Shoes For Flat Feet

SuperCove

After much nagging by me I have managed to get my wife into road riding... the only problem now is that she has really thrown herself into it and is improving fast!

She has got to the point where she wants a set of SPDs but has flat feet, I meant no aches whatsoever.

Can anyone recommend a set of shoes which might suit her?

I will definately be getting her to try any shoes before buying but would just like to know which shoes to try as there are no decent LBS near us and would need to travel.

lycraholic

If she has orthotics, then they can be used with road shoes.

But, if she wants a proper cure, try walking/running in 'barefoot' shoes (e.g. Vibram FiveFingers). I had feet as flat as a pancake, loads of knee problems, ankle sprains, etc. until I started using them. Gradually started fellrunning in them, stretching, working on flexibility; a couple of hundred miles later, my arches are now completely normal. I now view orthotics as a complete scam; of course, they support your foot better so you don't get aches and pains, but the job of supporting your foot should be up to your foot muscles, not some rubber wedge in your shoes!

SuperCove

Thanks, i'll get her to check them out. She was born with club feet so I am not sure if it is curable??

She is ok as long as the bed of her her shoes are flat... any ache support at all usually means that they are very painful for her to wear.

Does anyone know if Specialized do a flat bed for their BD range?

asprilla

If she has orthotics already they she can use them, or a lot of cycle shops will do custom footbeds for you.

I'm flat footed and I just got some Giro Factor shoes; they come with a choice of footbeds with arches of difference sizes.

Calpol

SuperCove wrote:

Thanks, i'll get her to check them out. She was born with club feet so I am not sure if it is curable??

She is ok as long as the bed of her her shoes are flat... any ache support at all usually means that they are very painful for her to wear.

Does anyone know if Specialized do a flat bed for their BD range?

A lot of shops have a pressure sensitive mat from Specialized to assess which insole is best for you. AFAIK there are three different levels of arch support. I have high arches so ended up with the green ones. The pressure mat basically changes colour and you match the result to the insole.

SuperCove

Thanks everyone... better try and track one of these down for her!

giropaul

It sounds as if she may have very specific needs.

I'd find someone who does bike specific custom footbeds e.g. Adrian Timmis at Cadence Sport. The ready made footbeds are fine, as long as the feet are in the common parameters.

graeme_s-2

I have flat feet, my entire arch touches the floor, can't get any flatter! I use some Specialized road shoes with the insoles that came with them. Have used them for years, and they've been absolutely fine.

wishitwasallflat

My lakes are completely flat if you take out the footbeds that came with them I replaced them with flat gel insoles from boots this should work with any shoe where foot forming is achieved with a footbed and not the shoe structure itself (which AFAIK is most). Also I am pretty sure the Spesh red std footbeds are flat.