've been made. Depending on your foot problem, I understand some orthotics are designed to allow the foot to roll when walking, and that these wouldn't be suitable for bike shoes. Mine don't do that so are ok. If you had some made specifically for biking I'm sure they'd be ok.

The problem that I am finding, is that to use normal orthotics, the shoe needs to have a flat inner base (once you've removed any existing insole). My Tahoes do have a flat inner, but now I'm looking for a replacement shoe, I'm finding that most have a sculpted base which doesn't work with normal orthortics, and that the level of sculptedness differs between shoes, so you might have to be pretty sure that you were sticking with the same shoe design for a while before having some bike specific ones made.

You'd probably be best going to speak to a podiatrist who can specialise in bike shoe orthotics....

Anonymous

I have some moulded sidas footbeds as part of my bike fit with Adrian Timmis, can't ride without them in now...

mrushton

Ours were done by Cyclefit who may now offer an upgraded version but NapDs recommendation may have that facility. When you see the custom insole you wonder why manufacturers fit cheap insoles (Sidi especially). Cyclefit would pos. recommend a shoe like a Shimano or Lake that can be heated to give a custom fit. You can do this yourself with Lake or the new Time shoes

JimboPlob

Nap, few questions.

I have tried red/blue/green spec insoles, but my foot still seems to pronate when I pedal.

When they make the sidas, how do they determine the ammount of arch support. I have read that they should feel mildly intrusve when standing.

Have you got anything to compare the sidas to?

Thanks in advance!

SBN

Hi

I am having problems with a numb right foot at the moment so i have booked a bike fit and i expecting to have to buy custom footbeds. are these of any use to you?

http://www.bike-science.com/products/fo ... 6_339.html


Not to bad a price thought.

Anonymous

The sidas are moulded to your feet by you standing in what feels like clay and you sink in. They therefore support your feet perfectly whatever their shape... They do feel mildly intrusive when standing. They feel amazing when riding and going back to no footbeds is horrendous!

gbs

Without any doubt YES if you cannot correcct the proanation with standard insert and wedges. Alternatively plan for knee surgery in say 15 yrs time.