Road Cycling - First 40 miler and shoe hot spots.

Hi All,

Yesterday, I completed my first 40 miler! I've done lots of 30+'s and I commute to work at least once a week, which is 14 miles each way. We actually finished our ride at 32 miles but I wanted to push the distance a bit since I have my first metric century coming up in mid-August.

I had no issues with fatigue, etc. I was pretty well hydrated, took a bar with me and enjoyed a nice peanut butter and jelly sandwich when I got home. Feel fine today.

My one problem, though, was the hot spots, felt them on the forward soles of both feet near the end and could use some help in figuring out how to handle them. Mind you, we didn't take any breaks on this ride, other than about a minute here and there. During the metric, I expect to stop and walk around during each of the three breaks.

WARNING! THE FOLLOWING IS A FLAME-FREE ZONE!

I ride an OCR2 with toe straps. That was a decision made because I wanted the simplicity of using my tennis shoes, not spending more money on new shoes when I bought the bike, getting used to clipless, plus I ride with my 9 year old and we stop a lot!

I don't need to be convinced to buy clipless. Yes, I know they are more efficient, etc. and I have no problem understanding nor believing it. I'll buy them when I'm ready, okay? So, please no big long threads on that.

Rather, what can I look for to solve my problem given my set of circumstances? I've tried both cotton and double layer socks I use for running. Would it help to loosen or tighten the cages? They are fairly loose at the moment.

Thanks for any advice I can use!

Sheldon

Try tightening the cages. Also, if you are riding in tennis shoes, the problem may be that the soles aren't stiff enough and are flexing too much, which could translate to the bottom of your feet. Good road shoes have very stiff soles.

Also, somebody suggested trying a Dr. Scholls type insert but I haven't any experience with those.

55/Rad

Sorry for the Hijack :D

Ditto but this time it's clipless

Shimano SPD-SL shoes with SPD-SL cleats. Shoes and riding clipless are new to me. I wore them in the store for about an hour since I know I have wierd feet. Felt good after an hour so I took em home. Went out for 30 miles this afternoon and with about 5 miles to go I felt the 3 outside toes on my left foot start to burn. It felt similar to the old Lange bang I'd get from Lange Banshee Ski boots :eek: but those did it to just about every one.

Is there a link to fine tuning shoe fit and alignment?

PS I was using the loose cleats with more float built in.

I had some limited sucsses with blistershield foot powder, it helps a little with my left hotfoot.

note: I was on a training ride and asked a couple of my partners what they thought about it, One guy asked me to describe the problem in detail so I did. He then said "I know how to fix that!" I said "great, what do i do?"


He said "Take your thumb and pointer finger and touch them together" so I did "Now press them together really hard, and shut the feck up about it!"


HAHAHAHAH!!!

I have this same problem. I'd love a solution, if there is one. The only thing that works for me, is to occasionally, take a pause for the cause, stand up and walk around.

He said "Take your thumb and pointer finger and touch them together" so I did "Now press them together really hard, and shut the feck up about it!"


One possible solution is slightly exposed in the above little line. If you do the above your thumb and finger will begin to hurt and the longer you do it the more they will hurt. Guess what, you have to move on the bike or you will begin to hurt. Every milestone I've passed will lead to different pains, hand tingling, sore butt, foot pains/dead foot, calf cramping, lower back spasms, neck pain, really sore butt, on and on. Every milestone passed has required an adjustment to riding to solve and hopefully preempt the above pains. Most are dealt with through maintenance routines you must incorporate into your ride. Two non-shoe/clipless solutions to dead foot are wiggling and scrunching your toes every 5 or so miles, generally only for 10 seconds or so ususally works for me or once dead foot sets in, pedaling 'heel' down for a while. I have no idea why the second one works, but it does and it also helps stretch out the calf muscles.

Years ago before I went clipless I had a pair of Lake stiff soled shoes I used with my toe clips-bought them on sale and they worked well. I do use insoles in my clipless shoes and I think they help.

You need stiffer shoes. The burning outer toes may feel better if you loosen the front of the shoe or you need wider shoes.