Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Feet hurting

I just got back from a 12 minute, 1.5 mile ride. I would have gone longer but I was getting out of breath and my feet were killing me. My legs were fine, but the actual soles of my feet were(and still sort of are) throbbing.

What's up with that? Anything I can do to prevent that? I've got metal MTB pedals and I'm wearing regular sneakers.

You might try stiffer soled shoes. Other than that, it could be that your feet aren't positioned properly on the pedals. You want the ball of your foot even with the pedal spindle.

The soft soled shoes are probaly your culprit.

I would bet it is the shoes. As others have said try to find a shoe with a much stiffer sole. It'll make a world of difference.

get some clips to keep your feet in a good position, im sure your feet will adjust once you start riding more

Can y'all suggest some shoes? I wear a 14W, but technically I'm a size 12. I can't find 12s that are wide enough so I have to settle for 14s.

I use a pair of New Balance 603 walking shoes. New Balance is really good about wide shoes. I think I've seen these as wide as 13EEEE. I suggest these because they have a nice stiff sole, which helps protect your feet.

I can ride my roadie for ever and no feet issues but jump on the MTB for a short jaunt with kids and I get the same thing from wearing running shoes. Put on some clips and cycling shoes I had kicking around, problem solved.

I had a bout with foot pain last year that sounded a lot like yours. I'd get up in the morning and could barely walk the pain was so bad. I was sure it was planters faciitis. I started stretching my feet (pulling my toes up toward my knees) and it went away. I will agree with stiffer soles being better and clipless is awesome but these may not be the complete answer for you. Google planters faciitis and see if the symptoms sound familiar. Good luck, foot pain is definately a pain.

I would theorize that there's a foot problem and a shoe problem here. I say this because i wear soft-soled shoes, and don't have that problem.

Some bikes have spiky grippy pedals, if that's the issue, you can change to the rubber-block pedals, which are pretty cheap.

You might try varying your foot position to see if there is a preference. With the pedals that lock your foot in place, they tend to put the ball of your foot over the pedal. Riding on rubber-block pedals, I usually have the arch of my foot over the pedal. The former lets you spin faster, the latter lets you get more force on the pedal. Anyway, whichever way you're doing it, try it the other way.

When you start up a hill and are pushing hard, make a conscious effort to lift with the opposite leg. This reduces the amount of force you have to apply to the pedal, and also gets extra muscles involved in the process.

Try using lower gears and pedaling a bit faster, which would reduce the force on the pedal.

Another thing that nobody has mentioned is socks. Some times an ill fitting sock can cause severe pain. When I played ice hockey I had to play barefooted in my skates. Socks often created unbearable pressure points almost to the point of being unable to make it back to the bench, untie skates reposition socks, play a shift, repeat. Then a friend asked why I bothered with socks at all and I didn't have an answer. So I ditched them and never had a problem again. I hate socks, and would never wear them if etiquette permited. Also, the smell is sometimes a nasty side effect too!

But remember, choosing the proper sock is almost as important as the shoe! Or again, just go without.

Eric...

I wear anywhere from a 13E to a 13EEEE depending on the shoe manufacturer. I pretty much gave up on buying shoes in a shoe store. Most online shoe stores now have free shipping both ways, so that you can try them, and if they don't fit, you can send them back. My running shoes are Asics 13EEEE plus they were designed for orthotics, so they are even a little wider than that. They are the first size 13 that I have ever had that are almost too wide. I have also noticed that my feet have actually slimmed up a little along with the rest of my body as I have lost weight. Try zappos.com for a good starting point.


Can y'all suggest some shoes? I wear a 14W, but technically I'm a size 12. I can't find 12s that are wide enough so I have to settle for 14s.

HI,
My first riding shoes were old leather rocksports with steel last, they would never bend on the pedals if I wore sneekers my feet would ache.
Doug

Depending on your budget consider getting shoes with a stiffer sole. When I first began I kept a pair of old worn running shoes because they had stiff soles. An actual biking shoe would probably be the most expensive, but alternatives could be a hiking shoe, walking or crosstraining shoe, or skate boarding shoe. I found the skate boarding shoe to be comfortable and stiff. I wear those for my commuter bike and they work well in the winter to help keep my feet warm.

insoles may help stabilise your foot

sidas con'formable http://www.conform-able.com/activity.php?sLang=EN&iIdAct=4

superfeet http://www.superfeet.com/activity/cycling.aspx

I use the conformable for cycling and they've pretty much stopped any numbness and hotspots. I've also got the superfeet in my hiking boots and they, compared to cushion insoles from spenco, scholl and sorbothane, actually work.

I'll add to the fray and do a +1 on the New Balance/flatter platform combo. Regular cheapie platforms - the "spikey" ones - kill my feet as well, no matter what the shoe. When I switched to some gigantic but cheap Wellgo platforms two years ago, it was a world of difference. I'd try some of those first, then switch shoes.

Cycling shoes are great, honestly, but if you are just starting out I'd go with a multi-purpose shoe and a wider pedal. I've ridden centuries on platforms with sneakers with little foot issue (after about 80 or 90 miles I get some numbness), and I know others have as well. It's all about finding the right combo :).

FWIW the pedals I've liked are cheap Wellgo wide platforms and some BMX ones I forget the name of :). If the Wellgos weren't so beat up, I'd offer to send them to ya.. but they've been hurt :). I wish I knew the name of the cheapie BMX ones I got, they've got about 3,000 hard miles on 'em, and they work great.

It could also be a saddle that doesn't suit you.

I've been having excruciating pain in my feet from cycling. It turns out to be a pinched nerve in my back. I'm going to try upright handlebars which won't have me crouching so low. That might help me. I think stretching exercises might help alleviate my pinched nerve.