Foot numbness

[Sonofpear]

I've just had my first proper ride with my new clipless pedals and shoes. After a few miles I started feeling a bit of numbness in my little toe and down the outside of my left foot. It wasn't too bad and I carried on. It went away and after a few more miles had switched to my right foot and my toes were tingling.
Any ideas why this is happening.

Btw I'm loving the clipless setup.

 

[fossyant]

Possibly got the shoes too tight.

 

[rusky]

I get the same, tried different shoes & socks but no change, have to wiggle my toes to stop it!

 

[PaulSB]

I had exactly the same when I first went clippers. Two possibilities here either the shoes are fastened to tightly or the cleat position needs adjusting.

Occasionally I still get numbness if I over-tighten my shoes but never through cleat position. Mark the cleat position, take an Allen key or relevant tools on your next ride. When numbness starts adjust cleat position for the foot which us suffering - forwards is more likely and the amount could be very slight. Repeat if / when other foot suffes.

My left and right feet are in marginally different positions.

 

[Sonofpear]

I had exactly the same when I first went clippers. Two possibilities here either the shoes are fastened to tightly or the cleat position needs adjusting.

Occasionally I still get numbness if I over-tighten my shoes but never through cleat position. Mark the cleat position, take an Allen key or relevant tools on your next ride. When numbness starts adjust cleat position for the foot which us suffering - forwards is more likely and the amount could be very slight. Repeat if / when other foot suffes.

My left and right feet are in marginally different positions.

Thanks for the advice guys. I don't think my shoes are too tight but I will try loosening them a little.
When I put the cleats on I just put them both in a central position. I'll try and move them around a little and see how it feels.

 

[yello]

I'll try and move them around a little and see how it feels.

That's a good way to go. There is trial and error, and there is simply getting used to it.

Something like this is really difficult sometimes to pinpoint the reason. Sometimes you have to decide between what is just a transitional thing and what could become a real problem if you don't resolve it. Only you can tell the difference and only you know the little changes that make the difference.

That said, there's a wealth of experience here to give you pointers. In my case, I eased some numbness problems with a change of insole.

 

[Globalti]

I got this when I first started road riding, probably thanks to holding the same position for much longer than on the MTB.

I started by reading up on Specialized Body Geometry footbeds and then bought a set (blue) and fitted one of the wedges that come with them. This brought a big improvement, it no longer felt as if my foot wanted to roll off the outside of the pedal all the time. I adjusted my cleat position carefully. Finally after about two years my shoes are conforming and beginning to fit quite snugly, which means I can tighten them without feeling any numbness. Try all of this and keep experimenting and with time the problem will resolve itself.

 

[Sonofpear]

I just got specialized shoes. What are these footbed wedge things. Think I'll google it.
Going for a little spin tonight so gonna tweak my cleats and see how I get on.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I found that another padded insock resolved the problem for me.