Second Toe Rubbing in Cycling Shoes
 

I bought a pair of the 2012 Specialized S-works shoes. My second toe is a bit longer than my big toe and my left foot is roughly a half size larger than my left foot. On rides over 30 or 40 miles I start to feel top of my second toe on my left foot rubbing on the shoe. When I start out everything is fine. Tried bandaids etc on the toe and it is not helping. Does anybody have any suggestions?

Shoe tongue pads They will push your feet towards the rear/heel of the shoe. Another option is a shoe stretcher.... which can be used to create a little more ease in the problem shoe. Nest solution.... is a bigger size or different brand/model of shoe.

Bont shoes

The shoe on that foot is too small. Period.

Yep. I don't know what the uppers of those shoes are made from, but a lot of cycling shoes have materials that cannot stretch like leather. So it's going to be problematic that it can be stretched.

j.

Do you have morton's toe? The OP does, and I do, and in my experience Bont is the wrong answer. Bont will exacerbate the problem because the shape slopes down from the big toe and doesn't make allowance for a longer second toe.

An easy thing to try is Dr Scholls moleskin. Cut a piece to fit on your toe. The adhesive is pretty good, so it should stay in place.

this. bont is the exact wrong answer.

probably the wrong size shoe, but you may try tightening the top of the closure. you may simply have the shoe on so loosely that after a while your foot slides to the front of the shoe. if that's so, then the size is probably correct

With the Bont's you have to go for a larger size but the wide forefoot area should help with the pressure.

Again, do you have morton's toe? It's not a width problem, it's a length (and shape) problem and oversizing a shoe enough to fix the length causes other problems. Trust me, I've been down that path.

OP, I've tried lots of shoes and been satisfied with only a few. Morton's toe has much greater musculoskeletal impact than one might think. I've had great results with a pro fitter using custom Sidas orthotics and wedges. Currently, I'm not using the orthotics as the moldable soles that came with my DMT shoes work quite well on their own. But I'm still using the wedges. Shoes I've done well with are Shimano, older Lakes, and DMTs. Shoes that have been especially problematic are Bont, newer Lakes, and Sidis.

What you're looking for is a shoe that 1) gives you enough length in the front to prevent your toe being squished while also not letting the heel slip and 2) proper insole support around the first metatarsal of the big and second toe.

I'd take up golf before I bought a pair of those.

I have the perfect golf shoe for you then.

http://www.oershang.com/images/9/45493.jpg

The second toe on my left foot extends about 1 cm past my big toe. The second toe on my right foot which is about a half size smaller than left foot extends about .5 cm past my big toe. A larger size to account for this in my left foot is going cause further issues for the fit of my right foot. So morton's toe would seem to be an accurate description. Historically, I have had problems with my metatarsal arch in day to day shoes. The rubbing of the second toe only came up with ski boots. The rubbing only happening in a later part of the ride is likely do to my metatarsal arch flattening during the ride.

You know what they say about people with a longer second toe..... :p