Is it my shoes?

KevChallis

I have recently got in to road cycling, although I have found one problem, after 20 miles or so, my left foot gets pins and needless, then goes a a little numb, followed a few miles later by my right foot, up to that point they feel pretty comfy with no major issues, how tight, is a shoe meant to be? They are dmt vision shoes that were in the sale at Evans for £30, if I need new shoes I would rather get them now instead of waiting and finding it painful after a 75 miler say.

Then what sort of shoe should I look at, anything that you would recommend as I can't get to a shop to try any on, as I have no car at the moment

Thanks for any help and advice offered

doug5_10

They don't need to be super tight, give room for your feet to swell whilst on the ride. I recently had numbness issues solved by undoing my shoes by only one click on the ratchet strap (I notice you only have velcro on those shoes, be a little more difficult to do them up the same each time just using feel) Would also check saddle height and fore/aft adjustment.

unixnerd

I had this when I went to SPD-SLs, slacker straps cured it totally.

KevChallis

Thanks for the reply, my saddle seems really comfy, no pains anywhere else apart from my feet, I asked about how tight they should feel as the velcro is never done up tight, always loose, I am a size 7 normally, I know... Small feet... And bought a size 7 shoe, just wondered if I should have maybe gone up a size

KevChallis

unixnerd wrote:

I had this when I went to SPD-SLs, slacker straps cured it totally.

Straps are slack enough to slip my foot out lol, just wonder whether they are just wrong for my feet, I get no problems on the sole of my foot, apart from numbness after 25ish miles

sungod

if the soles aren't stiff enough it can cause hotspots/numbness due to pressure not being evenly distributed

footbeds can also do it, i find the ones with a metatarsal button prevent numbness

Wirral_paul

Is the numbness in any particular part of your foot?

KevChallis

Wirral_Paul wrote:

Is the numbness in any particular part of your foot?

Generally everywhere apart from my soles, toes, top of foot, I was kind of shocked after 50 miles, my feet were freezing

Wirral_paul

Definitely suggests a circulation issue then - either too tight or possibly too narrow shoes. Your feet will swell slightly as you warm up on the bike - so maybe try backing the straps off after riding for say 10 miles.

KevChallis

Wirral_Paul wrote:

Definitely suggests a circulation issue then - either too tight or possibly too narrow shoes. Your feet will swell slightly as you warm up on the bike - so maybe try backing the straps off after riding for say 10 miles.

Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it, I tried this on my last ride, to the point of the straps being that loose they were doing nothing

marylogic

I got this in winter when I doubled up my socks. How thick are the socks you are wearing? could you try thinner ones if loosening straps hasn't worked?

KevChallis

marylogic wrote:

I got this in winter when I doubled up my socks. How thick are the socks you are wearing? could you try thinner ones if loosening straps hasn't worked?

I wear thin socks, maybe try no socks for the next ride, just to tell whether I need a bigger size from that?

marylogic

I'm not an expert but if you're wearing thin socks and leaving straps as loose as possible I can only think a bigger size might be the answer?

Wirral_paul

marylogic wrote:

I'm not an expert but if you're wearing thin socks and leaving straps as loose as possible I can only think a bigger size might be the answer?

Or a wider make of shoe. I've no idea how DMT compare to others - anyone??

djfleming22

I had this problem for quite a while i thought it was my bike, shoes then chain ring tried everything different socks then it started to better ,,,, 2 things i changed one go up one extra gear sometimes it was caused by pressing to much on the down stoke and putting pressure on the toes and etc going up a gear and giving your toes a little wiggle every now and again ..the next was the miles when i started increasing the mileage and getting fitter i stopped pressing down so much cutting off the circulation... try not to push on the downstroke so much and go up a higher gear especially going up hill... and give a wiggle every so often ...remember i am talking about the feet...goodluck

Jim C

Hard to be exact on this. The shoes that fit my feet the best-Specialized fibreglass soled road shoes with a ratchet strap- although that's irrelevant for you- I can ride them not fastened up, they don't slip. They just fit perfect and I've done many miles in them. they came with footbeds with a metatarsal button, that I didn't get on with. So the footbeds from my old shimanos have been in since day one.
I have 2 other pairs of specializeds both good, better than anything else, but not quite as good as the old pair

Trial and error on width and fit - can U ride to a bike shop, try a few pairs, then ride home in the pair that fit best?

KevChallis

There are 2 lbs, one has specialized only, the other I don't know what they stock so will find out, thanks for all the advise on this

izza

Wirral_Paul wrote:

Definitely suggests a circulation issue then - either too tight or possibly too narrow shoes. Your feet will swell slightly as you warm up on the bike - so maybe try backing the straps off after riding for say 10 miles.

Have to disagree. I had similar issues and symptoms. When speaking to different retailers the most expert/experienced staff repeated the same point - If the pins and needles feeling is circulation based, the symptoms will start straight away. It doesn't take 20 miles for a foot to swell slightly.

So check things fully and back straps off but be aware it can also be nerve damage. I found it to be the latter with me and found it stopped after fitting some Spesh footbeds.

jonomc4

I had this problem. Took a change in saddle (thinner one) and shoes (wider ones) before it was totally removed

Kingsmill1

I was having this problem with my left foot so decided to go for some custom insoles, went to a shop that checks your gait and other stuff. Turned out my left foot turns slightly out to the left so had to adjust my cleats to compensate. Did my first 40 mile ride on the new insoles and had none of the usual pain in my foot but still a little numbness but no where near as bad as before. But the shop said it would take a few rides for my feet to adjust but after one ride I think it was worth it. I'm going to get a proper bike fit later in the year.

prawny

I get this with shimano shoes, specialized footbeds make it much better, the plan is eventually to get some custom footbeds, but at the moment I'm too poor and don't ride enough for it to be a big issue.