hikerr

Is it a good idea to buy some gel insoles or not? I have just begun getting into cycling and really enjoying it apart from one thing the pedals after a bit start to hurt. im assuming its something to do with the pressure that builds up when I push down on the pedals. One of my friends told me i need some arch support insoles or some gel insoles at least to spread this pressure and this should stop this from happening. At the moment when i cycle the only thing that stops me is the pain. If i do need some insoles which ones to get? Will any suffice? do these look okay?


Im a bit of a novice n all so I have no clue.... any help? thanks

(Or do I not need to bother with insoles at all and just need thicker shoes and change my pedaling technique?)

rdtompki

Why not provide a bit more information: shoes, pedals, cadence, terrain? Platforms and tennis shoes can certain cause sore feet especially when combined with "mashing". Tell us more!

hikerr

Hi, im currently only wearing some pretty rubbish flat soled trainers the aches develops most when i push down on the bike pedals. the pain is like a itchy soreness around the arch of my foot and might be caused by the pedals digging in.. maybe. I dont have any problems with my feet when not cycling, the effect is very much worse say if i go on the exercise bike without any shoes on.

fietsbob

My Best setup was found after trial and error and It was used on my long solo tours

Insole anatomic Shaped Birkenstock cork composite (3/4 length)

in a loose fitting shoe sole modified to include a ecessed hour Glass slot cleat.

and a road toeclip pedal . loose straps .. slot in shoe holds foot on the pedal well enough,

curved wide slot allows a natural float, shoe stiff enough to support foot pedaling

though off the bike the stiffness has the heel riding up like a penny-loafer
but that is a concession to the riding function..

Users of clipless pedals need tighter fit shoes , just because loose
You may pull you foot out of the shoe as easily as release the pedal system..



JRA around town sprinting at stoplights, so Mashing hard then,
a insole with a stiffener from ball of foot back may help ,
the gel there as pictured in 1st post, seems to offer none.

blacknbluebikes 

I think you need some harder soles between your feet and the pedals. Most "bike-only" shoes have very stiff soles. Among other things, stiff soles distribute the pedal pressure across a greater area of your foot. Also, make sure the pedal's axle is under the ball of the foot, not the arch.

And you really might want to re-think that "barefoot on the exercise bike" thing...

The gel inserts might help, and it's not a big investment to try them out, right?. I used them last winter just to get a bit more insulation and improve the fit of my "cheaper" bike shoes, but they don't add a bit of stiffness to the soles. Another "not too expensive" thing you might consider is to put some toe-clips on the pedals. This will ensure a good position and help make sure you are "spinning" not "mashing" on those pedals.

Machka 

Get some decent shoes with stiff soles.

bkaapcke

An arch support with a metatarsal pad should do the trick. bk

pdlamb

^^ Best choice. Second best choice might be to get some pedals with a bigger platform.

antimonysarah

Uh, this is very misleading. You do want your shoes tight enough not to pull out of them, but that's pretty obvious. You want room for your feet to swell, and thus shoes that feel loose around the front of the foot. Heels should stay put when you pedal, but the fronts should be roomy.

10 Wheels

Agree ^^^

10 Wheels

I found some sports shoes on clearance.

Ground off the front rubber cleats.

Totally hard soles and work great with toe clips.

fietsbob

That used to be where cyclocross shoes were .. not that long ago
take the front cleats off to get shoe in the toe clips..