Specialized Shoes help with numbness?
04-23-07, 09:03 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Gilbert, AZ
Posts: 671
Bikes: Specialized Allez Comp
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Specialized Shoes help with numbness?
Specialized claims that there shoes have "Body Geometry" features that help alleviate foot numbness. I don't get that numbness all the time but occasionally. I was wondering if anyone had experience any benefit when switching to one of specialized's shoes in this area or if it's just a bunch of marketing.
04-23-07, 09:06 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: mississippi
Posts: 386
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
probably marketing..i have specialized shoes and i still get numb.. Most numbness comes from incorrect placing of the cleat on the shoe.
04-23-07, 09:07 PM
#3
Dirt-riding heretic
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Posts: 17,413
Bikes: Lynskey R230/Red, Blue Triad SL/Red, Cannondale Scalpel 3/X9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
Nope, it's the real deal. I had issues with numbness until I put some BG footbeds into my Sidis. Now I ride the S-Works Carbon shoe and it's awesome. I could never find the right cleat placement before them.
I think I still have a pair of the footbeds with shims in a 45/46 if you want to try them...
I think I still have a pair of the footbeds with shims in a 45/46 if you want to try them...
__________________
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
04-23-07, 09:12 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Posts: 1,643
Bikes: '71 Raleigh Sports, '84 Schwinn LeTour on the trainer (and available for hill repeats), '06 Scott CR1 SL (Ksyrium SL), and a yet-to-be-determined TT bike.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I wear Specialized Women's Pro Carbon shoes. No problems, and that says a lot given some neuropathy and numbness I have in the absence of riding.
04-24-07, 12:29 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,309
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by azwhelan
Specialized claims that there shoes have "Body Geometry" features that help alleviate foot numbness. I don't get that numbness all the time but occasionally. I was wondering if anyone had experience any benefit when switching to one of specialized's shoes in this area or if it's just a bunch of marketing.
I have "specialized" road shoes. Numbness of my feet is a constant problem when I go for a bike ride. Perhaps "specialized" shoes don't cause the problem, but they sure as hecx don't prevent it! Ah, well, lets not blame "specialized" -- after all, Giant probably makes their shoes
04-24-07, 12:44 PM
#6
Unique Vintage Steel
my foot numbness problem was helped, but not completely alleviated by getting a set of Specialized shoes.
04-24-07, 01:05 PM
#7
Reposting Yuppie Scum
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wylie, TX
Posts: 442
Bikes: '98 Cervelo Eyre, '80 Centurion Lemans 12, '96 GT LTS-3, '05 Specialized Allez Elite Cro-Mo
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The specialized shoes seemed to be the most comfortable in the price range I shop in. I've been happy with BG shoes for a couple of years now.
04-24-07, 01:14 PM
#8
I play in the street.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: College: K-State; Home: Overland Park, KS
Posts: 977
Bikes: 2005 Allez Triple, 1971 Schwinn Varsity Fixed Gear Conversion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by cuda2k
my foot numbness problem was helped, but not completely alleviated by getting a set of Specialized shoes.
04-24-07, 01:23 PM
#9
Dirt-riding heretic
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
Posts: 17,413
Bikes: Lynskey R230/Red, Blue Triad SL/Red, Cannondale Scalpel 3/X9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
Everyone's foot is different, and even Specialized doesn't claim that their shoes are perfect for everyone.
Just because they didn't work for you doesn't make it all marketing hype, nor can you expect them to be a 100% cure based on the positive experiences of others.
Just because they didn't work for you doesn't make it all marketing hype, nor can you expect them to be a 100% cure based on the positive experiences of others.
__________________
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
"Unless he was racing there was no way he could match my speed."
04-24-07, 07:02 PM
#11
Over the hill
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 24,374
Bikes: Giant Defy, Giant Revolt
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 996 Post(s)
Liked 1,204 Times
in
690 Posts
My foot went numb the first ride I had on my Specialized Sport shoes, and no amount of loosesning the straps would wake my foot up. I found that I had initially strapped it too tight, though, and all of my other rides have been fine. The footbed might be nice, but the straps can still pinch a vein or two.
__________________
It's like riding a bicycle
It's like riding a bicycle
04-24-07, 07:16 PM
#12
Cycle for life...
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 1,338
Bikes: Trek 5200 | Cannondale Six13 TeamOne | Cannondale Road Tandem | Cannondale Prophet 3 "Lefty"
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I finally tried Specialized shoes after trying two others (Sidis and Shimanos) and the Specialized shoes dealt with my numbness and discomfort around 70 or 80%.
__________________
-\Brian
18' Landshark Tandem - Custom
15' Wabi Special Single-Speed Road
06' Cannondale Six13 TeamOne
06' Cannondale Prophet 3 "Lefty"
92' Trek 5200
-\Brian
18' Landshark Tandem - Custom
15' Wabi Special Single-Speed Road
06' Cannondale Six13 TeamOne
06' Cannondale Prophet 3 "Lefty"
92' Trek 5200
04-24-07, 08:11 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: East coast
Posts: 2,671
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac Expert, Cannondale R700, Specialized Langster, Iron Horse Hollowpoint Team, Schwinn Homegrown
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just use Superfeet insoles in my crappy Shimano shoes. No problems yet *knocks on wood*
04-24-07, 08:17 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Northern California
Posts: 10,879
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 104 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
5 Posts
You can buy the Specialized insoles separate from their shoes. Their insoles come in 3 different arch support levels and Specialized stores have a device to help you measure your arch to figure out which one you need. The insoles also come with wedges that you can insert in your shoe to adjust the tilt of your foot to even out the pressure on your sole and reduce knee wobble.
My advice is to try a cheap drugstore foam insole first; that is enough for many people. If you need something fancier, the Specialized insoles are worth a try. I don't think the Specialized shoes will help you any more than just putting the insoles in your current shoes (unless your current shoes are very flexy).
My advice is to try a cheap drugstore foam insole first; that is enough for many people. If you need something fancier, the Specialized insoles are worth a try. I don't think the Specialized shoes will help you any more than just putting the insoles in your current shoes (unless your current shoes are very flexy).
04-24-07, 09:23 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,900
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I do not have a link or even know the brand, but they are $5 in wally mart and have a memory foam type footbed. Best shoe insole liners I have used. Think they are Profoot or something and the women's are light blue.
