SPD Agony!

Two days into my trail and I discover the limit is coming from an
unexpected place - unbelievably painful feet. I'm using Specialized BG
Comp mountain biking shoes in the appropriate size. When I put them on
in the morning, they are already not comfortable shoes, stiff and
grating over the toes, but as the day wears on they turn into Chinese
torture. This is on a recumbent tadpole trike where the use of SPDs is
required as a safety measure (to prevent running over one's own leg,
which I nearly did the other day). I thought this would be the
ultimate comfort ride as there is none of the pain in the crotch or
wrists that used to terminate previous rides on two wheels. But that
pain was trifling in comparison to this foot agony.

The balls of the feet burn like fire and the toes go completely numb.
Every pedal stroke is so excrucuating that I have to stop every 3 km
or so just to try and get circulation going again. I cannot walk in
them at all - very slippery and stiff, despite the fact that these are
supposed to be used on trail where one is often off the bike.

I tried putting a wad of kleenex between the lining of the shoe and
the SPD clip. That improved matters slightly, but I still cannot go
more than about 10km without the most agonizing pain. And the pain
lasts for about half an hour even after I have taken the shoes off.

Also, clipping and unclipping is a chore. I thought it would get
easier. But it can take me several minutes to clip and unclipping can
be even longer. The fact of having to press down into the core of the
pain to twist the feet off the pedals is part of it.

Is this normal? Is it something "you just get used to"? I don't want
to take risks with my feet as I am borderline diabetic and this looks
like the fast route to amputation.

Your experiences?

Thanks.

EFR
In deepest Provence

On May 6, 12:37*pm, Artemisia wrote:
Two days into my trail and I discover the limit is coming from an
unexpected place - unbelievably painful feet. I'm using Specialized BG
Comp mountain biking shoes in the appropriate size. When I put them on
in the morning, they are already not comfortable shoes, stiff and
grating over the toes, but as the day wears on they turn into Chinese
torture. This is on a recumbent tadpole trike where the use of SPDs is
required as a safety measure (to prevent running over one's own leg,
which I nearly did the other day). I thought this would be the
ultimate comfort ride as there is none of the pain in the crotch or
wrists that used to terminate previous rides on two wheels. But that
pain was trifling in comparison to this foot agony.

The balls of the feet burn like fire and the toes go completely numb.
Every pedal stroke is so excrucuating that I have to stop every 3 km
or so just to try and get circulation going again. I cannot walk in
them at all - very slippery and stiff, despite the fact that these are
supposed to be used on trail where one is often off the bike.

I tried putting a wad of kleenex between the lining of the shoe and
the SPD clip. That improved matters slightly, but I still cannot go
more than about 10km without the most agonizing pain. And the pain
lasts for about half an hour even after I have taken the shoes off.

Also, clipping and unclipping is a chore. I thought it would get
easier. But it can take me several minutes to clip and unclipping can
be even longer. The fact of having to press down into the core of the
pain to twist the feet off the pedals is part of it.

Is this normal? Is it something "you just get used to"? I don't want
to take risks with my feet as I am borderline diabetic and this looks
like the fast route to amputation.

Your experiences?

Thanks.

EFR
In deepest Provence

sorry to hear of your troubles; my experience suggests to me soles of
your shoes are not stiff enough- you are going to have to invest in
better shoes

Raaman writtificated

sorry to hear of your troubles; my experience suggests to me soles of
your shoes are not stiff enough

This is unlikely in this case as her shoes[1] are about as stiff (and as
good) as mountain bike shoes get.

Fiddling with the cleat position on the off-chance that'll help, and
loosening the velcro in case the shoe is too small is prolly the best thing
to do until replacements can be bought. Alternatively it is perfectly
possible to cycle with normal shoes on, but this may lead to an Accident.


[1] www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=26123

wrote:

sorry to hear of your troubles; my experience suggests to me soles of
your shoes are not stiff enough- you are going to have to invest in
better shoes

IME wearing anything that's a) stiff soled and b) a bit on the small side
gives me a lot of pain. I reckon the shoes might be a bit small or laced up
too tight - I know my SPD shoes got a lot comfier when I laced them more
loosely.

wrote in message ...
On 6 May,
"Doki" wrote:

IME wearing anything that's a) stiff soled and b) a bit on the small side
gives me a lot of pain. I reckon the shoes might be a bit small or laced
up
too tight - I know my SPD shoes got a lot comfier when I laced them more
loosely.

I got new shoes recently, my previous pair was too big. Half a mile into
first ride I was getting pain in one foot. Slight adjustment to the cleat
cured it. I must adjust the other one slightly.

Tight (well fitting) shoes are probably more critical of cleat position.
It's
probably worth trying slight adjustments.

I don't mean pain in particular. I mean pain combined with a bizarre feeling
of slight numbness. In fact, it's more agony.

Artemisia writtificated

Is this normal? Is it something "you just get used to"?

Sounds like the shoes are too small. I would divert to the nearest bike
shop that stocks shoes and buy another pair.

Many people have to go a size up to get a shoe that fits, so it is
essential you try them on before buying.

When wearing the shoes they should not be tight and the toes should not
touch the front of the shoe. I always get shoes where I can wiggle my toes
a little.

For touring a shoe with a more flexible sole is desirable - this makes it
easier to walk in.

"Mark T"
pleasegivegenerously@warmail*turn_up_the_heat_to_ reply*.com.invalid wrote
in message ...
Artemisia writtificated

Is this normal? Is it something "you just get used to"?

Sounds like the shoes are too small. I would divert to the nearest bike
shop that stocks shoes and buy another pair.

I agree with the diagnosis. I suffered from severe burning sensations in the
balls of my feet and initially blamed the lack of padding in my socks. I
bought some padded sports socks and they made the problems worse. I
stumbled across the counter intuitive loosening of the shoe laces solution
by chance.

Many people have to go a size up to get a shoe that fits, so it is
essential you try them on before buying.

When wearing the shoes they should not be tight and the toes should not
touch the front of the shoe. I always get shoes where I can wiggle my
toes
a little.

For touring a shoe with a more flexible sole is desirable - this makes it
easier to walk in.

It's not that important if a spare pair of shoes are carried too.

Mark T wrote:
Artemisia writtificated

Is this normal? Is it something "you just get used to"?

Sounds like the shoes are too small. I would divert to the nearest bike
shop that stocks shoes and buy another pair.

Many people have to go a size up to get a shoe that fits, so it is
essential you try them on before buying.

When wearing the shoes they should not be tight and the toes should not
touch the front of the shoe. I always get shoes where I can wiggle my toes
a little.[...]

Too tight shoes are even more of a problem on a recumbent with the
bottom bracket at or above seat level. I have a pair of Shimano ATB
shoes which are a little narrow. These shoes are fine on the ATB and the
low bottom bracket recumbent, but cause pain and a burning feeling when
used on a higher bottom bracket recumbent.

One alternative to clipless pedals are heel slings, but I am not aware
of these being commercially available at this time - please post links
if available.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

"Tom Sherman" wrote in message
...
Mark T wrote:
Artemisia writtificated

Is this normal? Is it something "you just get used to"?

Sounds like the shoes are too small. I would divert to the nearest bike
shop that stocks shoes and buy another pair.

Many people have to go a size up to get a shoe that fits, so it is
essential you try them on before buying.

When wearing the shoes they should not be tight and the toes should not
touch the front of the shoe. I always get shoes where I can wiggle my
toes a little.[...]

Too tight shoes are even more of a problem on a recumbent with the bottom
bracket at or above seat level. I have a pair of Shimano ATB shoes which
are a little narrow. These shoes are fine on the ATB and the low bottom
bracket recumbent, but cause pain and a burning feeling when used on a
higher bottom bracket recumbent.

What a laugh the above statement is. High bottom brackets recumbents will
cause many problems because we are not evolved to have our feet over our
hips. But Mr. Sherman has spent many thousands of dollars on high bottom
bracket recumbent bikes, and so he is bound to defend such monstrosities.

For heaven's sakes, you do not want a recumbent with a bottom bracket higher
than the seat base. This is so elementary that I am sick and tired of
explaining it to idiots like Tom Sherman. Get that bottom bracket slightly
below the seat base and everything will be just fine. All this palaver about
shoe fit is nonsense once you get your feet below your hips.

Regards,

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota
aka
Saint Edward the Great - Order of the Perpetual Sorrows - Minnesota

On May 7, 6:30 am, "Edward Dolan" wrote:
"Tom Sherman" wrote in message

...



Mark T wrote:
Artemisia writtificated

Is this normal? Is it something "you just get used to"?

Sounds like the shoes are too small. I would divert to the nearest bike
shop that stocks shoes and buy another pair.

Many people have to go a size up to get a shoe that fits, so it is
essential you try them on before buying.

When wearing the shoes they should not be tight and the toes should not
touch the front of the shoe. I always get shoes where I can wiggle my
toes a little.[...]

Too tight shoes are even more of a problem on a recumbent with the bottom
bracket at or above seat level. I have a pair of Shimano ATB shoes which
are a little narrow. These shoes are fine on the ATB and the low bottom
bracket recumbent, but cause pain and a burning feeling when used on a
higher bottom bracket recumbent.

What a laugh the above statement is.

What an outright pillock.

Do you sleep standing up?