phoshizzo

I recently got a new bike w/ Speedplay Zeros and Specialized S-Works shoes. I've been riding them for about 2 weeks now and since day one, have been getting hot spots and knumbness at the balls of both feet. At first I thought it was the new shoes having to get broken in, but after a few hundred miles, the hot spots and knumbness is getting worse.

I was hoping that some of you can give me some advice as to how to position the cleat to relieve the hot spots.

Should the cleats be moved forward or back?

Can this be a pedal or shoe issue?

I used to ride DMT shoes and Look pedals and never had a problem. Everyone spoke highly of the Specialized shoes and the Speedplays, so I decided to make the change. I'm starting to wonder if I should sell the Speedplays and get some Look Keos. I don't know if I'm just used to clipping into Looks for so long, but the Speedplays are hard for me locate and to clip into.

Thanks for the help

ultraman6970

Speedplay system is similar to time with 4 bolts... U should be able to move the plates under the shoe sole for sure so then ull be able to move the cleat front or back.

About the shoes... maybe the cleats are in the wrong position??... Maybe the shoe is is too stiff and too narrow... when the shoe it is too tight for your feet u get those circulation problems... the way to fix that is untight (dont know the exact word ok?) the velcro and then re-acomodate the foot again...

What I think is that the shoe it is too new and u r tighting the velcro straps too much. Maybe the shoe its too narrow for u, u have to figure it out because always in the store the shoe fit perfect and riding it is a total different story.

If your feet it is a little bit wide U might like try to get old carnacs like Carnac Platinum for example. Some stores still have them.

A patch solution could be use the new pedals with the old shoe, then ull know exactly what it is, or the old pedal with the new shoe, both combination will work the same way, I doubt is it a problem with the pedal.

cya

sleepystarz

Ya, don't tighten your shoes too much.

Also, try moving your cleats BACK just a little bit, you might have them a little too far forward.

I have the zeros with sidi genius 5 shoes. No problems at all here. Good luck.

phoshizzo

Shoes aren't too tight. I have already backed off on tightening the shoes and I'm still having problems.

I'll try moving the cleats back and see if that helps.

thanks for the tips

merlin70

also slide your cleats to the outside of the shoe, moving your foot closer to the crank as much as possible without it hitting. That will help spread the load a little off just the ball of your foot. Speedplays tend to have a short spindle so I find it helps to have the shoes tucked as close as possible to the crank.

onRoffR

I had a lot of problems with specialized shoes, on top of the fact that I did not have joint pronation that the BG is compensating for. to the the metatarsal button,that caused discomfort and pain on the balls of my feet. I had to get rid of the shoes after 6 months. I really wish Specialized would make Non Body Geometry shoes because the quality of construction and materials is top notch if all the BG stuff meshes with your body they are great shoes. At first I tried using moldable insoles to compensate but it wasn't quite right. I swithced to DMT shoes now and no longer have any problems.

mahv

Specialized shoes tend to run on the wide size which should suit you but may not. Try removing the insert and replacing it with a gel one. Also try moving your cleats back quite a bit more than you'd think. There is an excellent article on the benefits of having the cleats behind the ball of the foot however have lost the link.

The advice given by Ultraman6970 is sensible. "A patch solution could be use the new pedals with the old shoe, then ull know exactly what it is, or the old pedal with the new shoe, both combination will work the same way, I doubt is it a problem with the pedal."

ultraman6970

whats BG??? Blow great?.. i got lost there...

jimblairo

I was using X-2's on Sidi Mega Genius shoes and used to get hot spots. I installed a shim on the inside edge of the cleat and it solved the problem.