spectastic

I bought my first pair of road shoes last year. Ever since moving down to TX early January, I've been wanting to take my road bike out with clipless shoes, and build my way up to a century. But the outside of my feet start to ache after just 15 miles. I've been told it's because my toe box was too small. So I ordered a different pair in one size larger. Again, the shoe feels comfortable when I'm not cycling, but after 15 miles, foot pain... I've also tried sofsole high arch insoles (from local sports store), in the shoe wedges, and combinations of both, but to no avail.

Now, I'm exchanging for yet another pair of shoes (diadora) that - based on the reviews - should have a wider toe box (I have a slightly wider foot), and more room for me to experiment with forefoot wedges and special insoles. I've also ordered a set of esoles with different arch inserts for $50 (which is actually a bargain at this price..). But I can only have my fingers crossed. BTW, I ride spd, with a pedal that has a platform around the clip. So I don't want to use cleat wedges, because that'll slightly tilt the platform with respect to the shoe.

I'm going to a shop tomorrow or sometime to try on some shoes. But the thing is the closest bike shop isn't that good, and is 20 minutes drive away... This is such a pain in the ass. I hope someone would have some advice from their own experience.

bikepro

If you are serious about cycling, you need to to a shop that does bike fitting. There are many sources of information on the net so you can read up on what to look for. It may cost $200. or more, but it's a one time investment. On the other hand, you can quickly spend more than that experimenting with different shoes, etc. I know, 'cause I've done it -- wasted a lot of money before getting a fitting.

spectastic

I called a REI store in Houston and asked if they do cleat fitting. They told me they do bike fitting at $50/hour. And I think that encompasses only saddle and handlebar positions. When I asked him about cycling shoes, he basically just told me to try out a shoe with a bigger toe box. When I asked about cleat wedges and insoles. He told me "yea.. you can play around with that too..."

I figured if I can find the information on the internet, why should I give $200 to these guys who don't really want to help me any more than they just want to make a quick buck?

jenrick

Take a drive over to Dallas or Austin. There are WAY more bike shops then you can shake a stick at that will do full fits, and can break down your shoe options no problem. There probably are places in H-town too, I'm just not that familiar with Houston.

-Jenrick

soma5

You can't really find all the information you need on the internet. Or rather, you probably can but you are likely not to know what is applicable and what is not. A good fitter (and there are several in the Austin area, don't know about Houston but I would guess there are several there, too) is worth it. However, it sounds to me like your problem isn't the size of the toe box on your shoes but rather the pronation of your feet. I'm not a fitter and don't even play one on TV, so what I say about fitting is not worth a barrel of warm spit. My own shoe problems were solved by going to Specialized shoes, but your issues could well be different.

I don't know about REI, but I would recommend that you try a specialty bike shop. Post a question about bike fitters in Houston.

spectastic

very well... does anyone know about a good bike fitter in Houston**********???

Biscayne05

There are numerous bike fitting systems out there. All you have to do is Google them.

Here's a list of Retul fitters in the USA: https://www.retul.com/find-a-fitter/#/USA

Another one is Specialized BG (who's also bought the Retul system).

Bah Humbug

While Houston isn't Austin, I know for a fact they have real bike shops and a great triathlon scene. You don't need to drive all the way over here to find a real bike shop...

Kuotient

Check out Cynthia at the Bike Barn Custom Fit Studio, which is adjacent to Bike Barn's largest store in town in the West University area. She's been doing fits for years.

https://bikebarn.com/articles/custom-...udio-pg934.htm

Kuotient

Heads up, the Fit Studio is probably jammed up until the MS150 happens in 2 weeks!

Nick Bain

I want to ring that guys neck. There are a lot of businesses that only go half the distance simply because they are lazy. IMHO if you are paying for a basic fit chances are you will be better off doing your own fitting based on feel as long as you know how to swap stems and make all the adjustments. Better to pay the big bucks -250-300 for a full fitting which includes cleats. Look for one that balances L and R leg discrepensies, for me that was a big deal since I learned I have a longer right leg. My pedaling was instantly better after the shimming. Also knee alignment.

Nick Bain

also try moving you cleats back probably all the way.

spectastic

I always put the cleats back all the way. And I'm concerned about using cleat shims and wedges, because I ride spd, and I specifically bought spd pedals with a bigger platform. If I put stuff between my shoe and my cleat, that platform would be just dead weight.

Nick Bain

At the end of it all its about getting your knee straitened. You may need to shim to get the foot bed right which is interelated to knee straitness.

spectastic

I had to research what you wrote before you deleted it (forefoot varus; or I guess aka rearfoot valgus). I actually think that's a pretty good explanation for why the outside of my foot hurts, because it's getting more pressure than the inside of my foot. What I've noticed is that if I consciously pedal more "inward" with the ball of my foot, the pain eases. And that is pretty much concurrent with my knees bending more inward. So I guess before I visit the bike fitting folks, my next thing is to try to put some more in the foot wedges to raise the inside of my foot, and see what happens. And I can see how that would mean to get some good arch support.

Machka 

Your "arduous journey" has taken you from General Cycling, through Touring, and now into Road Cycling ... and still no solutions??

spectastic

I'm trying to balance the number of posts I make in each forum, so I don't seem like that jackass who starts threads about everything, meanwhile trying to get everyone's opinions. I just want to get this thing figured out and over with.

Machka 

Well, as I've mentioned before, if you're riding SPD, why not go with a mountain bike shoe? I have ridden 1200K randonnees with mountain bike shoes and I find them more comfortable on and off the bicycle than road shoes.

But meanwhile, have you simply loosened off your existing shoes? If I put my ankle braces on too tight, the outside of my feet hurt (and it is very painful) ... but loosen them slightly and all is good.

And it does sound like you need your bicycle set up properly. That may solve several comfort issues for you.

You might also benefit from seeing a physiotherapist who will look at the way you walk, and also advise if you need arch supports or not (high arch supports, like you've mentioned, also cause me a lot of foot pain ... maybe they cause you problems too). Just from the dribs and drabs of information you've provided us, it's possible you've got fallen arches or pronation or something going on with your feet. A doctor, chiropractor, or physiotherapist will be able to tell you what's going on.

Finally, have you tried Shimano shoes with metatarsal (?) buttons in them? Ask your physiotherapist about them ... could be that they'd be good for your feet.

Campag4life

Other tip I will give you OP...and you may want to describe your foot shape here...is your toe pain may NOT be a function of the toe box of your shoe.
If the shoes are comfortable in the store and the they are high quality with stiff soles and not too tight...then two things:
1. your foot is changing shape as you pressurize the pedal...you need good orthotics.
2. your cleats maybe too far forward. Best cleat position is BIG for foot comfort and prevent injury. Notice, I didn't say correct cleat position as they're is no correct. I for example ride with my cleats back about 13mm or so from the ball of my foot. If I ride in a more traditional location I get pain...as a distance cyclists.

You can chase the optimal shoe all you want...but you have to isolate your foot in the shoe aka support it so it doesn't change shape...and get your cleats in the best position for you.
HTH.

spectastic

the last time I went out, the ankle clip was as loose as it can be. And I do use mountain shoes, why else would I use SPD pedals?

WhyFi

I don't think that anyone is going to be able to give you more than a jumping-off point when it comes to this, but I feel your pain - I spent about 3 hours going to three different shops, yesterday, trying on a variety of shoes. I, too, have wide-ish feet. Those tried that didn't work, yesterday: Giro HV - not quite wide enough, Fizik R3 - great shoe but too high of an arch for me, Sidi Mega - not bad, but not quite right, either. I finally ended up with Specialized Experts, but I'm not 100% on them - they may be a hair too narrow, will take a trainer spin on them and see how I feel when the feet have blood pumping through them (or not, as the case may be).

Nick Bain

The reason I deleted it is because it sounds confusing. and depending on how you look at it you could say the inside is to high and the pain you feel is the outside of the foot dropping. Thats why I went with the more broad strait knee factor. Also if your shoe fits good, I wouldn't play with the footbed, I would shim the cleats. Also not sure if you have done this, but maybe you can take the cleat backplate out of the shoe and flip it around to get more backward cleat movement.

Good luck.

spectastic

well yea, you can try on different shoes. But I've come to realize that peoples' feet can differ a lot, so it's much better to customize a shoe based on one's personal needs, as opposed to the opposite. For instance, I read that specialized shoes have this built in 1.5 degree incline that pretty much mimics a cleat wedge, except it's built in. I'm pretty sure you can replicate the same thing with an insole. That's why I'm going for a shoe that has sufficient room for me to experiment with different insoles and in the shoe wedges. At this point, I've given up looking for a stock version of a shoe that fits me perfectly.

I don't think a shoe fitting well when not cycling means a good shoe while cycling. I think they're different, tbh. And not sure what you mean by the bold. Are you saying moving the cleats slightly further back than where it already is? Wouldn't that be a matter of like 2 mm?

Nick Bain

For someone looking for help you sure are stubborn when it comes to listening.

To clarify, the plate I am refering to is the one that the spd cleat screws into. They have two sets of holes in them.

I have said everything I know at this point and if you want to keep doing things one way and expecting the same results then all I can say is good luck to you.

spectastic

so flipping that plate lets me move my cleats back further? I thought that thing was symmetrical. And standing comfortably in a pair of cycling shoes tells very little about how they ride. I know that much from experience.