Re: SPD Agony!

"Artemisia" <e.roselli@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:8c061150-8515-47cb-934f-b0d028e4152d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Two days into my trail and I discover the limit is coming from an
> unexpected place - unbelievably painful feet. I'm using Specialized BG
> Comp mountain biking shoes in the appropriate size. When I put them on
> in the morning, they are already not comfortable shoes, stiff and
> grating over the toes, but as the day wears on they turn into Chinese
> torture. This is on a re***bent tadpole trike where the use of SPDs is
> required as a safety measure (to prevent running over one's own leg,
> which I nearly did the other day). I thought this would be the
> ultimate comfort ride as there is none of the pain in the crotch or
> wrists that used to terminate previous rides on two wheels. But that
> pain was trifling in comparison to this foot agony.
>
> The balls of the feet burn like fire and the toes go completely numb.
> Every pedal stroke is so excrucuating that I have to stop every 3 km
> or so just to try and get circulation going again. I cannot walk in
> them at all - very slippery and stiff, despite the fact that these are
> supposed to be used on trail where one is often off the bike.
>
> I tried putting a wad of kleenex between the lining of the shoe and
> the SPD clip. That improved matters slightly, but I still cannot go
> more than about 10km without the most agonizing pain. And the pain
> lasts for about half an hour even after I have taken the shoes off.
>
> Also, clipping and unclipping is a chore. I thought it would get
> easier. But it can take me several minutes to clip and unclipping can
> be even longer. The fact of having to press down into the core of the
> pain to twist the feet off the pedals is part of it.
>
> Is this normal? Is it something "you just get used to"? I don't want
> to take risks with my feet as I am borderline diabetic and this looks
> like the fast route to amputation.

This problem is known as hot foot.

I think others have given you good info.

The thing about shoes (and any bike equipment for that matter) is your
never 
go off on a tour (where the miles increase a lot) without having
throroughly 
tested the equipment under the expected conditions (or as close as 
possible) - including mileage and tempertature.

Hot foot problems increase as the temps go up.

Sounds as if the shoes are ill-fitting and the cleats are not position far

enough toward your heals.

Taking some Tylenol can be a big help once the problems start.  Otherwise,

you just have to stop and get the pressure off the nerves in your feet.

Oh, the position on your feet (high relatively to your butt) on a trike
can 
result in circulation problems for some people.  This is typically not an 
issue on an upright. You may be one of those people.