shellyann76

I got myself some new Specialized S-works shoes and let me tell you it feels like I'm pedaling on two planks of wood. Is this what carbon is suppose to feel like?? To make matters worse my feet are going numb. I'm talking half my foot, the front half and all digits. Is there something that can be done to alleviate this, or is this my foot's way of telling me that these shoes are not for me. I'm coming from Sidi Genius 5 shoes, which caused some pain on the outside of my foot, along the arch, but nothing like what these shoes have caused.

Help, my feet are killing me!!!

nobrainer440

I suspect your feet and your shoes just don't get along.

Frunkin

loosen the straps in the front
If its the one with BOA then idk

inesshell

odd. i find my nike carbons quite comfortable. maybe you need custom fitted soles? why are your feet going numb? is it a tight fitting shoe?

cbaronzzi

Now you tell me. I just ordered a pair of S-works. If they hurt my feet I am going to be mighty cranky. I have never heard a single bad review of the new S-works until this thread. Just curious, but is this your first pair of carbon soled shoes? Have you tried any sole inserts or anything like that?

ZeCanon

Coming from Sidi mtb shoes, carbon soles did take a bit of time to get used to due to the added stiffness. A set of superfeet and a couple rides and I was fine though.

shellyann76

The problem i have is each ride the feet get worse. The first day the digits were numb and the next ride it was up into my arch area. I came from sidis to these shoes and the feet never went numb in my sidis. I just wanted to move up to carbon. I thought it would be a good idea and they would be better. I have also had a lot more leg fatigue with these shoes. I road with my old sidis the first ride out this season and my legs felt like they were just on a longer trainer indoor ride but with the new shoes ouch...Even with loosening the shoes it didn't help the numbness. The feet were worse when I stop at an intersection. I don't know what else to say about these shoes.

They are great looking shoes and they are very light...

Shelly

DrPete 

Have you tried moving your cleats? I found for some reason that when I switched to the S-Works from my Genius 5's I had to move the cleat what I thought was further back.

Also, what size did you have in the Sidis vs. the new S-Works? I've found that the sizes are pretty evenly matched.

Duke of Kent

Have you tried adjusting your saddle height?

With a new set of shoes your stack height (thickness of pedal/cleat/shoe) is going to differ. This could be part of the problem. You might be 5mm too high or low, and believe me, a small difference like that CAN cause problems.

shellyann76

I had a bike fit with these shoes on during the fit so the saddle ht should be right.

I had to go to a 38 in the s-works from a 39 in the sidi shoes. Also when i originally got my sidi shoes and old road bike setup done the guy had to shim my left shoe because of an apparent leg length issue but now apparently there isn't a leg length issue from this new fitter. So with that said i don't know who to believe.

shelly

DrPete 

I think the size might be your problem.

I was wearing 45.5's in the Sidi for a long time and having issues with numb toes. After being told that the Specialized runs a little bigger than the Sidi, I got a pair of Size 45 BG Pro Carbons. And thinking back, my reaction was exactly the same as yours, i.e. riding with the Specialized shoes was excruciating. I ended up with a pair of Sidi Megas in a 46, and my feet have been happy. I was reluctant to try the S-Works but since I got them for next to nothing thanks to a team deal, I figured why not. I got the S-Works in a 46 and have been really happy with them. There was a little numbness at first, but I played with the cleat position a bit and that's gone.

msheron

I have carbon soles as well and my right foot on the outside hurts at times. But other than that they are great. Mine are Cat. 1 shoes from PB.

shellyann76

The thing is they don't have a 38.5 in the s-works shoes. Width isn't an issue either because i have a AA width foot and high arches...Maybe we have to play with the cleats but did you have any problems with your ankle bone being gouged by the shoe right by the boa dial?

DrPete 

No, I haven't had any problems with that... I know the tongue on the Specialized shoes is a little different/longer than Sidi, but it was never a problem on my feet.

As far as the cleats go... I found that in addition to moving them about 2mm back from where I thought they were on the Sidis, I also needed to move the cleats outward on the shoe just a couple mm. I don't know if it has to do with the canted sole of the BG shoes, but when I had the cleat more medial (i.e. closer to my big toe), I got a lot more pressure and some numbness in my first couple toes. Moving the cleat out a bit really helped that, i.e. move the cleat out toward your pinky toe just a bit.

Good luck... The good news is that if it doesn't work, Specialized has a great guarantee.

shellyann76

At least with the sidi shoes you can fold the tongue over the racket...I don't like the tongue on the s-works.

I'll have to try the cleat movement...

rufus

I'm thinking it might be an arch problem. When I got my new Vittorias with the carbon heart sole, I felt the same cramping along the outside of the foot that you had with your Sidis. I tried a pair of the green Specialized Body Geometry insoles, and the problem went away, along with any hot spot/slight tingling problems I was experiencing.

The Specialized shoes come with the regular Body Geometry insert. Perhaps you need more support? And sometimes, carbon soles are just too stiff for some people, and cause the problems you are experiencing. Maybe try the Sidis with the Body Geometry insoles?

Paniolo

Did you buy lbs or Specialized online? If lbs they should be able to let you try out some of the bg insoles. With your high arches I think its an insole issue, maybe aggravated by being a little too short. But if you can raise your arch that will also shorten the length you need.

shellyann76

Thing is i already have the green insoles in the shoe...maybe i need less in the arch and then i can tighten the shoes more and maybe it won't hit the ankle as much...

JayC

Why did you get the green insoles? Thats the version with the most arch. Maybe you dont have as high an arch as you think?

If you bought from an S Works dealer, they have this board you can stand on that will show what insoles you should get. I ended up going from the red to the blue insoles and that got rid of any nagging foot pain I had with those shoes.

JayC

Interesting you say that because I went down a size in the Specialized shoes. Course, I lost some weight too so I got less foot fat to contend with.

bravo106

+1

I had a pair of Sidi in 45. With the stock wafer-thin insole, they fit. When I put in a BG, or any other insole with more substance, they were too tight and I'd really need a 45.5. I also used to have a pair of Pro Carbons, and recently tried on some S-Works, both in a 44.5. With the same insoles, these would give me the same toe room to the front of the shoe as a 45.5 Sidi. Depending on one's feet, a ½ to a full size down is probably the starting point.

rufus

yeah, last fall I was looking at new MTB shoes, and wanted to give the Specialized a try. with my BG insoles, I was at a size 44, but didn't get them cause my feet just didn't feel comfy in them. tried Sidi Dominator Megas, and the size was 44.5. felt like slippers.

I'm puzzled by the original poster's comment that she had the green insoles. I thought the standard BG insole with Specialized was the red one? or maybe not red in color, but the same arch support and metatarsal button as the red insole.

JayC

They actually are red in color.

Thats the standard insole.

DrPete 

Might be that I was wearing the Sidi Megas and needed the extra width of the 46. Who knows--they work.

JayC

Yea.. I was wearing Megas as well. Oh well, I had weight loss to factor in as well so Im sure my feet shrunk a little anyway.