Rowan

What brand or sort of shoe are you using?

Heathpack 

That blows.

Rowan

We've found a house to rent in a suburb quite a lot closer to my my workplace. We won't be moving until late August, but one of the most persuasive points about it was the size of the garage -- not a double, but plenty big enough for the bikes, a workout area, a workshop and other sundries such as the canoe. The van can live outside as it always has.

3alarmer 

...do you want to hear about my prostate ? Maybe you'll feel better, knowing you haven't one ?

Rowan

The excuses begin.

3alarmer 

...I've swapped out between three different sorts over the last year or so, all of which have been
realatively fine unti l the last couple of months. One pair are Shimano SPD mountain shoes, old style,
one pair are Time mountain shoes, one are Shimano SPD mountain newer style (slightly wider toe box).

I'm gonna try maybe fitting one of them with a thin gel insole, if there's room. If not, I'll go a size bigger
and then do the gel thing. the only other thing I can think of ismaybe some orthotics, which I've
used in the past when I ran regularly. Or the waffles.

3alarmer 

...I could cry like a girl, if you want.

3alarmer 

I have to run the Bike Kitchen tomorrow anyway, and it was pretty hot for the return leg.
Also, the return road is much more heavily trafficked by the afternoon, and some of the drivers
are drunk by then, it being the 4th of July, so it might be all for the best.

I'm not emotionally invested in the ride, having done it some times before.

Mostly, I want to figure out about the feet. ............ and to eat waffles, of course.

3alarmer 

...my life fills up even more with irony.

Heathpack 

My ride was pretty great. Most of us climbed Glendora Mountain Road to Mt Baldy Village, some people went all the way past the village to the ski lifts at the top of the mountain. The climb to the village is 22 miles, about 4200 ft climbing. The first 8-10 miles are relentlessly uphill at about 6%, then you get into a few miles of rollers, then another 5 mile climb at 6%, then more rollers and a few mile descent into the village. I'm not sure how much farther the ski lifts are, 5-10 miles I'd guess, and that road just keeps getting steeper and steeper until the last substantial bit you're climbing at 15%. It was really hot & I'm supposed to be on a training break, so I just went to the village like most of the group.

I did not humble anyone today, this is a group of really serious climbing people. One woman did some event last weekend, similar to the Death ride but harder, 200 miles and 21000 ft of climbing. One guy does not track horizontal distance, only vertical. One guy rides from his home, 50 miles or so, for each of these Climbfest rides, and then rides home again. And so on. Not the kind of people Im going to humble. However, I did hang right in there and got to Baldy Village with a good showing, maybe about a third of the way back from the front of the pack. Thank God for the rollers, those people can all out climb me but I can catch and then pass them on the downhills.

Im not sure this group has a name, but they regularly organize these Climbfest rides, so of course I want in. Between Mr Hillclimber & Cycling Heroine, I should be able to make that happen.

As to the ride itself, it was really nice. The road is closed to traffic over the holiday weekend to prevent people from setting the national forest on fire with fireworks. So there were hundreds of cyclists out there today. But it was still awesome, with no cars, no buildings as far as the eye could see. Just mountains and birds singing. The only bad part is that it was very hot, in the 90s by 10am and not much shade. Fortunately a light breeze for much of it and enough of those rollers that you could generate your own breeze. Plus no water until the top, so you had to make it all the way up there on just 2 bottles. The only sad people I saw all day were some lady triathletes, walking up a 6% hill, grumbling that "these aren't rollers.". Lol, I am getting the idea that triathletes are big complainers.

All in, with the ride to/from the meet-up spot and the ups and downs of the rollers, I think it was 51 miles & 5500 ft climbing. Nice.

And my dog is a little better too. Not "out of the woods better". But a little better.

Rowan

One thing I discovered a long time ago when I had
really major issues with Morton's neuroma on LD rides is that Shimano shoes have a significant depression where the cleat plate is sited. This I believe causes the metatarsal bones to compact together and press on the main nerve that runs through the ball of the foot to the toes. Hence the numbness and pain.

One solution that has worked to an extent for me is to insert expired credit cards and used gaffer tape to keep them in place over the depression. It helps to build up the footbed in the area of the ball of the foot and stops the bones from compacting on each other. At one point (just before Paris-Brest-Paris in 2003), I built up a button on the footbed with insulation tape; Specialized makes an insert (or at least used to, I don't know if they still do) which has a raised "metatarsal button" and that can help.

The credit card plastic isn't exactly the most durable in the world, and you will likely break them after a year or so. A slightly thicker plastic cut to the same dimensions will help. Inserting a thin insert won't help that much because it will conform to the shape of the footbed and you will still end up with compressed metatarsals.

Or get another pair of shoes that has a better footbed. I have a pair of Diadora Santa Cruz that were a revelation for me because the footbed is entirely on piece of plastic and is flat. The difference between the two brands of shoes is remarkable, and I have just ordered a new pair of their replacement model, the Globes. In fact, just about to go and pick them up from the post office with other schwag from Chain Reaction Cycles.

I still buy Shimano stuff because it lasts, and now I know the secret to making them comfortable for me, they are reasonable value for money.

halfspeed

You could put aside your retrogrouch leanings and get shoes with stiff carbon soles. With a good insole or orthotics, the pressure is then distributed more evenly and you're less likely to get numbness and hotspots.

datlas 

No ride today but a good day anyway. Mrs datlas and I power washed out house's north exterior which was overdue. Then went into Philly and had lunch at what is quite possibly the best modern Japanese restaurant anywhere (at least best in the NE USA) and we walked around Philadelphia, saw some cool historic sites which was very July 4th appropriate. We even caught a glimpse of the mayor of Philly coming out of the Liberty Bell pavilion.

Tomorrow will be a ride day.

BillyD

Nice job, HP! And good to hear about the pooch.

Herbie53

Nice ride HP!.. and good to hear about the doggie.

GMR sounds like a great place to pedal.

Heathpack 

Poor @3alarmer, look what I've started.

datlas 

@Heathpack, in case you have not figured it out, most triathletes can't climb well.

Sounds like a good ride. Keep going.

WHOOOSSHHH...

Yeah, well I used to walk to school 5 miles uphill each way. Talk about hardcore...

WHOOOSSHHH...

Yes...

datlas 

Btw in case anyone was wondering, the Phillies really suck this year. I don't really follow them closely but my wife is a big fan. This year is pretty disappointing.

We are even going to see a phillies game next month when we go to San Francisco.

WHOOOSSHHH...

Makes me very happy! Go Nats!!

datlas 

Last year we went to DC and saw the Nats play the Phillies. Let's say mrs datlas was not pleased with the outcome. Nice stadium you got there.

Pirkaus

Not as bad as my beloved RedSox the train is off the rails again in Boston

3alarmer 

...thanks. I suspect (but have not yet experimented with) some arch issues, because when i was running and doing road work
similar to what you see boxers in the movies doing, I experienced issues with plantar faiciitis,, which exhibited as a chronic
inflammation around the heel and Achilles tendon attachment. It was nicely resolved with rest and orthotics on resuming.

But I shall certainly try this, and keep it in mind when shopping for new shoe replacements. I agree about the footbed, but apparently until now i was less fragile.

3alarmer 

...unpossible. But i am leaning toward something that includes an orthotic as a solution, because they worked quite well for the plantar fascia stuff.

Someone mentioned foot pain issues before here, one of the racers, I think, and I ignored it because it was not my pain. Was it you?