adimp

I have tried 4 different Sidi's and all have given me the same problems. Tried the Genius 5, Genius 5 "MEGA" width, Ergo 1, and now the Genius 6.6. The Genius 6.6's fit like a glove, but I still get the numb toes. I thought the answer to my problems was the "mega" width, but my foot was moving around all over the place with the straps and buckles at their tightest setting. Add to that, my feet were STILL throbbing with the Megas!

I have heard all the remedies: move the cleat back, thinner socks, insoles...
I have very thin socks (although not cycling specific socks), bought the blue Superfeet insoles, moved the cleats (Look Delta) as far back as possible toward the heel.

Could the problem possibly be the Look pedals/cleats? (Look CX6 pedals). Do other systems (speedplay, spd..) allow a cleat position more toward the heel than the looks?

I'm really thinking the problem is me but I don't know what my problem is.

any input greatly appreciated

nixternal

I have had this same deal with every shoe thus far. It usually takes a few rides before my feet are totally comfortable. Now I don't start getting the pain or numbness until I am well above 50 miles. What I do then is usually loosen the shoe in question, or sometimes just unclip and stretch the leg and foot while recovering. Right now I can do about a 100 miles before I even realize I have feet.

x136 

Hate to risk suggesting the obvious, but you're not doing this all the time, are you?

Caad 8

Loosen the straps and buckles!

deep_sky

Loosen the bindings. Seriously, they only need to be just tight enough to prevent the shoe from sliding off your heel as you pedal. They don't need to be so tight you strangle your feet, which it sounds like you are doing. I've found that with a stiffer sole, you need less binding to keep the shoe secured to your foot.

Urthwhyte

Loosen the straps, you're keeping the shoe your foot, not trying to go down a shoe size.

deep_sky: You don't happen to be an Arsian, do you?

fauxto nick

Have you thought that after trying four different types of Sidis that maybe... possibly... they're just not the right shoe for you even though they're popular with a lot of people. It only took me one pair of Ergo 2's to figure that out. Just because they work for one person doesn't mean the last in that shoe is going to fit your feet optimally.

Inversely I noticed that after a year of cycling as my pedaling mechanics drastically improved I stopped getting numb toes, so it's possibly that poor pedaling mechanics are to blame.

deep_sky

Why yes I am

ultraman6970

Megas clearly are too wide for you, the foot should not be floating inside of the shoe at all.

Do the internal or the external part of the foot hurts also?

pd: your pedals have floating?

Urthwhyte

I wear Ergo 2s that are two and a half sizes too large and have none of the issues that you're describing. Even with there being a cm or so of room at the front of the toe box, I still don't crank the straps down all the way in the middle or front.

deep_sky

You are lucky that such shoes do not cause you pain. I know that if I slapped on a pair of shoes 2 sizes too big, i would have blisters of such godly size even molo would approve.

Urthwhyte

With cycling it's nowhere near as much of an issue as it would be with running, since your feet aren't slamming into the ground or even moving in anything but a concentric circle. The only problem I have is a tiny bit of pain in my arches, as they're used to the non-existent support of bare feet in the Summer and completely flat sneakers in the Winters.

rydaddy

I'd bet money all you need is some cleat wedges

deep_sky

Well, for me, my foot would slide forward into the too-big toebox, then slide backwards on the back-end of the stroke into the too-big heel cup. I do need arch support as well, as I expect most people need at least some support.

It just sounds like the OP is strangling his feet because he thinks that it's necessary to keep the shoes on securely.

lazerzxr

Use arch support such as spesh BG shoes and insoles which will stop your feet sliding and give better support plus help your toes spread out a bit. You can then loosen the straps without your foot moving. That would be your best bet IMO

^oZ

Might I suggest getting some shoes that actually fit?

Dheorl

Possibly try a different make of shoes.

carpediemracing 

Straps.

Sidis are too comfy and make it too easy to overtighten the buckles/straps. This is especially true with the rotary clicking thing up front.

Even though I've had many pairs of Sidis over the years, and even though I know this, I still find myself loosening the front buckles on my shoes after over-tightening them inadvertently.

The big strap, that I cinch down moderately hard. The front two buckles, extremely loose, so loose they can't possibly be doing any good. A good check? If I click one more time my feet start going numb. Unclick, ride for 5 minutes, check foot status.

Wedges have to do with knee/ankle pain. They have more to do with lining up joints versus whether your foot is numb or not.

cdr

bloomieracer

In my experience a little numbness means the shoes might be too tight but pain means wrong shoes even if you think they fit. High arches are always a problem. Arch support/insoles can definitely help and Adidas are the best shoes I know of for narrower feet and high arches (I certainly haven't tried them all).

adimp

Pedaling mechanics is what I feel is my problem. I don't know if my high arches have anything to do with anything, but I consciously try to not push/pedal with balls of feet but rather feel like I'm pushing with heel which I thought would relieve some of the pain.

I don't strap or buckle them tightly at all. I was just describing how loose the mega width was on my foot even with the straps at the tightest setting.

adimp

I do have high arches.. So Adidas makes cycling shoes? And are they the recommended shoes for those w/ high arches? The blue superfeet insole has a nice arch support, but I still had the pain.

adimp

I don't strap them tightly at all.. I was just describing how loose the megas were on my foot. with the other shoes, I don't even use the ratcheting thing to tighten..

adimp

What shoes did you go to after the Ergo 2's?

topflightpro

I also suggest you consider another brand of shoes.

I too had similar problems with Sidis. I tried everything, moving the cleats, tightening the straps, loosening the straps, different sizes, megas and non-megas, but nothing worked. My feet would go numb and I had a giant, painful callous form on one foot.

I switched to Specialized Pro Carbon in a wide width almost two years ago. They fit much better and I do not have the numbness problems and the callous has since gone away.

Good luck.

adimp

I'll check into that.. To save my lazy ass some googling, tell me the benefit?