Anyone else suffer from dead toes on long rides?

[Hill Wimp]

I do have good fitting cycle shoes but im finding that i get dead toes after 20 or so miles. Anyone got any tips to stop it ?

 

[themosquitoking]

Play around with your cleat and saddle position. I've finally got mine to stop doing this after about the same distance and it was a combination of the two. Sit on a tall stool and see how your feet hang naturally and try to get your cleat position to resemble this.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Thanks for that i will faff around with those before hitting the road this weekend.

 

[procel]

I find I tense my toes - in a way that's half necessary on flat pedals but totally superfluous in cleats - and that causes it after a while. Being aware of it, and stopping doing it, thinking about the pedaling in a circle (rather than pushing with one foot then the other) helps.

 

[fossyant]

Make sure your ball of the foot is directly over the spindle of the pedal...

 

[Boon 51]

As above posters have said..
But you could try different thickness of socks, I found if my feet are too lose in the shoe your pushing into the shoe a bit too much? perhaps alter the strap a bit and try that as well.
Could be something simple.
Hope that makes sense.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Thanks for all the advice one of the ideas will work im sure

 

[vickster]

I have started getting quite painful feet (especially right, non unclipped side, also ankle). Seems worse especially now it's hotter and my feet swell despite coolmax socks. Two different pairs of shoes, neither pair is uncomfortable when not clipped in.

I need to sort the cleats out, will have to get it done professionally as frankly I don't know what I am doing, nor do I have the patience to fiddle around!

Does anyone have any tips for getting chewing gum out of cleat bolts, going too be a struggle to adjust one side on one shoe! Foul stuff

 

[Lanzecki]

Shoes too tight maybe?

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I find I tense my toes - in a way that's half necessary on flat pedals but totally superfluous in cleats - and that causes it after a while. Being aware of it, and stopping doing it, thinking about the pedaling in a circle (rather than pushing with one foot then the other) helps.

Same here, it's a very hard habit to break.

 

[Hill Wimp]

Same here, it's a very hard habit to break.

Glad its not just me then.

 

[Smotyn]

@vickster

Put shoe in freezer to make gum hard the chisel out with small scewdriver or anything pointy that will get in there. X

I was getting horribly dead feet using spd mtb shoes thought it was cos they were too tight so loosened them up and it got worse was recomended full race stiff shoes and to keep the top strap tight and the middle one loose and has made a huge improvement both to my feet going dead and my cadence.

 

[Hill Wimp]

@vickster

Put shoe in freezer to make gum hard the chisel out with small scewdriver or anything pointy that will get in there. X

I was getting horribly dead feet using spd mtb shoes thought it was cos they were too tight so loosened them up and it got worse was recomended full race stiff shoes and to keep the top strap tight and the middle one loose and has made a huge improvement both to my feet going dead and my cadence.

Mine are SPD MBT so that very well may be the reason. I bought them as they are easier to walk in otherwise i have to cart another pair of shoes around at work. Perhaps i will have to bite the bullet and get the real deal.

Many thanks

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I use SPD shoes with fairly stiff innersoles with high arches, as this partly corrects my flat feet. I generally do the laces on these shoes up fairly tight, to minimise any movement. The combination of these seems to work fairly well for me.

 

[vickster]

Cheers on the gum tip!

I need to be able to walk in my shoes though - commuting and 'leisure' rides usually involve walking around and shopping - so race shoes aren't an option (and I don't really like the look of them)