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Numb toes

  • 17-08-2012 09:58AM
    #1
    Soarer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,142 ✭✭✭


    Morning all.

    I did a bit of a search but couldn't find anything relating to my question.
    My toes go numb when I'm on the bike for anything more than 20 minutes at a time. I have to shake my legs for a few seconds to kick them back into gear, and they're ok again then for another 20 minutes or so.
    I thought it was my pedals/shoes combination (was wearing runners and flat pedals) but I bought new shoes, cleats and pedals the other day, tried them out, and I still get the same sensation.

    Could the bike setup be wrong, or any other suggestions?

    Thanks in advance.
    Tagged:


Comments

  • #2
    Jawgap
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,296 ✭✭✭✭Jawgap


    It might be to do with the position of the ball of your foot relative to the pedal spindle - it might be worth making some adjustments to see if that alleviates the problem.

    If the position isn't quite right you can pinch or put excessive pressure on the nerves - so you need to change the points where pressure is currenly being applied.


  • #3
    Dipsomaniac
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 226 ✭✭Dipsomaniac


    That happened to me when I used cyclying shoes for the first time.

    For me, the solution was to loosen my shoe straps. As I was cyclying my feet would expand and there wasn't enough space in the shoe. Now I leave them a bit loose and my feet feel fine.


  • #4
    Soarer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,142 ✭✭✭Soarer


    Thanks for the replies guys.

    @ Dipsomaniac: Read a few things about that alright, but since this was happening before I used straps at all, I discounted it.

    @ Jawgap: There actually might be something in that. When it happened when using my runners, I found that my heel used to sometimes clip the back of the frame of the bike. I'm assuming that's not what's supposed to happen, so maybe I was too far back on the pedal. I currently have the cleats positions midway using the screws, so I'll move them all the way back which should move the ball of my foot forward.


  • #5
    Jawgap
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,296 ✭✭✭✭Jawgap


    Read up a bit on bikefitting and the parts of that relating to pedals.

    Generally - the spindle is supposed to be under the ball of the foot, but comfort may dictate it needs to be otherwise positioned.

    Clip in to the pedal and use a pen / pencil to figure out where the spindle is.


  • #6
    Cheese Princess
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 302 ✭✭Cheese Princess


    I used to get numb toes and realised it was because they were cold. I got warmer socks and they were fine - might not be the reason for you but worth a try.


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