Steve Hogg’s website has an incredible amount of information if you *really* want a deep dive. Neill is just scratching the surface in these videos (which I also love). www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/faq/
My fifth metatarsal on my right foot goes on fire after an hour. It's done this for almost 50 years. Moved my cleats back, no real difference. Dropped my saddle a little and things were much better. Thank you for your videos and your knowledge. If I didn't live on the other side of the world I would come in for a full fitting. Thanks.
Used to get numbness all the time. Never wanted to put my Orthotics in my riding shoes because I thought it would block air flow/vents. When winter rolled round I tried putting them in as it wasn't as much of a priority. No numbness and a noticeable comfort and stability increase. Arch support helped me loads and this vid helped explain why! Thanks!
Great vid as always! This series is a wealth of information for free, much appreciated! Actually rang and chatted to Neil about some things. Very open and honest bloke!
I have come back to view many of your bike fit vids with Neil Stanbury as getting back to biking has been a bit painful for me. I can't tell you how much this vid and your related others have helped. Late comment but just wanted to thank you.
It’s always great to get information like this that expands the things to consider when foot problems arise. I have spent years chasing the perfect shoe/fit/setup, at times like a dog chasing his own tail. Many of the things mentioned in this video are things I can verify with my own experience. Things mentioned in the video I have not considered get my attention with the assumption of accuracy. Thank you. Well done 👍
I haven't met a fitter yet that I look up to enough to throw money at but this guy's definitely worthy. No gimmicks or one-size-fits-all rules. Just great physiological knowledge, observation skills and smart adjustments. Thanks for featuring him as much as you do. I've been a self-fitter ever since I started and have done pretty well (well enough to have no discomfort/injury on 100-mile rides and hard climbs), but I have definitely learned a few things from this guy. Wish he was here in my neighborhood. Btw, I see he's got an oval on his trainer. What does he think of them? (I do a lot of climbing.)
Can't emphasise how useful this video is!!!! Gashed the ball of my left foot on jagged metal as a kid; years of hucking to flat on mountain-bikes compressing my leading left foots ankle till the cartilage is destroyed, and endless freezing winters of bodyboarding with fins on, aaaaaand broke the midfoot into lots of pieces a couple of years ago so it's full of metal n scar tissue and totally f'd. I've always set my cleats back, but the calf blood pump thing and cleat adapters are news to me.
Subscribed. Insoles in my cleats solved the problem. I followed your instructions, realized I couldn't feel any arch in my shoes, bought an arch. Problem solved.
Thanks Neill! I've been watching and learning from your video posts for some time now. I finally put an insert with metatarsal support and it was a game changer! I struggled for many years. Used to get numb feet when road marching when in the Army and never associated it metatarsal heads restriction causing nerve numbness. I now where these types of inserts in all my shoe wear. Thank you! Brad from Texas.
Your knowledge of cylcing kinesiology is very impressive, and incredibly helpful. So glad I found your site! Also found your video on float incredibly helpful, and will be looking into Speedplay pedals and cleats, as I have a lot of external rotation and have had chronic knee problems; am betting that will make all the difference. Also have a very wide foot and extremely high arch, and problems with foot numbness, so again, your video has been incredibly helpful!
Cam, the advice that you and Neill deliver (earlier in this series) sold me on a set of G8s and I've found a multitude of benefits from them! The topic of this video being the main one, but others followed in the months since receiving them. You guys are putting out great content with detail that people really want to see to be able to really understand what's going on between the bike and body.
Never have any issues with numb feet but watched it all the way! Btw, to add to the discussion: the Specialized road shoes (at least the carbon ones) have a wide offering which works great for my wide feet while still being stiff/"rigid". But as always: try before you buy/ Happy cycling!
Good morning Cam. Thank you for the video(s). On your (and Neil's) advice I bought and fitted the G8 insoles to my shoes, following the method outlined on the G8 web site. All I can say is game changer! My feet are fully in contact with my shoes now and the sensation is of comfort and stability that I have never experienced before. If anyone is on the fence, go for it! Your feet/ body/ mind will thank you for it. I'm not at anything like full fitness, but I'm driving the big ring where I would have dropped to the small ring before, just so much more comfort to do so. Thanks again to both of you. All the best, Tim (Spain)
My forefoot is too wide for standard shoes. Wide models cause heel lift. Sidi stoped with adjustable heels on their Mega-models. Result: i have been searching for new shoes for at least 5 years. Tried many brands and models. Thank you Sidi ! I guess we don’t deserve your top tier models WITH adjustable heels…
I am a 70 year old female and live to ride my bike...I have 4 bikes and 1 recumbent trike so far and would love to collect even more if I had the space... Listening to your videos brings tears of joy to my eyes because for a long time I had hoped someone would appeal to the population of old and new to get fitted properly to their bike and get out and have fun in the fresh air while exercising... The recent plandemic of covid19 had both good and very bad results attached to it...The good result is the only one I wish to dwell on....The bicycling industry increased it’s sales beyond my wildest dreams...All those who found themselves unable to stay at home and isolated, got outdoors and rode their bikes...There was a for a time, more bikes on the road then cars...Yahoo... I had the great honour of vacationing in Holland for 5 weeks in 2017 and discovered that cycling became an even greater pleasure because of the safety measures the country has adopted as their cycling infrastructure...My wish would be to see this everywhere in the world but especially where I live North America...We have the space..We just need the collective desire to “make America safe again”...IMHO....thx
Thank you so much for the advice given in this video. I have been suffering with numb feet on rides of more than an hour. I followed all the tips and am now numb feet free! Absolutely fantastic I can't thank you enough!
My feet have been numb on the bike since I started last year. Like, half an hour no feeling on the soles of me feet after a decent ride. Finally something that is discussing this issue in detail. Will try these various approaches and see how much this has helped. Thanks so much, this is so useful.
I've been riding since 1979 and have always had issues with my feet when the weather is hot. For the first 2 hours there are no issues but then the burning starts. Imagine that your feet feel like they're on 🔥 in the middle of a race. You are talking about numb feet but how many people, like me, actually get really painfull burning sensation under the foot into the big toe. I have tried the metatarsal pads which helped to some degree. What has helped me most is keeping the shoe fairly loose on the foot most of the ride. I still get "hot foot" now and then and when it's bad, trust me, it hurts like hell.
Mark Kubach Exactly my situation. It only happens on long, hard rides on hot days. And once it starts, loosening my shoes does not improve it. I am learning to keep my shoes nice and loose to avoid it.
I have been riding/racing for about the same time period. Recently I began having problems very similar to what you described. Without going into all the details of my shoe foot particulars, something I found that cured my recent problem had a simple cure. I went with a very slightly softer insole. It is easy to try...
@Lovelyjubly The pain radiates from under the foot into the big toe. I have tried to cut a hole in the insole where the big toe is, to get some more movement in the toe. I have moved the cleet around to different positions. Still the best for me has been to keep the shoes loose. With or without the use of a metatarsal pad. Anyway, thanks for the input :-)
Thank you so much for this video! Moved my cleats back all the way and moved my arch support back towards heel - completely eliminated my numb feet. Bontrager xxx road here, he’s completely right about the stiffness. You have to make sure you’ve got good circulation in these boots because they do nothing to help you in that department.
Very very interesting. Our bikes have gone for a total rebuild and the weekend that we are picking them up. We are also going to do a total fit out over the whole weekend in the future. Once both bikes have been completely rebuilt.
I’m actually planning to see Neil (as a result of your videos) - to primarily address toe numbness issues I’ve been experiencing for years. Clicked on this so fast :P
I saw Neil as a result of Cam's videos as well. Best money spent on my bike ever. But you better contact him as soon as possible. Neil's usually booked out for weeks.
I encourage anyone who is in need of a proper bike fit to go and see any of the Steve Hogg approved bike fitters which everyone is in your reach even if you have to travel! It’s worth it. Jerry Gerlich in Texas spend 4hr on my feet alone. I recently did a 106mi bike ride in the mountains of north Georgia 11,000 feet of climbing, never felt so powerful on my bike riding up climbs averaging 7-12%. I saw other riders cramping, zigzagging up the mountains. Riders pushing their bikes up the mountain, riders complaining of the numbness from their hands or feet. When I go fo a ride on my bike I want to be comfortable! And pain free.
Thanks for making the video mate. I suffer from numb feet every time I ride. More so on my left foot its so frustrating. Thanks for the tips I will implement them immediately probably start with putting my cleats as far back as they can go. 👍
I am really new to this sport of cycling and all my equipment from bike to wearing gear is really good products I feel but unfortunately where I live there are bout 3 to 4 bike shops BUT not one has the experience as Neil man I would pay to jus have my bike comfortable cause I'm trying to tweak and move and adjust but like Neil says he jus has an eye and it's frustrating to go ride and after 10 miles I want to come home . I'm learning so much and there are tons of videos but I really get the most from these . Thank you and I'll keep trying to adjust before I put my bike up for sale.
Just what I needed to hear! I get a tingling sensation every time I get out of bed as well as numbness when I ride. I think it’s time to upgrade to a wider shoe. Thank you both for this information! Saving feet one pair at a time!
Brilliant! I have been having foot numbness on longer rides but usually only on my left foot. I am going to experiment with arch supports....and I learned something. I didn’t know the calf acts like a “mini heart” and helps pump blood through the foot.
The numbness starts on my left foot then towards my right and when my hands get numb it starts on the right hand. But my foot numbness starts faster 5-10 miles and the hand numbness around the 30 mile range. Started the very day I got my road bike a month ago. I've been riding a fitness bike a few months with regular shoes and never experienced numbness. I need to figure something about because it's annoying.
@@crodriguez2360 hand numbness sounds more like you are riding with your arms locked or stiff and applying to much weight on them. Keep your elbows bent and relaxed. Also regularly changing hand positions helps (on brake hoods, in drops, on sides). If you can't take the weight off of your hands, it could also be bike fit....handlebars too far forward
@@glenspringle7337 Yeah the few times my hands got numb I noticed I didn't change my hand positions those times. They were longer rides as well but have been doing what you've said and has worked. I got fitted and the guy recommended a longer stem. I haven't done that yet. Thanks for the tips!
Shimano comes in wide size models, so many benefits of mid cleat position main drawback being balance on the bike, shoes with laces is a good option since they contour to the shape of your foot.
thought I would drop a comment just to say how good your videos are and how much they are helping me get into cycling! Quitting rowing for a new sport, I had to learn new training methodes and your videos are amazing for that! In addition to helping me actually be comfy on my bike with all these tips!
so good! lots of great info. thank you. I've always wondered if I didn't have some sort of nerve trauma in my left foot. along with my arches, metatarsals in each foot fell when I was about 13. Years of yoga and cycling has helped strengthen my feet but there is this one last thing that comes up now and again. It's just my left big toe going numb. But I've got some things to play with here since it does clear up when I flex and move my foot around inside the shoe. Thanks again!
Hi Guys, been experiencing numbness in my left foot and very occasionally on the right foot. Have played with Cleat positions, saddle height and and forward backward position. Watched this video and cut a bit of inner sole and put it under my existing inner sole to give that extra arch support that fixed my problem. now has been 8 days of cycling without any numbness. You are an absolute legend. I'm based in Victoria and if Neill ever comes down I would line up for a Bike Fit. Please keep me posted.
I'd like to add another plug for Niels Erikstrup's Patrocleats Adapters, and Niels' customer service! I purchased some recently and realized I messed up the order details on my end after they had already shipped. He was incredibly responsive and helpful with my issues, and I'm excited to give the product a try when it arrives!
Wow, timely! Great tips. Thanks. I think I have developed a neuroma in my left foot toe area 2nd and third toes felt like they were cramping and they went into a weird position. Really really painful in the meta tarsels behind the toes themselves. Only way to stop the pain was to put the shower head over them for a few minutes and turn up the heat and massage them. Have had it previously a few times especially when it's been cold, but this time was really painful. It was relatively cold this evening 6-8C now summer has ended. I had ridden quite a short distance only about 50 miles. I have Shimano shoes R089, which don't seem to be tight at all although I do have high arches. I don't have any orthotic soles in them. My cleats are probably about 1/3 back from the front of the slots on the underside of my shoe which approximates to just behind ball of my foot. Will try moving them right back to see if this makes a difference. I don't have overly narrow or wide feet D/E width. I guess I'll need to lower the saddle slightly as well. Thanks for this video. Really helpful advice from Neil, the man who knows everything. Could running out of juice or not fueling properly contribute to or exacerbate foot pain/numbness?
Update. Took the shoe foot beds out to adjust the cleats and the left shoe has very much more pronounced wear from where the toes sit compared to the right, maybe my leg power is pretty unbalanced, but there is also a distinct wear patch approximating to where I feel pain possibly neuroma just behind 3 and 4th toes, little toe being 1. So I've moved the cleats as far back as they will go which is about 3/4 - 7/8 of an inch which seems loads to me. Anyway will try this. Btw black Cinelli gel bar tape fits perfectly width wise in the cut out to cover the plate inside the shoe for the cleat.
One month on, both my feet and I are now feeling great when pedalling. The neuroma I was experiencing in my left foot has now gone. It took a bit of getting used to the new cleat position as the position of my feet on the pedals feels quite different such that it has altered my cycling position but a little adjustment of saddle height has now helped. I feel a lot more comfortable. I can ride now ride harder for longer as I don't get pain/numbness in my left foot. Also my feet feel more comfortable in my shoes, I feel I have more space in them and my feet are lighter on the pedals. I wear Shimano R089 SPD shoes but will likely be wearing my winter Shimano MW80 winter boots in the next few weeks as I am in the UK. I was regularly getting numbness neuroma in my left foot with these shoes too so shall have to move these cleats back as well. Thank you Neill. You are the Cycling Wizard. Would love to come to Oz for you to do a proper bike fit.
I have been riding a certain bike with great fitting for thousands of kms without any issue. Suddenly i was diagnosed with cervical myelopathy and i had surgery on C 5-6. After 2 months (February 2023I started cycling again and gradually i reached my standards in performance with no any issues (only walking, running and jumping were little problematic)... After winter of 2023 i started to have serious numbness to my right foot, ONLY while riding my bike. If i was continuing my effort then this numbness was going also to my hands even though i dont have any kind of pressure on them on the handlebar. After one hour of cycling, no matter the intensity, the numbness appears. It is so frustrating. In my desperation i ordered G8 insole to see if it will help. Just received them... Lets see how it will go... Neurological issues are not something easy. It may be more complicated than it seems. Neill, you are the best i have seen on fitting issues... Thanks for all...
Thanks for the great video. As a fellow PT, I enjoy listening to Neil's ideas and explanations and I've been waiting for this video for a while. As someone who suffers from severe lateral foot pain, I have tried just about everything. Bike fits, different wider cleats, different shoes (currently in Giro Empire - on-road/off-road styles), metatarsal foot pads, OTS orthotics. Currently, I'm using a medial forefoot wedge to assist with my varus forefoot position. I overpronate slightly on my more painful side (more severely on the less painful side ironically) and the OTS Superfeet orthotic is better than the original sock liner but is only helps a little bit. I find the met pad only adds to more pressure on my painful region. Based on one of your former videos, I moved my cleat position back as far as it would go. It seems to help a small amount, however, I find when I'm stopped my toe clips my wheel. I'm concerned if I bought one of these adapters that it would run the risk of clipping the wheel while riding, especially off-road. Have you seen this happen? I'm now questioning my seat height/fore/apt position. How often do you see this with your clients? Again, awesome work!
@@CamNicholls Thanks! He's a pro. I'd love to pick his brain! I absolutely love this stuff. Looking forward to this fore/apt video you just posted! This biomechanics/injuries/power transfer information is so great! Thanks again for your work!
I struggled with numb toes to a point where it became unbearably painful after 2hrs on the bike. I tried everything I could think of to fix the problem - saddle height, cleat position, wider shoes, narrower shoes, you name it. Eventually got custom moulded insoles to support my high arch. The problem disappeared almost completely and I can now do +5 hour rides without any issues. Still get slightly numb toes towards the end of a long ride, but nothing that wiggling my toes a bit cant fix.
Instead of using the Metdome i got a support off the dr. Its very similar but has a strap which goes around the foot keeping the pad underneath in place. Got mine 20 years ago. Numbness and cold feet imo should be checked out if it persists. I've recently had bloods checked and a ABPI test. Bloods fine Though cholesterol slightly high and narrowing of the arteries in my right foot. (I havent smoked for 20yrs). Now waiting for my hospital appointment.
The orthotic insole/arch support does effectively widen the forefoot in the shoe, thereby causing the shoe to be tighter in the footbox which in turn causes toe cramps and or foot numbness. I tried Lakes Wide CX241 and still had foot numbness. The orthotic got rid of the foot numbness but caused toe cramps due to the footbox becoming too narrow as a result of raising the foot in the shoe. Removing the Lakes insole to drop the foot more in the shoe which helped, but the only way to get rid of the toe cramping was to remove the orthotic, which in turn caused the numbness to return. Lakes support made a decision to not offer an option for a midfoot cleat placement and Bont will do it with the addition of a custom charge but will not allow you to try the shoe first to see if there is foot numbness. If you try it, you buy it and you cannot send it back for customization or any other reason. I continue to ride with numb feet.
I tried both Lake CX 241 wide, and its toebox was painfully narrow at my forefoot (cramped big toe, small toe and the fifth metatarsal joint). The Lake CX 238 wide, on the other hand, was comfortably wide all along the forefoot. The orthotic in the Lake CX 238 wide might solve your foot numbness.
Happens to me all the time. It's a bit unnerving that the phone is always listening to conversations and then Google presents content that is relevant to the conversations. At the same time, it can actually be quite handy much of the time. I have tried experiments by talking about something that has absolutely no relationship to my life whatsoever, and sure enough, within a few hours, I start seeing ads or links related to that obscure topic. Gotta love Google.
Excellent review, that is superb explanation, because, I have a lot of experiences about numbness in the foot during pedaling my bike, 😮at first I thought it’s because the shoes is too tight, secondly, I thought it’s because I have wider foot and when that happened I usually stop for a moment and started to loosen up the buckle on the shoes a little bit or just off my food from the shoes let it resting but now I understand where that numbness came from and why ? It’s good idea to change with wider shoes when you have a wide foot like me. Thank for all that education 👍👍❤it
I can add another possible cause for numb feet - too soft shoes. I didn't have this problem when I started cycling but as my wattage went higher I started to notice that the shoe sole really bends and it causes numbness.
And if you’ve been following this series... and not directly stated... to get you cleats back to relieve numbness and keep relative leg to pedal stroke positioning... go to a shorter crank length! I was waiting for that tie in to past videos but perhaps this is coming in the future teased episodes of RCA... All good, continuing to learn new stuff like try Lake shoes!
i recently changed shoe from shimano to fizik and immediately experience hot foot and numbness. apart from limited fore/aft cleat adjustment on fizik, the logical cause i can think is much narrow toebox compared to shimano.
@@frankekeler7682 Yes Frank clenching your toes is something you can do without even knowing it, so just moving them every now and again sorts the problem 👍
To this day i haven’t fixed my toe numbness, which happens only when i try to go fast doing laps and sprinting. This has been going on even when i was riding a mtb and using flat pedals. My feet are normal, not wide and does not have a high arch. I’ve tried adjusting the saddle, also tried moving the cleats back a little. Numbness is still there.
It could be the shoes too. I had that problem when I got back into cycling. I had bought some entry level Shimano shoes. They had some flex. I bought a nice pair of Fizik with carbon soles and problem was gone
Hmmm I wonder how and if these changes in seat, pedal & cleat position would cause a deviation in readings from a pedal mounted power meter vs a crank mounted power meter.
Great vid.. subscribed.. I use Lake CX241 wide as I have flat wide feet with G8 insoles awesome totally changed my riding experience the best for me :) excellent build quality to
Currently I am having many problems when leaving more than 5 hours in gravel. Can't do Ultracycling, 'cause constant numbness in both feet. I have high arches and use insoles. Still, I haven't found a solution. I'm going to leave with some Sidi Mega
I have a neuroma in my left foot and had to buy wider shoes but that only bothered me HIKING, never biking and I now I have a VERY WIDE shoe so it not that . . . I got numb in BOTH feet yesterday after my longest ride in quite a few years. I quit riding and started hiking 5 years ago but I need to get cardio in the winter so I dusted off the hard tail mountain bike and started riding. Just 8 miles a few days and then yesterday I did 25 fairly easy miles and both feet got numb after about 18 miles so I got off and walked around. The numbness went away 10 minutes after I got home before I took my shoes off (no clips). I do have expensive arch supports. I wonder if my seat is too high or I just did too many miles without working up to it. My butt is hardly sore today. It must be a butt problem and not a foot problem as they both got numb at the same time but not my legs though I think I had one leg go numb in bed last night unless it was a dream. . . . MAYBE I need to lower my seat(?) but I've had it like this for decades but it's worth a try. Because I hike I have more power with the leg a little straighter and I'm using the bike to help me keep in shape for backpacking. I'll have to reexamine my bike fit again. It's a 2013 Trek Mamba 29er Hard Tail Mountain Bike. Not cheapie but not top of the line. I see guys all the time with too low of a seat, I dont know how they ride like that . . .
Question for Neil: How much do you need to lower the seat when you move the cleats back? I imagine everyone is different, but is there a good starting point? For example if I move my cleats back 10mm how many mm should I lower the seat?
Hey Kevin, Neill doesn't get to these Q's anymore unfortunately. Too many for him to keep up with, but I would consider lowering it too low (10mm ish) and then spending a ride working on a test. Ride at your 20min pace for 2-3 mins. Then raise the saddle 3mm. Do the same test and repeat. When you start to notice a choppy sensation in the pedal stroke, you've gone too far. Then lower the saddle height 2-3 mm and you're good!
So when are you and Neil going to release a book on bike fitting and fitness then 😉. Followed all the vids with Neil, feel I'm mm away from perfection but need someone like NS eye's. I'm booking in a bike fit after 3yrs and 2 past fits not working. Think I may of found someone close to Neil's knowledge...or I hope so anyway.
Amazing info as per usual! Can you and Neill do a video on saddle fore/aft position? Something I forgot to adjust when taking delivery of my new bike (without a bike-fit, thanks COVID!). I'm paying for my mistake, with Achilles pain and a bakers cyst -.-
I use midfoot patrocleat but i still get numb left foot toe when i go hard on the pedals. It doesn’t happen to the right foot.it happens only left toe. I have currexsole insoles.
All these fit videos are pure gold.
Steve Hogg’s website has an incredible amount of information if you *really* want a deep dive. Neill is just scratching the surface in these videos (which I also love). www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/faq/
Neill is back!
My fifth metatarsal on my right foot goes on fire after an hour. It's done this for almost 50 years. Moved my cleats back, no real difference. Dropped my saddle a little and things were much better. Thank you for your videos and your knowledge. If I didn't live on the other side of the world I would come in for a full fitting. Thanks.
Used to get numbness all the time. Never wanted to put my Orthotics in my riding shoes because I thought it would block air flow/vents. When winter rolled round I tried putting them in as it wasn't as much of a priority. No numbness and a noticeable comfort and stability increase. Arch support helped me loads and this vid helped explain why! Thanks!
Great vid as always! This series is a wealth of information for free, much appreciated!
Actually rang and chatted to Neil about some things. Very open and honest bloke!
I have come back to view many of your bike fit vids with Neil Stanbury as getting back to biking has been a bit painful for me. I can't tell you how much this vid and your related others have helped. Late comment but just wanted to thank you.
It’s always great to get information like this that expands the things to consider when foot problems arise. I have spent years chasing the perfect shoe/fit/setup, at times like a dog chasing his own tail. Many of the things mentioned in this video are things I can verify with my own experience. Things mentioned in the video I have not considered get my attention with the assumption of accuracy. Thank you. Well done 👍
This has just helped me diagnose myself with Morton’s neuroma.
I need to see Neil.. he’s amazing.
I haven't met a fitter yet that I look up to enough to throw money at but this guy's definitely worthy. No gimmicks or one-size-fits-all rules. Just great physiological knowledge, observation skills and smart adjustments. Thanks for featuring him as much as you do. I've been a self-fitter ever since I started and have done pretty well (well enough to have no discomfort/injury on 100-mile rides and hard climbs), but I have definitely learned a few things from this guy. Wish he was here in my neighborhood.
Btw, I see he's got an oval on his trainer. What does he think of them? (I do a lot of climbing.)
We will make a video about Oval Mark, so stay tuned.
I love the way hes explaining, man i can finally understand bike fit. Thank u guys keep it going for gods sake 😄🌹
Can't emphasise how useful this video is!!!! Gashed the ball of my left foot on jagged metal as a kid; years of hucking to flat on mountain-bikes compressing my leading left foots ankle till the cartilage is destroyed, and endless freezing winters of bodyboarding with fins on, aaaaaand broke the midfoot into lots of pieces a couple of years ago so it's full of metal n scar tissue and totally f'd. I've always set my cleats back, but the calf blood pump thing and cleat adapters are news to me.
Subscribed. Insoles in my cleats solved the problem. I followed your instructions, realized I couldn't feel any arch in my shoes, bought an arch. Problem solved.
When is Neill coming to do fittings in the US? Great detailed explanations. Appreciate the detailed anatomical explanations.
This is where you can find where all of the best bike fitters are located. There may be one near you? ibfi-certification.com/find-a-fitter/
look up Steve Hogg and a list of approved fitters, there are a few stateside
Thanks Neill! I've been watching and learning from your video posts for some time now. I finally put an insert with metatarsal support and it was a game changer! I struggled for many years. Used to get numb feet when road marching when in the Army and never associated it metatarsal heads restriction causing nerve numbness. I now where these types of inserts in all my shoe wear. Thank you! Brad from Texas.
Your knowledge of cylcing kinesiology is very impressive, and incredibly helpful. So glad I found your site! Also found your video on float incredibly helpful, and will be looking into Speedplay pedals and cleats, as I have a lot of external rotation and have had chronic knee problems; am betting that will make all the difference. Also have a very wide foot and extremely high arch, and problems with foot numbness, so again, your video has been incredibly helpful!
Cam, the advice that you and Neill deliver (earlier in this series) sold me on a set of G8s and I've found a multitude of benefits from them! The topic of this video being the main one, but others followed in the months since receiving them. You guys are putting out great content with detail that people really want to see to be able to really understand what's going on between the bike and body.
Great stuff mate thanks for sharing
Never have any issues with numb feet but watched it all the way!
Btw, to add to the discussion: the Specialized road shoes (at least the carbon ones) have a wide offering which works great for my wide feet while still being stiff/"rigid". But as always: try before you buy/
Happy cycling!
Good morning Cam. Thank you for the video(s). On your (and Neil's) advice I bought and fitted the G8 insoles to my shoes, following the method outlined on the G8 web site. All I can say is game changer! My feet are fully in contact with my shoes now and the sensation is of comfort and stability that I have never experienced before. If anyone is on the fence, go for it! Your feet/ body/ mind will thank you for it. I'm not at anything like full fitness, but I'm driving the big ring where I would have dropped to the small ring before, just so much more comfort to do so. Thanks again to both of you. All the best, Tim (Spain)
Good stuff Tim, thanks for sharing 👍
My forefoot is too wide for standard shoes. Wide models cause heel lift. Sidi stoped with adjustable heels on their Mega-models. Result: i have been searching for new shoes for at least 5 years. Tried many brands and models. Thank you Sidi ! I guess we don’t deserve your top tier models WITH adjustable heels…
Try Lake Shoes and the measurement guide on their website
Finally content with a value. Thank you for all your efforts.
I am a 70 year old female and live to ride my bike...I have 4 bikes and 1 recumbent trike so far and would love to collect even more if I had the space...
Listening to your videos brings tears of joy to my eyes because for a long time I had hoped someone would appeal to the population of old and new to get fitted properly to their bike and get out and have fun in the fresh air while exercising...
The recent plandemic of covid19 had both good and very bad results attached to it...The good result is the only one I wish to dwell on....The bicycling industry increased it’s sales beyond my wildest dreams...All those who found themselves unable to stay at home and isolated, got outdoors and rode their bikes...There was a for a time, more bikes on the road then cars...Yahoo...
I had the great honour of vacationing in Holland for 5 weeks in 2017 and discovered that cycling became an even greater pleasure because of the safety measures the country has adopted as their cycling infrastructure...My wish would be to see this everywhere in the world but especially where I live North America...We have the space..We just need the collective desire to “make America safe again”...IMHO....thx
Thank you so much for the advice given in this video. I have been suffering with numb feet on rides of more than an hour.
I followed all the tips and am now numb feet free!
Absolutely fantastic I can't thank you enough!
My feet have been numb on the bike since I started last year. Like, half an hour no feeling on the soles of me feet after a decent ride. Finally something that is discussing this issue in detail. Will try these various approaches and see how much this has helped. Thanks so much, this is so useful.
I've been riding since 1979 and have always had issues with my feet when the weather is hot. For the first 2 hours there are no issues but then the burning starts. Imagine that your feet feel like they're on 🔥 in the middle of a race. You are talking about numb feet but how many people, like me, actually get really painfull burning sensation under the foot into the big toe. I have tried the metatarsal pads which helped to some degree. What has helped me most is keeping the shoe fairly loose on the foot most of the ride. I still get "hot foot" now and then and when it's bad, trust me, it hurts like hell.
Mark Kubach Exactly my situation. It only happens on long, hard rides on hot days. And once it starts, loosening my shoes does not improve it.
I am learning to keep my shoes nice and loose to avoid it.
I have been riding/racing for about the same time period. Recently I began having problems very similar to what you described. Without going into all the details of my shoe foot particulars, something I found that cured my recent problem had a simple cure. I went with a very slightly softer insole. It is easy to try...
@@robertlight2370 exactly, once the pain starts there is no way back. If you want it to stop the only way is to stop riding.
@Lovelyjubly The pain radiates from under the foot into the big toe. I have tried to cut a hole in the insole where the big toe is, to get some more movement in the toe. I have moved the cleet around to different positions. Still the best for me has been to keep the shoes loose. With or without the use of a metatarsal pad. Anyway, thanks for the input :-)
Thank you so much for this video! Moved my cleats back all the way and moved my arch support back towards heel - completely eliminated my numb feet. Bontrager xxx road here, he’s completely right about the stiffness. You have to make sure you’ve got good circulation in these boots because they do nothing to help you in that department.
Thank you Neill , after this video I got rid of my numb feet problem and your other session are also really helpful. 🤗🤗
It's fantastic listening to these explanations. As mentioned before: pure gold! Thanks
Very very interesting. Our bikes have gone for a total rebuild and the weekend that we are picking them up. We are also going to do a total fit out over the whole weekend in the future. Once both bikes have been completely rebuilt.
I’m actually planning to see Neil (as a result of your videos) - to primarily address toe numbness issues I’ve been experiencing for years. Clicked on this so fast :P
I saw Neil as a result of Cam's videos as well. Best money spent on my bike ever. But you better contact him as soon as possible. Neil's usually booked out for weeks.
I encourage anyone who is in need of a proper bike fit to go and see any of the Steve Hogg approved bike fitters which everyone is in your reach even if you have to travel! It’s worth it. Jerry Gerlich in Texas spend 4hr on my feet alone. I recently did a 106mi bike ride in the mountains of north Georgia 11,000 feet of climbing, never felt so powerful on my bike riding up climbs averaging 7-12%. I saw other riders cramping, zigzagging up the mountains. Riders pushing their bikes up the mountain, riders complaining of the numbness from their hands or feet. When I go fo a ride on my bike I want to be comfortable! And pain free.
Bébé cycling , thanks for your tip. I'm leg hamstring. Hurt fitting set is so difficult. From south Korea man. Here is going cycling booming.
Thanks for making the video mate. I suffer from numb feet every time I ride. More so on my left foot its so frustrating. Thanks for the tips I will implement them immediately probably start with putting my cleats as far back as they can go. 👍
I am really new to this sport of cycling and all my equipment from bike to wearing gear is really good products I feel but unfortunately where I live there are bout 3 to 4 bike shops BUT not one has the experience as Neil man I would pay to jus have my bike comfortable cause I'm trying to tweak and move and adjust but like Neil says he jus has an eye and it's frustrating to go ride and after 10 miles I want to come home . I'm learning so much and there are tons of videos but I really get the most from these . Thank you and I'll keep trying to adjust before I put my bike up for sale.
Just what I needed to hear! I get a tingling sensation every time I get out of bed as well as numbness when I ride. I think it’s time to upgrade to a wider shoe. Thank you both for this information! Saving feet one pair at a time!
Brilliant! I have been having foot numbness on longer rides but usually only on my left foot. I am going to experiment with arch supports....and I learned something. I didn’t know the calf acts like a “mini heart” and helps pump blood through the foot.
The numbness starts on my left foot then towards my right and when my hands get numb it starts on the right hand. But my foot numbness starts faster 5-10 miles and the hand numbness around the 30 mile range. Started the very day I got my road bike a month ago. I've been riding a fitness bike a few months with regular shoes and never experienced numbness. I need to figure something about because it's annoying.
@@crodriguez2360 hand numbness sounds more like you are riding with your arms locked or stiff and applying to much weight on them. Keep your elbows bent and relaxed. Also regularly changing hand positions helps (on brake hoods, in drops, on sides). If you can't take the weight off of your hands, it could also be bike fit....handlebars too far forward
@@glenspringle7337 Yeah the few times my hands got numb I noticed I didn't change my hand positions those times. They were longer rides as well but have been doing what you've said and has worked. I got fitted and the guy recommended a longer stem. I haven't done that yet. Thanks for the tips!
Shimano comes in wide size models, so many benefits of mid cleat position main drawback being balance on the bike, shoes with laces is a good option since they contour to the shape of your foot.
thought I would drop a comment just to say how good your videos are and how much they are helping me get into cycling! Quitting rowing for a new sport, I had to learn new training methodes and your videos are amazing for that! In addition to helping me actually be comfy on my bike with all these tips!
Really nice of you to share that Mark. I used to row myself so you have a good background for pain tolerance 👍✅
so good! lots of great info. thank you. I've always wondered if I didn't have some sort of nerve trauma in my left foot. along with my arches, metatarsals in each foot fell when I was about 13. Years of yoga and cycling has helped strengthen my feet but there is this one last thing that comes up now and again. It's just my left big toe going numb. But I've got some things to play with here since it does clear up when I flex and move my foot around inside the shoe. Thanks again!
Thanks for sharing on the thread mate, interesting to hear. Cam
Excellent information and incredibly useful! Especially for people who have bunions. Thanks so much!
Hi Guys, been experiencing numbness in my left foot and very occasionally on the right foot. Have played with Cleat positions, saddle height and and forward backward position. Watched this video and cut a bit of inner sole and put it under my existing inner sole to give that extra arch support that fixed my problem. now has been 8 days of cycling without any numbness. You are an absolute legend. I'm based in Victoria and if Neill ever comes down I would line up for a Bike Fit. Please keep me posted.
Awesome to hear mate, thanks for sharing on the thread.
I'd like to add another plug for Niels Erikstrup's Patrocleats Adapters, and Niels' customer service! I purchased some recently and realized I messed up the order details on my end after they had already shipped. He was incredibly responsive and helpful with my issues, and I'm excited to give the product a try when it arrives!
Wow, timely! Great tips. Thanks. I think I have developed a neuroma in my left foot toe area 2nd and third toes felt like they were cramping and they went into a weird position. Really really painful in the meta tarsels behind the toes themselves. Only way to stop the pain was to put the shower head over them for a few minutes and turn up the heat and massage them. Have had it previously a few times especially when it's been cold, but this time was really painful. It was relatively cold this evening 6-8C now summer has ended. I had ridden quite a short distance only about 50 miles.
I have Shimano shoes R089, which don't seem to be tight at all although I do have high arches. I don't have any orthotic soles in them. My cleats are probably about 1/3 back from the front of the slots on the underside of my shoe which approximates to just behind ball of my foot. Will try moving them right back to see if this makes a difference. I don't have overly narrow or wide feet D/E width. I guess I'll need to lower the saddle slightly as well.
Thanks for this video. Really helpful advice from Neil, the man who knows everything. Could running out of juice or not fueling properly contribute to or exacerbate foot pain/numbness?
Update. Took the shoe foot beds out to adjust the cleats and the left shoe has very much more pronounced wear from where the toes sit compared to the right, maybe my leg power is pretty unbalanced, but there is also a distinct wear patch approximating to where I feel pain possibly neuroma just behind 3 and 4th toes, little toe being 1. So I've moved the cleats as far back as they will go which is about 3/4 - 7/8 of an inch which seems loads to me. Anyway will try this. Btw black Cinelli gel bar tape fits perfectly width wise in the cut out to cover the plate inside the shoe for the cleat.
Thanks for sharing mate, I highly doubt not fuelling would be contributing. Good luck with resolving.
@@CamNicholls Thank you! Will keep the thread updated.
One month on, both my feet and I are now feeling great when pedalling. The neuroma I was experiencing in my left foot has now gone. It took a bit of getting used to the new cleat position as the position of my feet on the pedals feels quite different such that it has altered my cycling position but a little adjustment of saddle height has now helped. I feel a lot more comfortable. I can ride now ride harder for longer as I don't get pain/numbness in my left foot. Also my feet feel more comfortable in my shoes, I feel I have more space in them and my feet are lighter on the pedals. I wear Shimano R089 SPD shoes but will likely be wearing my winter Shimano MW80 winter boots in the next few weeks as I am in the UK. I was regularly getting numbness neuroma in my left foot with these shoes too so shall have to move these cleats back as well.
Thank you Neill. You are the Cycling Wizard. Would love to come to Oz for you to do a proper bike fit.
Cam thanks again for sharing Neill's wisdom
Another professional quality video packed with vital information. Thanks for posting.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. When you are new to cycling and one foot keeps going numb, it is a little scary and a lot frustrating.
Hope you can now resolve the issue John. Cam
amazing depth of information to a very complicated issue. Thankyou
These are the best setup and problem solving videos I have seen. Thanks.
Great content! I'm gonna try adding an arch support. Thanks for the video
Great video ! Just bumped into it as my toes get numb after cycling for a while. I will experiment with my shoes and see if it improves.
I have been riding a certain bike with great fitting for thousands of kms without any issue. Suddenly i was diagnosed with cervical myelopathy and i had surgery on C 5-6. After 2 months (February 2023I started cycling again and gradually i reached my standards in performance with no any issues (only walking, running and jumping were little problematic)... After winter of 2023 i started to have serious numbness to my right foot, ONLY while riding my bike. If i was continuing my effort then this numbness was going also to my hands even though i dont have any kind of pressure on them on the handlebar. After one hour of cycling, no matter the intensity, the numbness appears. It is so frustrating. In my desperation i ordered G8 insole to see if it will help. Just received them... Lets see how it will go...
Neurological issues are not something easy. It may be more complicated than it seems.
Neill, you are the best i have seen on fitting issues... Thanks for all...
Thank you for all the advice... it all makes sense. great video
Thanks for the great video. As a fellow PT, I enjoy listening to Neil's ideas and explanations and I've been waiting for this video for a while. As someone who suffers from severe lateral foot pain, I have tried just about everything. Bike fits, different wider cleats, different shoes (currently in Giro Empire - on-road/off-road styles), metatarsal foot pads, OTS orthotics. Currently, I'm using a medial forefoot wedge to assist with my varus forefoot position. I overpronate slightly on my more painful side (more severely on the less painful side ironically) and the OTS Superfeet orthotic is better than the original sock liner but is only helps a little bit. I find the met pad only adds to more pressure on my painful region. Based on one of your former videos, I moved my cleat position back as far as it would go. It seems to help a small amount, however, I find when I'm stopped my toe clips my wheel. I'm concerned if I bought one of these adapters that it would run the risk of clipping the wheel while riding, especially off-road. Have you seen this happen? I'm now questioning my seat height/fore/apt position. How often do you see this with your clients? Again, awesome work!
Neill would be best equipped to answer this.
@@CamNicholls Thanks! He's a pro. I'd love to pick his brain! I absolutely love this stuff. Looking forward to this fore/apt video you just posted! This biomechanics/injuries/power transfer information is so great! Thanks again for your work!
I struggled with numb toes to a point where it became unbearably painful after 2hrs on the bike. I tried everything I could think of to fix the problem - saddle height, cleat position, wider shoes, narrower shoes, you name it. Eventually got custom moulded insoles to support my high arch. The problem disappeared almost completely and I can now do +5 hour rides without any issues. Still get slightly numb toes towards the end of a long ride, but nothing that wiggling my toes a bit cant fix.
Yes the pain can get so excrusiating that you can't focus on anything else other than how to releave the pain.
Instead of using the Metdome i got a support off the dr. Its very similar but has a strap which goes around the foot keeping the pad underneath in place. Got mine 20 years ago. Numbness and cold feet imo should be checked out if it persists. I've recently had bloods checked and a ABPI test. Bloods fine Though cholesterol slightly high and narrowing of the arteries in my right foot. (I havent smoked for 20yrs). Now waiting for my hospital appointment.
Good to see Neill and the Rere back!
Nice one. Just ordered a pair of those cleat adjusters from Switzerland. Was toying with drilling my shoes but will give this a crack first
The orthotic insole/arch support does effectively widen the forefoot in the shoe, thereby causing the shoe to be tighter in the footbox which in turn causes toe cramps and or foot numbness. I tried Lakes Wide CX241 and still had foot numbness. The orthotic got rid of the foot numbness but caused toe cramps due to the footbox becoming too narrow as a result of raising the foot in the shoe. Removing the Lakes insole to drop the foot more in the shoe which helped, but the only way to get rid of the toe cramping was to remove the orthotic, which in turn caused the numbness to return. Lakes support made a decision to not offer an option for a midfoot cleat placement and Bont will do it with the addition of a custom charge but will not allow you to try the shoe first to see if there is foot numbness. If you try it, you buy it and you cannot send it back for customization or any other reason. I continue to ride with numb feet.
I tried both Lake CX 241 wide, and its toebox was painfully narrow at my forefoot (cramped big toe, small toe and the fifth metatarsal joint). The Lake CX 238 wide, on the other hand, was comfortably wide all along the forefoot. The orthotic in the Lake CX 238 wide might solve your foot numbness.
@@matejgorsic7388 Thank you, I will take a look at it.
amazing knowledge, almost all in one video! thanks!
I was just talking about sore feet then I came on UA-cam and this popped Up first🤣 Great Video!!
Happens to me all the time. It's a bit unnerving that the phone is always listening to conversations and then Google presents content that is relevant to the conversations. At the same time, it can actually be quite handy much of the time. I have tried experiments by talking about something that has absolutely no relationship to my life whatsoever, and sure enough, within a few hours, I start seeing ads or links related to that obscure topic. Gotta love Google.
Big brother!
Thanks for this video. Fantastic explanations, struggling with numbness and been playing around with lots of things
Excellent review, that is superb explanation, because, I have a lot of experiences about numbness in the foot during pedaling my bike, 😮at first I thought it’s because the shoes is too tight, secondly, I thought it’s because I have wider foot and when that happened I usually stop for a moment and started to loosen up the buckle on the shoes a little bit or just off my food from the shoes let it resting but now I understand where that numbness came from and why ? It’s good idea to change with wider shoes when you have a wide foot like me. Thank for all that education 👍👍❤it
Super helpful Cam and Neill, loving all of these videos! I wish we had Neill in Ireland!
I can add another possible cause for numb feet - too soft shoes. I didn't have this problem when I started cycling but as my wattage went higher I started to notice that the shoe sole really bends and it causes numbness.
And if you’ve been following this series... and not directly stated... to get you cleats back to relieve numbness and keep relative leg to pedal stroke positioning... go to a shorter crank length! I was waiting for that tie in to past videos but perhaps this is coming in the future teased episodes of RCA... All good, continuing to learn new stuff like try Lake shoes!
Agree. The combination of a 165 crank and the Patrocleats with the 24mm back cleat position is a real winner for me for much less pain on long rides.
I’m in Canada and I want to visit just to get fitted by Neill.
Yeah, I second that.
i recently changed shoe from shimano to fizik and immediately experience hot foot and numbness. apart from limited fore/aft cleat adjustment on fizik, the logical cause i can think is much narrow toebox compared to shimano.
Once upon a time I suffered from foot numbness but then I realized that just simply wriggling my toes to promote blood flow solved the problem! 😁
And not clenching them
@@frankekeler7682
Yes Frank clenching your toes is something you can do without even knowing it, so just moving them every now and again sorts the problem 👍
To this day i haven’t fixed my toe numbness, which happens only when i try to go fast doing laps and sprinting. This has been going on even when i was riding a mtb and using flat pedals. My feet are normal, not wide and does not have a high arch. I’ve tried adjusting the saddle, also tried moving the cleats back a little. Numbness is still there.
Cam, would it be possible for Niell to show us how to make DIY arch supports?
too narrow q-factor makes my feet hurt / go numb on the outside. I compensate by lowering the saddle too low and chop inwards
Super video, thanks. Im one of those that spend more time twiddling with my bike than cycling it.
It could be the shoes too. I had that problem when I got back into cycling. I had bought some entry level Shimano shoes. They had some flex. I bought a nice pair of Fizik with carbon soles and problem was gone
Hmmm I wonder how and if these changes in seat, pedal & cleat position would cause a deviation in readings from a pedal mounted power meter vs a crank mounted power meter.
Great vid.. subscribed.. I use Lake CX241 wide as I have flat wide feet with G8 insoles awesome totally changed my riding experience the best for me :) excellent build quality to
Thanks for the comment Pete and supporting the channel too! Cam
Looking for the links that he mentioned for fitting? Thanks!
A lot of great info, thanks to both of you 👍
Great video, a wealth of information!!! Thank you!
For those of use who don't live in Australia, what is the best way to go about finding a bike fitter like Neill?
Very interesting at 8.00 mins in. I dropped my saddle 1cm and got really numb feet when riding up a mountain.
Can’t wait to try these tips this week!
Another great informative video thankyou 🙏👍
Neill is the king 👌💪🚴♂️
What about bilateral foot numbness? Do you need a wider Q-factor to resolve that?
I personally bought the Lake CX331 Solely cause they are heat moldable no more numbness
Currently I am having many problems when leaving more than 5 hours in gravel. Can't do Ultracycling, 'cause constant numbness in both feet. I have high arches and use insoles. Still, I haven't found a solution.
I'm going to leave with some Sidi Mega
Very interesting and great informational blog again. I got hot foot/numbness but not all the time. Say once every couple of months. Is that unusual?
How much space should there be between the big toe and the front of the shoe?
Great content Cam👍
Cheers Bondy
Thank you for the excellent info.
Gmorning just wanted say thank you for all your videos great info,my T band gets sore what could cause that thank in advance .
I am curious how to balance knee pain with numb feet!!!!
Excellent! Great content nowadays!
I have a neuroma in my left foot and had to buy wider shoes but that only bothered me HIKING, never biking and I now I have a VERY WIDE shoe so it not that . . . I got numb in BOTH feet yesterday after my longest ride in quite a few years. I quit riding and started hiking 5 years ago but I need to get cardio in the winter so I dusted off the hard tail mountain bike and started riding. Just 8 miles a few days and then yesterday I did 25 fairly easy miles and both feet got numb after about 18 miles so I got off and walked around. The numbness went away 10 minutes after I got home before I took my shoes off (no clips). I do have expensive arch supports. I wonder if my seat is too high or I just did too many miles without working up to it. My butt is hardly sore today. It must be a butt problem and not a foot problem as they both got numb at the same time but not my legs though I think I had one leg go numb in bed last night unless it was a dream. . . . MAYBE I need to lower my seat(?) but I've had it like this for decades but it's worth a try. Because I hike I have more power with the leg a little straighter and I'm using the bike to help me keep in shape for backpacking. I'll have to reexamine my bike fit again. It's a 2013 Trek Mamba 29er Hard Tail Mountain Bike. Not cheapie but not top of the line. I see guys all the time with too low of a seat, I dont know how they ride like that . . .
Looking for wide white shoes
Finally got a decent answer
Question for Neil: How much do you need to lower the seat when you move the cleats back? I imagine everyone is different, but is there a good starting point? For example if I move my cleats back 10mm how many mm should I lower the seat?
Hey Kevin, Neill doesn't get to these Q's anymore unfortunately. Too many for him to keep up with, but I would consider lowering it too low (10mm ish) and then spending a ride working on a test. Ride at your 20min pace for 2-3 mins. Then raise the saddle 3mm. Do the same test and repeat. When you start to notice a choppy sensation in the pedal stroke, you've gone too far. Then lower the saddle height 2-3 mm and you're good!
@@CamNicholls Thanks for taking the time to reply
Is cotton better than Lycra?
So when are you and Neil going to release a book on bike fitting and fitness then 😉. Followed all the vids with Neil, feel I'm mm away from perfection but need someone like NS eye's. I'm booking in a bike fit after 3yrs and 2 past fits not working. Think I may of found someone close to Neil's knowledge...or I hope so anyway.
Amazing info as per usual! Can you and Neill do a video on saddle fore/aft position? Something I forgot to adjust when taking delivery of my new bike (without a bike-fit, thanks COVID!). I'm paying for my mistake, with Achilles pain and a bakers cyst -.-
We did! Coming...
@@CamNicholls Love it! Need a Neil here in Melbourne!
I use midfoot patrocleat but i still get numb left foot toe when i go hard on the pedals. It doesn’t happen to the right foot.it happens only left toe. I have currexsole insoles.