Hello
After 20 miles my toes on my left foot are getting numb....my right side is fine.
i never had my bike custom fit...but it feels right & i have custom made inlays.
Hoping for advise.
numb toes
Sat, 12/23/2006 - 5:49pm
Sat, 12/23/2006 - 6:32pm
#1
You don't say if it's cold weather-related or not.
If it is, and you wear mountain-style shoes, try getting off the bike and walking a block every 20 miles or so.
Sun, 12/24/2006 - 5:58pm
#2
I have 2 permanently numb toes, due to sciatica. It might not be your shoes. A bike fit may or may not help. Thorough stretching, (especially hamstrings), may help.
A doctor, chiropractor, or physical therapist who also knows about cycling, could help.
Sun, 12/24/2006 - 8:05am
#3
Its not weather related & i have fancy road bike shoes :-)
Sun, 12/24/2006 - 9:33am
#4
If your toes are turning white and the temperatures are above freezing and it is not a question of fit, it might be neurological. Which is not to say the situation is dangerous unless you are out in subfreezing temperatures for prolong periods. However, it could be a manifestation of an underlying problem which has other ramifications. You might want to get a diagnosis.
But you never did mention if your toes are turning white.
Sun, 12/24/2006 - 5:52pm
#5
Get fit and get fit
Asymmetric numbness (one foot, not the other) is likely neurological, so if the remedies suggested don't work, check out your bike fit and your personal (core/lumbar) fitness and balance/strength: numbness at the lower extremity can be referred from a pinched nerve in your lower spine: fit adjustment that lengthens and flattens your spine/profile may open up the nerve paths and relieve the symptom. If bike fit doesn't help, see a doc.
Sun, 12/24/2006 - 6:04pm
#6
"""L4L5S1"" (Cute.)"
"""Some patients also experience sciatica pain affecting all the dermatomes in the sciatic nerve, L4, L5 and S1. This sort of ""pan-sciatic syndrome"" may be due to piriformis muscle syndrome. This condition is due to a muscle in the buttock that goes into spasm and pinches the sciatic nerve.""
"
Sun, 12/24/2006 - 8:24am
#7
if it's cold related try disposable toe warmers
they're very thin--sold in ski shops, etc
Sun, 12/24/2006 - 11:30am
#8
try vaseline
Before I put my socks on, I put a coating of vaseline on and around the front half of my foot. It makes it very easy to wiggle the toes, which in my case keeps them from numbing. As one foot is usually larger than the other, the larger one (in my case the right) was the one numbing up in the toe box area. It works for me.
Good luck.
Sun, 12/24/2006 - 12:58pm
#9
Thanks for all your replies :-)
It is NOT weather related !!!
I had it in the summer i had it today :-(
The guy in the bike shop said , i should have a custom fit performed with my bike ???
Sun, 12/24/2006 - 2:22pm
#10
weather shmeather
Alon,
My numbness started in summer. Really, try the petroleum jelly thing. Worked for me.
M
Sun, 12/24/2006 - 7:13pm
#11
Thanks for the tip...
will try the vaseline thing
and will have my bike fitted properly.
Hope thats the resolution.
Thank you all
Tue, 12/26/2006 - 9:35am
#12
Clipping out
I experience the same thing. Not exclusively, but more often in cold weather. It happens on my right foot only, and I assumed it was because I clip in/out with my left foot, stimulating circulation on that side. I usually just ignore it--if I get off the bike and walk around it goes away in a few seconds. Wiggling my toes helps too.
Tue, 12/26/2006 - 11:43am
#13
after 4 laps in CP...my toe was so numb...it took me for ever to normalize :(
Its wasn't white or soo,,,just numb and uncomfortable :(
Tue, 12/26/2006 - 1:30pm
#14
hmmm.. maybe the obvious
"I have read this thread and I see Alon where you state that you have ""Fancy Road Shoes"". Are you sure they fit you?
Perhaps your socks are too bulky. Cycling socks are usually thinner, except for winter weight cycling socks.
A good test would be wearing your shoes, with cleat covers if needed and see how your toes feel in say an hour. Walk on them and do your usual tasks, not just lay on the bed.
Most people have one foot a big larger than the next. I had my shoes stretched 2 times to avoid the pain you have. Streching them, can run $5-$10. The longer you leave them in the ""stretcher"" the better it works. Please note that not every shoe will or can be stretched.
As stated earlier, get your bike fit and bring your shoes with you.
One more idea. If the bike and shoes were bought locally, bring them to the store and see if they can help or at least re-fit you.
I'll bet my bottom bracket, that your shoes are a poor fit.
Good Luck
Robert ""Not the Slowest"" Marcus
"
Tue, 12/26/2006 - 5:23pm
#15
Thanks Robert,
Those are good tips !
I think the shoe fit is not the problem.
It's more the bike/cleat fit.
I never had my bike nor the cleats fit professionally.
I bought my bike in another county.
The guys @ the local store (Toga)said...after the custom fit...your issues will be history...They want $250!
Its worth it...but what if my toe still gets numb?
Tue, 12/26/2006 - 8:06pm
#16
Try my ideas on simply wearing the shoes for an hour or two. ANY pain will reflect a shoe issue, COST=$0.
I had a professional fit and paid $200, well worth it.
However, I was fit at Sid's before that for $75.00 and the EXPERT, said that my fit from SID's was on the button.
Always rule out the obvious, step by step.
Nothing is worse than thinking the TV is broken and discovering it was unplugged.
Good Luck
Wed, 12/27/2006 - 3:46am
#17
Toes...
You may want to try this solution first. Borrow from the bike store a standard non-clip in set of pedals, put them on your bike, and wear some sneakers. Do four laps of central park and see it the problem continues.
If that doesn't identify the problem, go for the bike fit.
Wed, 12/27/2006 - 4:36pm
#18
"Before i went for 'Look"" clips and ""fancy shoes"" i had regular pedals with baskets for some weeks...no problems !!!!
I will go for the bike fit and wear my shoes for 1-2hours for $ 0.00
Thank you all so much for your time to reply and all your tips...i wish you all a smooth R.I.D.E into 2.0.0.7
"
