General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Numb Toes While Riding Rss Feed  
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2013-03-31 9:32 AM

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Subject: Numb Toes While Riding

Anyone ever had their baby toes get numb during a ride? I am not sure if it is because it was a little chilly outside or if i have my shoes on to tight... They are new shoes this year and only have about 8  hours in them.



2013-03-31 9:36 AM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding
If it's cold out then it's cold out.  If you're getting the numbness on say the trainer than you probably have your shoes too tight.  I find that most people tighten up all their shoes too tight - both running and cycling shoes.
2013-03-31 2:26 PM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding
Is the cleat position consistent with your other shoes?
2013-03-31 4:19 PM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding
I was looking at your race schedule... I'm doing three of the same. Flying pig full, cincy oly, and great buckeye him. Good luck!
2013-03-31 6:12 PM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding
Are you pointing your toes instead of keeping them level?
2013-03-31 6:48 PM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding
Is it only your outside 3 toes?  If that is the case, then it's most likely your peroneal nerve.  That's the one the runs through your crotch. 

Tell tale sign that you're pinching it is numbness of the outside 3 toes.  So, in short, it might be a saddle/fit issue.


2013-04-01 2:08 AM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding

You may be pedaling with the feet pointing down when you bring the foot down.  From 12 to 6 it's heel down, then 6 to toe down.  When you are pushing down focus on heel only, if you point  your feet down when you push down, your toes will get numb.

And make sure your shoes are not too tight (seriously).

2013-04-01 7:26 AM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding

A lot of good suggestions here, thank you all very much.. Someone mentioned pinching a nerve because of my saddle. I am in fact in the break-in period of a new Adamo Road saddle, so i will give it a bit more time.

As for if i am pointing my toes, i never really looked to be honest. I was riding in Aero the whole time, so I was really concentrating on that and my form instead of my foot position.

Thanks again everyone..

2013-04-01 7:27 AM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding

lewisjm - 2013-03-31 5:19 PM I was looking at your race schedule... I'm doing three of the same. Flying pig full, cincy oly, and great buckeye him. Good luck!

Thats awesome, we will represent BT Nation!!

2013-04-01 8:33 AM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding

Had the same exact issue, this thread was helpful!

 

2013-04-01 9:04 AM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding
I have the same issue with my outside toes going numb too when I ride over 20-25 miles, my shoes aren't too tight and I don't point my toes, also I am also experiencing pain in my junk area...could all of this be attributed to pinching the peroneal nerve? I never experienced this junk pain before on shorter rides so I'm a little nervous about it. BTW I'm riding on a fizik arione saddle if that makes a difference

Edited by fubar44 2013-04-01 9:06 AM


2013-04-01 7:42 PM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding

I too get numb toes one foot only 3 outside toes.  Then I did a 3 hr ride without socks and the numbness was there but set in just over the 2hr mark where with socks it was just over 1.5hr mark.  This seems to me to be narrow show which I had suspected.  My right foot is wider then my left and this is the numb-toe-foot.  I notice it much worse with a different par of road shoes much more stiff and slightly narrower.

Try checking if your shoes are too narrow, ie try thinner or no socks or different more wider pair.  For me, I'm just living with it - can't afford new shoes :p

2013-04-01 7:47 PM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding
I read an article once that numb junk is a huge "unspoken" phenomenon in the bike world and that bikers would never talk about it but all had the problem.  The article indicated that pros just simply were hush-hush about it but secretly were going to doctors and changing seats.  I suspect this problem is very very common, but that was different then pain in junk.  I know after my bike fit this year, I did some slight adjustments, one was tilt the seat ever so slightly downward to reduce the pressure and it feels better, but after a few hours, for me any way, the saddle is just not my friend!
2013-04-01 9:01 PM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding

Bike fit and/or cleat position look at first.

If you have had issue with other saddle then look more at cleat position and shoe fit.

I would get numb foot on right side on three outer toes only riding over 3-4 hours if it was over 90.   I had quite a few bike fits with top notch folks and tried different shoes and different cleat positions. I ended up getting custom D2 shoes as I have wide feet with short toes and my bike shoes were to long to get volume to fit my width and with a hot day my feet would swell enough to cause numbness that would turn into pain over time.

2013-04-02 7:47 AM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding
I took all of the advice that i got yesterday and paid attention to everything when I was on the trainer last night. No pointed toes, didnt tighted my shoes to tight, and also wore very thin socks... I only road for about an hour but towards the end of my ride i started to get that numbing sensation in my right foot (outer 3 toes). As I have said above i am still getting used to my Adamo road, and I am starting to think I might need to move the seat forward just a hair. I think everyone knows the configuration of the Adamo, but i feel like the front right part of the seat is to far back when I am in the aero postion. One thing to note is I am on a road bike with aero bars.  I am coming up on about 9 hours on then saddle, how much more time do I give it until i throw in the towel??
2013-04-02 6:41 PM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding
I wasn't able to adjust the nose of the seat down any but I did move the saddle forward a bit. Hopefully that will allow for a larger area for my sit bones to rest on which (HOPEFULLY) will alleviate the groin pain I was having from perineal pressure. I went for a short ride after adjusting and the pressure on the perineal area seemed lessened but I also only rode about a mile though idk how it will work on longer distances. Also when I moved the seat forward the nose also went up in the same motion so now riding aero is less comfortable....any suggestions? Also is there any way to raise the height of my aerobars so I'm not in such an aggressive position? That may solve the aerobar uncomfortability issue


2013-04-02 7:16 PM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding
I had the toe problem too. It turned out to be a combination of a couple of things. My shoes where too small, this wasn't noticeable when I was standing in them but when I started to ride it was. Also my seat was way too low. New shoes and seat lifted and the problem is gone.
2013-04-03 11:23 AM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding
had a similar problem when i first got my new shoes. I just rode through it and my shoes eventually stretched or conformed to my feet. now they fit absolutely perfect. do also keep in mind that your feet will swell while you're riding so don't tightening them too tight. they should feel a little loose. also relax your body. I used to run into a lot of issues because I would tense up my body (toe numbness being one of them).
2013-04-03 1:48 PM
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Subject: RE: Numb Toes While Riding

I had toe numbness issues in the past.  Usually it was the outside two or three toes, and there was always some accompanying pain on the bottom of my foot in that same area right where the toes "attach" to the foot.  I'm not sure what specifically solved the problem for me, but I experimented with a combination of new shoes with stiff carbon soles, more aggressive arch support (using shoe inserts that specifically had a raised metatarsal button which apparently helps relieve some nerve pressure in the bottom of the foot), and cleat positioning a little further back.  Now I can ride much longer with very minimal foot discomfort.   

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