Cycling - numb toes.

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SoxyKitten
SoxyKitten Posts: 80 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
After about 45 mins in the saddle my toes go numb! Anyway I can stop this from happening as it becomes really uncomfortable after a while and it takes a long time for the feeling to return after I'm finished. Thanks.

Replies

  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,885 Member
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    What kind of pedals and shoes are you using?
    Where have you placed your cleats ... if you are using cleats?
  • capnrus789
    capnrus789 Posts: 2,731 Member
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    Have you been properly fitted to your bike at a bike shop? Even the slightest angle change in your seat or handlebars can affect your blood circulation.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
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    The most likely cause is that your shoes are too tight. Even if they don't feel too tight before you start, your feet can swell while you are riding.
  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
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    My husband had to buy running laces because of the same thing.
  • RemoteOutpost
    RemoteOutpost Posts: 44 Member
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    This happens to me past 20 mins when I'm on the elliptical. I get hot spots too.
  • SoxyKitten
    SoxyKitten Posts: 80 Member
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    Yes I had the bike fitted at the shop. I've just been wearing my standard running trainers. They are not clip in pedals tho I was thinking of buying some and the corresponding shoes
  • Rob_in_MI
    Rob_in_MI Posts: 393 Member
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    I personally had to get a different saddle. And I ended buying actual riding shorts. That fixed my issues.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
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    is the numbness on both sides or just one?
  • RelCanonical
    RelCanonical Posts: 3,882 Member
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    I had this problem too. It turned out to be a bike fit problem. I had been using my dad's bike (who is a couple inches taller than me), but when I got my own bike at the right size, the problem went away.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,885 Member
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    SoxyKitten wrote: »
    Yes I had the bike fitted at the shop. I've just been wearing my standard running trainers. They are not clip in pedals tho I was thinking of buying some and the corresponding shoes

    Do they have quite flexible soles? If so, get shoes with stiff soles.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
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    SoxyKitten wrote: »
    Yes I had the bike fitted at the shop. I've just been wearing my standard running trainers. They are not clip in pedals tho I was thinking of buying some and the corresponding shoes

    If you do much riding, proper shoes and pedals are well worth the investment. The problem with using running shoes is that they bend. Since you are putting all your weight on the ball of your food, it can cut off blood flow, resulting in numbness. But what do I know? Worldwide, the most popular cycling shoe is the flip-flop.
  • BootCampC
    BootCampC Posts: 689 Member
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    RemoteOutpost wrote: »
    This happens to me past 20 mins when I'm on the elliptical. I get hot spots too.
    I get it on the stairmaster as well, sometimes biking

  • sdereski
    sdereski Posts: 3,406 Member
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    I have this issue as well, and it is not a bike issue, shoe issue, pedal issue, saddle issue. I had everything fitted for me, changed pedal clip location, adjusted the saddle, changed the shoe, etc. - it is a foot issue. Some refer to it as "hot foot", but basically, in my case, it is Mortons Neuroma. However, it only really bothers me when I cycle, which is such a friggin pain as I love to ride.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 24,885 Member
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    sdereski wrote: »
    I have this issue as well, and it is not a bike issue, shoe issue, pedal issue, saddle issue. I had everything fitted for me, changed pedal clip location, adjusted the saddle, changed the shoe, etc. - it is a foot issue. Some refer to it as "hot foot", but basically, in my case, it is Mortons Neuroma. However, it only really bothers me when I cycle, which is such a friggin pain as I love to ride.

    Make sure your cleats are all the way back.

  • SoxyKitten
    SoxyKitten Posts: 80 Member
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    Thanks for all the responses. I get it in both feet tho my right is always the first to go and takes much longer for the feeling to return. I'll try out some of your suggestions.
  • kcjchang
    kcjchang Posts: 709 Member
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    Excerpts from Steve Hogg: "...The two most common reasons are poorly fitted shoes or a cleat position that is too far forward. Less common reasons are the morphology of an individual's feet combined with lack of foot correction inside and outside the shoe."

    See "The Five Most Common Cycling Injuries" (above) and "If the Shoe Fits..." at https://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/articles/. Dig around his site and you'll find a lot of excellent fitting advice based on positional, functional, and neurological considerations not by the numbers statistical means.
  • brb_2013
    brb_2013 Posts: 1,197 Member
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    I had to switch shoes, I had this happen nearly every time I used my M5 at home. No matter how much I wiggled my toes they always went numb and a new pair of shoes helped. Not sure exactly what the change improved but they were old and probably not as supportive as my new ones.
  • scoii
    scoii Posts: 160 Member
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    If you don't want to go clipless, I would suggest looking at 5.10s or other specialised mountain bike shoes even on a road/hybrid bike, as mentioned above, the stuff sole is key. Also look at skate shoes, waffle soles are awesome on half decent pedals
  • Bluepegasus
    Bluepegasus Posts: 333 Member
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    I would say your shoes are too tight. My feet used to go really numb running until someone told me my laces were too tight, and as your feet get hot, they swell, which cases the restriction. I use elastic laces now, no more numb feet.

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