swekarl

Problems from top to toe... No, it’s not that serious, but at my both weekend tours, 35 and 83 km, I encountered the same problem.

1. When taking a deep breath I have to cough. It’s really annoying and appears immediately after the tour or at the end of it. Is it because of my bare neck? Or because I’ve just recovered from the flu?

2. After about 30 km my toes start to get numb in my SPD shoes. My first thought is that it’s because the pressure is immediately behind the toes, so the toes never have to work, while with normal shoes, you make sure to move them every now and then to massage the whole foot...

Anyone had similar experiences?

catfish

Check the mounting of your cletes to see if they are properly aligned.If you mounted them your self and it was your first time you may not have then mounted and aligned completly proper. they recomend over the ball of the foot. I know many long distance tourists that actually move them a little further back so as not to have so much pressure on the ball of the foot My self i had a problem with he left foot and moved them slightly towrds the rear and my problem was solved.
even if thre shop mounted them recheck them my friend bought new shoes and had the shop mont the cletes when she developed problems we took a look and the right shoe was off in aligment

jmlee

I'd say the cough is related to your recent flu. But, keep an eye on it.

As to the numbness problem, it can have to do with saddle position. I had my saddle too high earlier this year. I discovered that I would get numbness in the feet whenever I rode in the drops for a stretch. When I rode on the tops of the bars it went away. Having lowered my saddle (to a correct height), I no longer have a problem.

I know it seems strange that the numbness in the feet could come from pressure in the saddle area. But I have also been fighting Cupidal Tunnel Syndrome this year. This is something typists get--causing numbness in the two smallest fingers. It is typically caused by pressure at the elbow, but can also come from the neck area. Sitting up more straight has been my biggest source of relief.

So, double-check your saddle position (chiefly height). You could do a test where you ride in the drops and then only on the top of the bars. See what happens.

Cheers,
Jamie

bikebrat

Definitely keep an eye on the cough -- Coughing after exercise can be a symptom of exercise-induced asthma, as I learned from personal experience. I now use an inhaler, and it has made a huge difference in my breathing when I ride.

As for the toes, I used to have that problem too. For me, the solution was two-fold . . . I went to a size larger shoe so that I had room to wiggle my toes during a long ride, and I put pads (Dr. Scholls or something) in the shoe at the ball of the foot to reduce the effect of vibration.

DnvrFox

Numbness - with me it always happens when the shoes are too tight. I use laced shoes, and tend to tighten too much. If I back off and keep them loose, the problem is solved. At least woth a thought on your part.

chewa

I have had exercise induced astha, so watch out if you get breathless as well as coughing.

Most likely a hang over from the flu, as I've recently had the same.

swekarl

Thanks all for your advice. I took an asthma test (just a short one online) and although I only said yes on one question (this one about coughing) it might be that I have some kind of asthma. Worth checking out, after trying some more tours when fully recovered.

As for the shoes, they really aren’t too small. I guess I just have to adjust the clips under the sole until I’ve found their ultimate position. I think I have to move them forward, since that feels more like my ”original” way of pedaling (before I bought SPD). That way my toes will be closer to the part of your foot that pushes the pedal so to speak.

mike

Of course, our Swedish friend Swekarl, you know that cold air can make you cough.

If the air is chilly and you forgot your face mask, put the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth and breath through your mouth. This will warm the air while you ride in the cold and help prevent freezing your lungs.

swekarl

But it was about 13-17 degrees centigrade! Summer is approaching!

Good advice, but ... what is a face mask? Like a balaklava but covering more than just the skull? Or like a total bankrobber outfit?!? :confused:

jmlee

Hey, Swekarl, I just read the following on a bike fit page:

"If you experience discomfort [in your feet] such as tingling, numbness or burning (especially on long rides), move the cleats rearward as much as a centimeter."

I don't know whether that is good advice, but I noticed you saying you wanted to move your cleats forward. I, myself, like my cleats where the ball of my foot is just a bit (1-2 mm) behind the pedal axle. But, maybe there is something to what they say.

Cheers,
Jamie

john999

Sounds like a lung infection to me. When you cough spit out and see whether you have got white lumps coming out.
Can you feel your lungs rattling away ?

[This is not serious BTW].

swekarl

jmlee: That seems strange to move them rearward, but I’m gonna try it on my next longer tour. It might be the solution! Right now I’m only biking shorter distances in the city, and haven’t had the problem again.

Euh! I hope it’s not! But no, it’s actually only a breathing problem and I cough just air, no other things. I’m gonna check up this asthma thing and maybe get myself an inhalator.

jmlee

I agree it sounds strange. I like my cleats a bit forward, too. I just found it on some site (I've now forgotten where). So, I can't at all vouch for it, but the site seemed to give other reasonable advice. It may be worth a try.

One thing I do know from experience is that a very small adjustment can be enough to get rid of numbness. Afterall, nerves are pretty small.

Cheers!

swekarl

One to go... Toe numbness solved!!!

The solution is mentioned in another thread that I don’t find now. Someone wrote: ”Push and pull. Push and pull.” This is somewhat embarrassing, but it seems I just bought the SPD pedals but continued to pedal the same way as I had before! Push. Push. It was first on my tour this weekend that I realized how fast and strong you can ride when pedaling the right way. But it was also hard, I couldn’t do it for longer periods (maybe I have to get used to it).

Cough update. Now it’s really warm outside and I haven’t had any flu. Still got the cough though, even though it’s not as intense and appeared first after 90 km (four hours in strong headwind). Still gonna check it at the clinic.

WorldIRC

maybe urr lungs just arent properly condishened yet. Even your lungs have to get used to breathing a little more than normal since you are doing 80km tours. Go see a doctor but keep seeing if it gets any better as you ride more. I had warm weather asthma but as I continued to ride more, it doesnt bug me anymore. But when I stopped for the winter and just started again, I find my self coughing again but its getting better now.