Shoes/inserts question
 

I'm about to try again (!!!) to tour but always face the same problem...painful/numb toes after "x" amount of time and miles. Cleats aren't an option for me (toe overlap, incredibly clumsy rider), so I use my sneakers. They work pretty well, but there's no real support for the toes. I make sure they're not laced tight, etc, but that doesn't solve the toe problem. Is there a brand of riding sneakers out there or some kind of insert that I could use? I'll be riding in the States this time, so I'm not facing my usual location restrictions. Any and all suggestions are appreciated!

Oh...should have added, I had those larger pedals (MKX or something like that) that I really liked, but the toe overlap made that impossible and I had to go for smaller pedals.

Try the Specialized shoe inserts. If you look around You Tube for Andy Pruitt you will find a video of how and why these bicycle designed inserts work. You need to consider wide shoes with very stiff soles. Many bike shoes with or without cleats will fit the bill.

One thing to be discovered.. off the bike, a heel to toe stiff shoe, your foot will come out at the heel from the shoe.
as you walk, for obvious(?) reasons..

better to have a large platform pedal , and a ball of the foot to heel stiffener insole , so the pedal does most of the foot support ..

I have been using Ergon Pedals and some pretty soft sole shoes, myself ..

their concave surface tends to locate my foot well, where it needs to be.

this is around town.. But on long tours , I used something else..

Fave insole: boot 3/4 Birkenstock , ( you'd have to get them from .De, now.)

"Superfeet" make a good insert. I use them in my ski boots, cycling shoes, hiking boots, and work boots. It might have been easier to say that I use them in everything but my flip-flops:)

I think Western Flyer's recommendation of a stiiff sole opn a bike shoe, and an insert might work well. You might consider a "casual" type mountain bike shoe without the cleats. I have a pair similar to the one shown in the link that I use for around town riding. I think they would work well without the cleats. They have a a relatively stiff sole, and a wide toe box.

http://www.rei.com/product/848490/sh...ike-shoes-mens

Cycling Specific Touring or Mountain bike shoes are the first place to start. These have either a full or 3/4 sole stiffener. What ever you choose, fit is first priority. After that, fine tune the fit with a support insole if necessary. Well fit shoes are extremely important.

What's your budget like? "(toe overlap, incredibly clumsy rider)" You might be a good candidate for a custom frame. I suspect your perceived clumsiness might actually be horribly fit frames. You should be able to steer a touring bike through a 90 degree turn with the index finger of your non-dominant hand.

I used to ride with a guy that crashed all the time. I felt badly for him (and his wife and three kids when I took him home bloodied) but his bike handling skills were not to blame. His frame geometry was just all wrong for his body and the routes we were riding.

suck it up and learn how to ride clipless. I have toe overlap too. It only matters when you are making slow speed u-turns, so you just have to be aware of that.

Or just use some mountain bike shoes that are meant for clipless, but don't install cleats.

hi there. Hope leg healed properly over time.
so, to feet. Everyones feet are diff with width, arch all that stuff coming into play. All I know is that when I got new shoes 3 or 4 years ago, I tried on lots of diff ones and the ones that ended up feeling best really did feel best right off. The overall shape and the insert (they are specialized mtn bike shoes) really made my arches feel good, all the foot too. A really stiff shoe isnt fun to walk in, but boy does it support your foot better, and if you get one that fits your feet shape and arch, well, you will find a huge diff in foot comfort. I can now ride all day, day after day, and be pretty good feet wise. A lot better than my old shoes.

the main thing with regular sneakers is that the soles are as stiff as bike shoes, so you they deform downwards a bit when you pedal, so less efficient, as well as being hard on your feet. Thats a drag that your toes go numb etc, so good luck trying diff shoes on. Im honestly not sure if an insert on its own will help fully, but I realize you wont have as many options as us for trying on many diff shoes. I guess the only suggestion is to really listen to your feet when trying on bike shoes. Like I said, for me after trying many on, the ones that I now own felt better right away compared to others (so dont believe the "break-in" myth in other words.)

buenos suertes

Thanks for the great suggestions. While my budget isn't limitless, I can afford to spend the money if it means either good, quality shoes or inserts as long as it solves the problem. It's true that you spend less in the long run if you buy quality.

Houdini: I should have been more specific. I don't like the toe overlap, but it wasn't a deal breaker for me because everything else is "right" as far as fit goes. The bike is actually very comfortable now since I've had a few adjustments made (spacers, different pedals, seat height). The clumsy part has nothing to do with the bike...I really am very graceless. It's just more obvious when I ride :notamused:
.
Valy: If it were simply a case of "suck it up"'and go clipless, I'd already be doing it. I know it's just the luck of the draw, but If I'd ridden clipless on my last attempt, I would probably be dead (hit by a bus involved in a 4 vehicle accident with one fatality). The real reason is that I'm a less-than-graceful person who realistically knows her limitations. Thanks for the suggestion on the mountain bike shoes.

BIG thanks to all!

I'll just toss this out there for consideration. I tour wearing Shimano sandals because I can open then up, width wise, to eliminate the issues I have with regular road and mtb Sidi Mega shoes.
I use clip-less pedals with the sandals but you don't have to. They make a good solid platform for pedaling. I rode some 2,000 miles touring May-June without any issues with sandals. This month I have ridden 600 miles so far on my road bike using Sidi Mega road shoes and now dealing with some serious feet ulcers.

It may look dorky to ride a CF road bike with sandals but is a distinct possibility now for me.

BTW I do use the Specialized foot beds in the Sidi's that I got from a bike fitting.

Read posts by others Touring , Shimano sandals also offer weather versatility.
Cold morning? warm thick socks with, optional wind/rain covering shell over-socks (boot Liner)
and thin cool sox when it's hot, ... thin ones, .. so your feet dont get sunburned, or chafed by straps.. ..

Keen newport sandals or hiking shoes, or some other light weight hiking shoe. Try Chrome or Vans. Skate/ bike shoe companies.

wanted to add, when I looked at shoes, some definitely have better ventilation than others also, for me a real comfort factor in hot weather. Throw in sock differences (I am a big wool sock lover) and there can be quite a range of shoe comfort out there influenced by a bunch of diff factors. I too am careful with my money, but spent more on the shoes I really liked because as you said, comfort and quality is worth it, especially for body comfort in any outdoor activity.
again, good luck with your search.

I haven't had much luck using inserts in shoes that have soft soles. Inserts allow me to ride a bit further before I start to experience discomfort, but at the end of the day my feet will still be sore. For me, a mountain bike or touring shoe with a stiff sole works best. When combined with a good insert (I like Specialized but Superfeet and Sole are also good options... if they'll fit in your shoes) you get perfection.

As a note to the OP: most mountain bike and some "mountain touring" (ex: Shimano's MT-series) shoes can be used without a cleat. Most of these shoes ship with a rubber insert installed to fill the cleat area. If you're not planning to use a cleat, just leave the insert in place.

Again, many thanks to all. I'm going to look towards a mountain bike shoe without cleats or sandals. I don't mind looking goofy...heck, after wearing shorts that look like diapers, goofy isn't a problem! I really appreciate all of the suggestions you guys have given me. I'm starting off in Minneapolis (the "big city"), so it's nice to know that I have options.

DJB: I tried sending you a PM yesterday, but my ^&*( tablet kept eating it. Will try again.

Around town I like Van's skate shoes.....extended trips I use boots.

I tour and commute with Shimano MT-33L mountain bike shoes. I don't look goofy. They have cleats, but that doesn't matter because they are recessed. Looking at me riding you cannot tell that I am clipped in. The shoes are very stiff, which I like. And they have laces, which I think gives them a better fit over velcro straps.

I wear trail running shoes with Superfeet inserts. Works great. I used Shimano SPD shoes and pedals for many, many years and miles and I tour better with what I use now.