I have a question for you guys.

I have very stiff specialized shoes with speedplay zeros. Used them for 2 years. Had to shim the cleats to get them to not hurt the outside of my arch. The left more than the right, both tilting my shoes out. After messing around, I got it to feel pretty good, but would get toe numbness after longer rides.

So, this year, I decided to get the blue inserts, which have the medium arch support, as that is what my foot imprint shows I need. Well, the toe issue went away, but the arch felt odd. So, I took out the shims, and that really made my outside arch hurt. When this happens, I find that if I pull my knees in, that lessens the pain, pushing the knee out really increases the pain.

So, my question to all of you is, without going for a pro fitting, where do I start to get rid of the outside arch pain? The Specialized inserts come with plastic shims to put in the shoe, which I have not tried. I can go back to shimming the cleats. I can move the cleats right/left a small amount, or forward, as I think I have the adapter plates mounted as far back as they go.

Yeah, I know, go get a pro fitting. Well, I don't like getting fitted. I have found that I don't give proper feedback to get the right corrections. And, I think other people's real life experience is better than one guys guess.