insole advice?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: Petrolia, PA
Bikes: '01 Cannondale CAAD5 3000si, Framed Minnesota2 Fattie
insole advice?
I have about 7,000 miles on my current pair of Shimano road shoes, and figure it is time to replace the stock insoles as they are thin and hard as cardboard now. Just curious what everyone else is using as replacements? Thanks
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 0
From: NorCal
Bikes: Kestrel Talon
On the advice of my bike fitter, I tried riding with no insole for a half hour. Since the shoes gave me no trouble on this ride, he suggested Dr. Scholes air insoles. Seriously. $5 at the local pharmacy. In his words, since the shape of the shoe was giving the support I needed, all I was looking for was some cushioning. And for $5, if it doesn't work, no big deal (or stick them in your sneakers).
JB
JB
#9
In the wind

Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,358
Likes: 150
From: Calgary AB
Bikes: Giant TCR Advanced Team, Lemond Buenos Aires, Giant TCX, Miyata 1000LT
#11
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,863
Likes: 6
From: Washington, DC
Bikes: Some bikes. Hell, they're all the same, ain't they?
#12
Specialized. I had the ++ ones with my Specilialized shoes but with my Sidis, there is a bit more of an arch built into the shoe and I had to switch to the flatter ones. I've been looking into custom moulded ones but I'm not doing that until I decide on a shoe brand that is perfect for me.
#13
your thread has reminded me I need to give some real support footbeds a try. Been noticing some obvious pronation now while pedaling. It wasn;t that obvious at the beginning of the 'season'. must be another change related to aging...
I've had great results from using the SuperFeet Red Footbeds in my Ski Boots, so I;m gonna give the Blue ones a try in the cycling shoes to see if they can control the pronation, and if I'd see some power and comfort improvement because of pronation control.
I've had great results from using the SuperFeet Red Footbeds in my Ski Boots, so I;m gonna give the Blue ones a try in the cycling shoes to see if they can control the pronation, and if I'd see some power and comfort improvement because of pronation control.
#15
Super WW

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 670
Likes: 43
From: NY (state)
Bikes: A really light one and a really heavy one.
My right foot has never been right in any shoe- I finally went to a podiatrist and did my homework to make sure he was also a cyclist-- it's nice when you describe what's going on and bring your shoes and the Dr. understands exactly what you're talking about. Turns out my insurance covers custom orthotics 100% so it should be another week and I'll have them.
I was using the sole heat moldables and I doubt I'll do a thing w/ the left foot because they made everything perfect.
I was using the sole heat moldables and I doubt I'll do a thing w/ the left foot because they made everything perfect.
#17
followup on my earlier post
I got my Superfeet insoles last week. I ordered black instead of Blue - there are a greater variety of them since I last bought Superfeet.
website says black for cycling - OK, give it a try.
I put them in on Thursday and went for a short, easy recovery ride - 22 mi.
Didn;t really experience or notice much of a 'change' - but everything OK.
Friday, a bit longer, but still mostly easy ride of about 32 mi. - nothing different noticed again.
Saturday, I did a high tempo spinning ride, about 35 mi., low-ish gears 70-80 inch range, higher cadence 105 to 115 and try not to drop below 100 at all. By the time I got to 30 miles the legs were gettin a bit tired and at that point I noticed a change.
Usually as I fatigue these days I can feel my ankles start rolling slightly 'inwards' towards the cranks. As the Sat ride came towards the end, I did 'feel' the extra support of the insoles at the inside of the arch and heel, keeping the foot/ankle/lower leg in a more aligned position thru the pedal stroke. Felt really good to have that extra support.
Sunday- not long ride but steady and about 50 mi, 2 hrs 40 min. Again at about 40 mi, I felt the extra support at the inside of the insole.
Monday - easy 20 mi.
Hillclimb tuesday is 28 miles with 6.5 miles of 2500 ft of climbing. Felt the insole support, BIG TIME, as I rode both larger gears (50 inch) as well as smaller gears at higher rpm (38 inch).
If my legs hold up, 2nite is crit practice round here, and I expect if I can hold on, the insoles will definitely help in the 'power' department.
In summary, I'm happy with the improved alignment as I get more fatigue in the lower leg over the ride time. My foot/leg alignment isn;t a dramatic issue; even so, these sure seem to help reduce fatigue over longer/harder rides and keep everything in stronger alignment.
I've ordered another set for my other cycling shoes... got em online for about $32. well worth it to me.
YMMV
I got my Superfeet insoles last week. I ordered black instead of Blue - there are a greater variety of them since I last bought Superfeet.
website says black for cycling - OK, give it a try.
I put them in on Thursday and went for a short, easy recovery ride - 22 mi.
Didn;t really experience or notice much of a 'change' - but everything OK.
Friday, a bit longer, but still mostly easy ride of about 32 mi. - nothing different noticed again.
Saturday, I did a high tempo spinning ride, about 35 mi., low-ish gears 70-80 inch range, higher cadence 105 to 115 and try not to drop below 100 at all. By the time I got to 30 miles the legs were gettin a bit tired and at that point I noticed a change.
Usually as I fatigue these days I can feel my ankles start rolling slightly 'inwards' towards the cranks. As the Sat ride came towards the end, I did 'feel' the extra support of the insoles at the inside of the arch and heel, keeping the foot/ankle/lower leg in a more aligned position thru the pedal stroke. Felt really good to have that extra support.
Sunday- not long ride but steady and about 50 mi, 2 hrs 40 min. Again at about 40 mi, I felt the extra support at the inside of the insole.
Monday - easy 20 mi.
Hillclimb tuesday is 28 miles with 6.5 miles of 2500 ft of climbing. Felt the insole support, BIG TIME, as I rode both larger gears (50 inch) as well as smaller gears at higher rpm (38 inch).
If my legs hold up, 2nite is crit practice round here, and I expect if I can hold on, the insoles will definitely help in the 'power' department.
In summary, I'm happy with the improved alignment as I get more fatigue in the lower leg over the ride time. My foot/leg alignment isn;t a dramatic issue; even so, these sure seem to help reduce fatigue over longer/harder rides and keep everything in stronger alignment.
I've ordered another set for my other cycling shoes... got em online for about $32. well worth it to me.
YMMV
#18
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Based on this thread I visited my LBS to see about some insoles as I was getting the painful pressure on the ball of my foot/hot foot after about 40 miles.
I have extremely flat arches - I'm talking damn near diamond shaped feet. But I ended up getting the specialized bg blue insoles. I was a bit skeptical, esp at $44 bucks that something replacing the now paper-thin insoles in my Mavic Avenirs would make much of a difference. I used both of the orange corrective varus shims under the insole because my knees rotate inward alot. Then I headed out on my normal tt loop (22mi).
The difference was immediately noticeable.... My foot doesn't move around in the shoe and I could put more power down without too much pressure on my knees and spin more efficently . Hey, these stupid shims work! Awesome! I went a bit (about 1mph) faster and suffered slightly less.
Am I saying an insole change is going to automagically make you faster? No. But if you have serious biomechanical issues in your feet and knees, the insoles may help you recover some of that lost power/efficiency.
I have extremely flat arches - I'm talking damn near diamond shaped feet. But I ended up getting the specialized bg blue insoles. I was a bit skeptical, esp at $44 bucks that something replacing the now paper-thin insoles in my Mavic Avenirs would make much of a difference. I used both of the orange corrective varus shims under the insole because my knees rotate inward alot. Then I headed out on my normal tt loop (22mi).
The difference was immediately noticeable.... My foot doesn't move around in the shoe and I could put more power down without too much pressure on my knees and spin more efficently . Hey, these stupid shims work! Awesome! I went a bit (about 1mph) faster and suffered slightly less.
Am I saying an insole change is going to automagically make you faster? No. But if you have serious biomechanical issues in your feet and knees, the insoles may help you recover some of that lost power/efficiency.
#22
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,863
Likes: 6
From: Washington, DC
Bikes: Some bikes. Hell, they're all the same, ain't they?
Ka-ching, no foot issues at all. Maybe even a bit better than the pair I had before, too.
#23
On the advice of my bike fitter, I tried riding with no insole for a half hour. Since the shoes gave me no trouble on this ride, he suggested Dr. Scholes air insoles. Seriously. $5 at the local pharmacy. In his words, since the shape of the shoe was giving the support I needed, all I was looking for was some cushioning. And for $5, if it doesn't work, no big deal (or stick them in your sneakers).
JB
JB








