I recently had the same problem and switched pedals that had a larger cleat. So far the problem is solved.

In my experience, almost every complaint of pain on a bike is due to fit. Make sure your bike fits properly. Most shops can do this for you. There are also a number of books and other resources that explain the fitting process.

You wear socks when you ride? I was told years ago, (when I first started riding) to go barefoot in the shoes. I think you get better power transfer through the shoes when you're not slipping out of the socks.

I agree that fit is more important, but I still prefer no socks.
1. The heat gets to me. I like as little gear as possible in the summer.
2. It feels better and I have never had blisters from the shoes.
3. I do triathlons, so socks take more time in transition.

Also, you don't have to physically come out of your shoes to lose power transfer. If your heel slips upward in the shoes, you've lost a small amount of power. I find that bare skin sticks to the shoes better, but more importantly, I prefer the feel.

Question for Omabikeryder... where did you get your orthotics? Are the for cycling or standard orthotics?

Greetings,

I am a first time visitor looking for feedback on this topic. My interest is as a podiatrist, not a cyclist. I have not been convinced that numb feet in cycling is as simple as pressure on the sole of the foot or compacting toes into the the toe box of the shoe. I may be wrong, but if you have any feedback to the following let me know please.

I have noticed that this complaint is also noted in gyms with the elliptical machines and with alpine skiers. This is not a common complaint with runners however - and who makes more repeated forefoot contact than a forefoot striking runner? While boot fit for skiing is the likely culprit I am formulating a novel approach (just for my own use - not a device for patents etc) that seems to address the disparities - but please play my devil's advocate.

The common thread seems to be stiff soled shoes with little of the normal heel - toe loading, and hence little pronation. Specifically I believe the problem may apply to whole foot loading but with incomplete relaxation of various muscle groups in the cyclic motion of these activities. In walking the calf muscle completely relaxes during swing phase for instance - not so in cycling to the best of my knowledge.

I envision a couple of mechanisms that make this problematic: 1: chronic muscle tension leads to pressure on the posterior tibial nerve - this happens in another condition known as peroneal spastic flatfoot, or 2) with constant tension the normal cyclical contraction of muscles is not available to "pump" the venous blood out of the small compartments in the foot and a form of compartment syndrome is occuring.

Thanks for ideas

Hi Doctor,

Well, my problem starts after 20 miles or so of riding. I have flat feet, and I noticed you mentioned something about that. I do not get numbness in my right foot or leg whatsoever. It is consistently in my left foot. It begins to go numb around the ball of the foot, feeling rather like it is "burning". However, while this did not happen on my ride today, the ride before that (about a week ago) the numbness trailed up my foot, calf, and stopped at my knee. It became very painful so that I had to stop and stretch. Once I stretched and walked around barefoot, I was able to finish my ride without any problems. I rode 4 or so miles after that.

When I rode today, we rode about 28 miles. However, this time wore thinner socks and I loosened the straps on my shoe on the left foot. That seemed to help a bit because the numbness and burning sensation was only mild. However, it's been a few hours since the ride but my arch on my left foot is feeling a bit numb and a bit sore.

I hope my input helps so you can maybe shed some light on the problem for us riders!