Does anyone lose the feeling in their feet whilst cycling?

[Lard Armstrong]

Happens to me if am over zealous with the closures on my Sidis. As per previous posts, your feet swell up after you warm up, so make sure you readjust your shoes.

Might be worth considering going clip less instead of trainers ?

 

[Sellyb]

Yes, I might well do that once I am more used to the bike. I loosened my trainers off quite a bit, which felt a bit better, but they still went a little numb. It's strange after wiggling my toes for a few seconds, they did get better.

 

[rusky]

Forgot to say in my previous post, I ride clipless!

Maybe it's a Sussex thing

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

...It's strange after wiggling my toes for a few seconds, they did get better.

If that's the case, your footwear is definitely too tight and cutting off the circulation: when you wiggle your toes you are restoring it.

It would be a good idea to look at getting some cycling specific footwear, or at least something with a stiffer sole.

As a rule of thumb, if you slide you foot all the way forward in the shoe, you should be able to get a finger in between your heel and the back of the shoe.

 

[calibanzwei]

I know the ventilation on my Shimano spd's is a bit much for this weather (MT23's), wet or dry. Mine were numb from the cold last week - getting in the bath my feet had a very distinct band across them from where the shoe mesh is and daaaaaaamn tingled when they were warming up!

 

[rvw]

I do suffer from poor circulation in the cold of winter, but this seemed strange.

Raynaud's syndrome? I have this, a real pain.

I have this too - worth checking with your doctor especially as you say your circulation is bad. Though unfortunately there's not a great deal you can do about it! It's cause by small blood vessels going into spasm and cutting off circulation, and the pressure of feet on pedals - and hands on handlebars - brings it on for me.

It is worth looking at proper cycling shoes, and SPD clips if you can bear them: I find that being clipped in means my feet are more relaxed. Do also keep wiggling your toes - that really helps.

 

[Sellyb]

More great advice, thank you.

 

[citybabe]

Could it be from the saddle not set up properly? You could be trapping a nerve in the top of your leg.
This is just a thought though. I have a friend who is suffering from the same situation and she has just bought herself a new pair of SPD mens shoes as they are a tad wider than womens but is still getting a dead foot. We're going to adjust her saddle slightly and see if it does help

 

[Manonabike]

Could it be from the saddle not set up properly? You could be trapping a nerve in the top of your leg.
This is just a thought though. I have a friend who is suffering from the same situation and she has just bought herself a new pair of SPD mens shoes as they are a tad wider than womens but is still getting a dead foot. We're going to adjust her saddle slightly and see if it does help

I agree, the saddle position can be critical. A friend of mind had a similar problem, the numbness would start at his feet and by the time he did 30 miles or so half of his leg was also numbed. I can{t remember whether his saddle was too high or not but he did manage to improve the problem considerably by re-adjusting the saddle.

I would also suggest proper cycling shoes, even if you don't fit the cleats for now.

 

[Sellyb]

I have two bikes and have tried different positions with the saddles already, so I don't think it is that. I am still to try the cycling shoes and cleats, so will keep you all posted on how that goes when I feel brave enough to unclip on the new bike! Thanks again for being so helpful.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

i find getting out the saddle and sprinting helps me, it changes your foot position

 

[marafi]

Yes cos silly old me was wearing my house flip flops and i didn't realize till i was out cycling. lol Nasty scratches from the cold.

 

[rvw]

I was (forcibly) reminded this weekend that having cold feet triggers the Raynauds - ouch! And unfortunately, adding an extra pair of socks makes the pressure problem worse - a real catch 22.

 

[Sellyb]

Yes, my feet were soaked and completely numb yesterday. I think I need some overshoes too!

 

[david k]

I did a sportive of only 19 miles back on 1/4, and I noticed my feet were dead all the way round, and I put it down to the cold, as it was cold, and my hands were cold too. I was wearing a pair of slip-on trainers at the time.
However, the other day when I went out, it was mild, I had fingerless gloves on, and my hands were fine. However, I was wearing a different pair of trainers to before, and yet again, I could not feel my feet, so much so, that I couldn't find the pedals. I do suffer from poor circulation in the cold of winter, but this seemed strange. Is this a common problem?
I had a cotton pair of socks on on both occasions. I would appreciate your views.

all the time in my left foot mainly. loosen the shoes as much as possible, get wide fitting shoes, take feet of of straps, all helps but i havnt been able to eliminate it yet