numbness in toes
 

My toes go numb after about 8-10 miles. This happens with my mountain bike or road bike, with my toe clips (don't use anymore), with my old clipless pedals, and with my new clipless pedals. My shoes are not too small nor too tight.

It used to happen after about 15-20 miles but it seems to be worse now.

Any recommendations?
Mark

Either you're lacing your shoes too tight (don't laugh) or you're not spinning with even pressure all the way around the pedal. Next time they start to go numb, try putting more emphasis on the up-stroke and see if the numbness temporarily goes away.

-mark

[QUOTE=markjay]My toes go numb after about 8-10 miles. This happens with my mountain bike or road bike, with my toe clips (don't use anymore), with my old clipless pedals, and with my new clipless pedals. My shoes are not too small nor too tight.

I just bought a new pair of ultrasense shorts - and I tell you my feet have started to go numb a little... as well as my a$$ - There is a bit more padding down there than I'm used to and I think I have not gotten adjusted yet -

Perhaps this could be the problem - or it's just a case of you're not loose when you ride - remember to relax and let go when you ride - I find that when I'm tense and really pushing things - I tense up my feet and they tend to go numb...

R

i agree with geneman. keep those laces very loose. with my biking shoes i don't even pull on them to tighten them up; i wear them real loose.

sd

If your cycling shoes have straps instead of laces, go ahead and tighten the strap at the ankle enough to hold the shoe snugly on your foot. The strap(s) across the top of the foot should make the shoe fit comfortably. When your toes start going numb, try loosening these straps. You can also loosen the ankle strap. When putting your shoes on, remember that your foot will swell a little as it becomes hot.

I also found that I bought my shoes too small. Size 45 fit fine as street shoes would, but my toes went numb at about 25 miles. I bought 46, strap them a little lose as others mention and haven't had numb toes even up to 75 miles.

I used to get the same thing on my mountain bike, finally worked out it was the seat stopping blood flow from my upper leg. I found that if when it first started I stood on the pedal for a short time it would greatly delay the onset. I supose I could have fixed it by getting a different seat but I got a diferent bike instead. :)

You also might try a cleat fitting. If you mounted the cleats yourself, chances are they are not mounted properly...either from the angle needed, or the sid to side balance (possibly needing a shum to flatten out your foot), but I suggest that for about thirty bucks, it will help you see what you need to ride comfortably.
I sugggested this to another rider who was having foot pain and it cleared it up.
Numb toes are also indicators of bad cleat fit.
Cannot explain toe clips other than maybe the shoes you were using were not very good.

I agree, loosen the shoes a tiny bit.
Also, try to move your toes around once in a while to keep the blood moving. I used to have some numbness problems, but once I started wiggling my toes around when coasting, it cleared up.

I had the same problem with numbness in my toes and found that the problem was cleat position. I tried moving the cleat fore and aft but it didn't help. What I ended up doing to correct the problem was adjust the cleat so my toes slightly (very slightly and not visably noticable) pointed inward. This may not be a solution for anyone else but the point is you may want to play around with cleat position to see if you can fix it or go to a LBS and they can usually help adjust them.

Dan.

Do the toes go numb in both feet or just one?

I've noticed my toes somtimes go numb on my left foot. I haven't figured out why yet. I've thought it may be cleat position. It could be that I curl my toes. It could be that I am using the wrong technique (well, I'm sure I am). It could be a combination of all of these reasons. When I unclip at a stop sign it's my left foot that I unclip.

There's some good advice in this thread. Thanks!

Thanks for the advice, everybody!
Mark

It most likely has to do with exerting too much downward pressure and not "spinning" enough. When you apply all that pressure with the front of your foot, the blood rushes there and numbness occurs. This exact thing happened to me until I learned to be very disciplined with my spinning. I had tried loosening the straps and even buying new shoes, but spinning was the only thing that worked.

Just for grins get your blood sugar checked if haven't had it checked in a long while.

My toes are numb all the time. Well not completely they do tingle a lot.

Very good advice. When I'm getting numbness in the toes I try and lighten up on the downward stroke and go a little heavier on the pull and up part. Like floating through the entire stroke. My speed suffers a little but the numbness needs to be corrected or...
To test the theory, I have ridden standing on long hills of very little grade and not hammering, just peddling. After just a little bit the feet hurt. Mostly my little toes. But that might have something to do with the shoe insert.
I'm thinking if it was the saddle pinching off blood flow or a nerve, wouldn't it affect the entire leg?

My toes used to get numb all the time with my old shoes, even though they seemed to fit fine. I got new shoes with a larger toe box area (about the same size though) and that helped a lot.

That does the ticket for me. I get numbness and pain so bad some times I have to stop and take my shoes off for a minute. I wear Carnacs, so it's not the shoes! Yesterday, I realized I wasn't spinning and did exactly what Mark is recommending. It didn't just ease the pain -- it completely relieved the numbness and pain.

I also have a huge bunion and am very sensitive to pressure on the balls of that foot.

Good advice, Mark.

Glad I could help.

-mark

I would get tingling in the balls of the feet, and toes when I was really pushing, and climbing hard. I figured out that I was "clenching" my toes, and have learned to relax them better. I also avoided tightening the 3rd strap of my shoes too much.

Someone above wrote that their saddle was causing it, and that it interfered with blood flow to the legs. The arteries to the leg are in the front part of your groin, I have to say that can't be possible, unless you are riding upside-down. Switching saddles may have helped, but not because of circulation...

I do know that for runners the feet can expand during a workout. Maybe from increased bloodflow or whatever. So even if your shoes fit you before you go running, they may be too tight once you get going. This may be whats causing your numbness. I have velcro cycling shoes, and often end up adjusting all my straps after the 1st 2-3 miles or so. Give it a try.

-Brent