Why are my feet going numb?

Had the same issue when I first rode with cleats and real cycling shoes and periodically thereafter (including today!). Loosen 'em up as needed to where you get enough blood flow down there. It's not uncommon for your feet to swell over time, so a comfortable fit at the start may not be later in the ride.

Conventional wisdom is to wear the shoes as tight as possible (blah blah maximum power transfer blah blah). Adjust the straps so that your feet are comfortable. Comfort is king, IMO. Specialized makes an "over the counter" orthodic footbed with a "metatarsal button" that is supposed to spread the bones of the foot so as to avoid pinching the blood vessels. I have a pair and they are an improvement over the plain footbeds that came with the cleats. Might be worth the extra $40-50 to see if this helps.

Something else you can do when your feet start to get a little numb (mine still do sometimes on longer rides of 75 miles or more) is to spend a couple minutes "pulling" instead of "pushing" with your feet.  In other words, power your bike by actively pulling up on the back part of the stroke, and resting the feet when the other side is pulling.

It's not nearly efficient as pushing through stroke like normal, but I've found it will let the blood flow back into my toes and balls of my feet area a little better, relieving some of the numbness.  Sometimes just scrunching up my toes and then relaxing them inside the shoe a few times while coasting works too.

Thanks! i will look into the pads.

The bike shop put in my cleats. If it keeps up (for about a month) I'll see if the cleats can be adjusted. I'll also try the pushing pulling thing.

Cleats can be adjusted.

I have this happen when it is hot and I ride long. It is from metatarsels getting squeezed and then go numb that turns to pain. I did get some Specialized bike insoles that has helped but not completely on hot day.

Some say foot pain is from too loose of shoes others say from to tight.

It's not pain it's more like a tingly feeling. Like my feet or toes have fallen asleep.

Where should the cleats be placed? Is this a relative thing? Because mine are up front causing me to push where my toes will sometimes be pointed slightly. Should I be able to point my toes?? I'd like them in the middle of my foot I think. Is that bad? The middle of the foot?

Before you get pads, loosen your shoes the next time you are riding.  And work on adjusting the cleats.  I had to adjust mine from where the position the bike store put them in or my feet always fell asleep. 

Mine tingle then they change to pain...probably you aren't riding 6-8 hours.

They are supposed to be under the part of your foot just in front of your arch which I don't think is the middle of your foot. There is some debate but that is the most common place.

 Pointed slightly when?

pointed slightly when pushing down.

I'm guessing my cleats need to be adjusted like you suggested. If where you say the cleats should be is at the beginning of my arch, then they are too far up.

My feet also go numb, but I don't use biking shoes or cleats yet, I just got into tri training a few weeks ago and am not ready to move up to bike shoes and clipping in yet.

Can having just regular jogging shoes (what I wear when I bike) being too tight also cause the nmbness?  I had a massage therapist tell me she thinks it is from my bike seat, that sitting on it presses on a nerve point on the bottom of my glute or hip and that after having pressure on this a while then the feet and even legs will start to go numb?

Anyone ever hear this or have this been diagnosed with them?

Also had someone tell me that if you allow your blood-sugar levels to get too low, that this will cause numbness in your feet and to have cold feet as well ...  anyone ever hear or experience this?

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