Foot pain with Sidi cycling shoes

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TiDude
Posts: 192
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2005 3:15 pm
Location: California

by TiDude

I’ve been wearing Sidi Genius road shoes and no matter how I adjust the buckle, with or without orthotic insoles I get pain on the outer portions of my feet near where the buckles fasten. The pain feels like the buckle has been fastened too tight but I can completely loosen the buckles and I still get the pain. I’m using speedplay road pedals as well. Has anyone experienced this pain? My feet are normal width and I’m using normal width shoes. Should I try a different brand of shoe? Any suggestions?
Thanks

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drjones96
Posts: 3717
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 10:56 pm
Location: Wichita, KS

by drjones96

I also ride these same shoes but I haven't experienced what you are refering to. They fit me like a glove when I got them. Over time the insole wore thin so I just recently had to replace it. The new insoles are a little firmer than I like and it's causing my feet to ache a little more than usual after a ride.

Is the pain on the sides of your feet? You say the pain is around where the buckles are....but you're saying you still feel it if you don't even have the buckles tight. My guess is it isn't even related to the buckle and it's a coincidence that the pain is coming from the same area.

Your feet may be misaligned or something and thus causing the pain.

A guy I ride with sometimes was having a pain in his feet and his PT traced the issue all the way to his back! Not saying that's what the problem is but just to give you an idea of some of the crazy things that could cause pains in areas that may seem unrelated.

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VeloScaper
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by VeloScaper

I tried top end sidi's about 5 years ago and had the same problems along with hot foot.

My solution was getting a pair of Specialized Pros.

Seems like you are too wide for the sidis. They do make a Mega version that is wider, or at least they used to....I haven't followed them for a while.

Cleaner
Posts: 213
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:13 pm

by Cleaner

I am plagued by pain on the outer edge of my feet using Sidi road shoes also. I have tried Speedplay X1 and Keo 2 max pedals. Changing pedals has no effect on the discomfort. I am not aware that I have any foot anomaly that would cause this. I do have the typical varus tilt on each foot in a relaxed state and I have enclosed a picture of my foot prints on a flat surface. If I lift my big toe up off the insole that brings some relief on the bike but I can only ride about 10 mi before the pain starts. I use Sidi MTN shoes and have not experienced this issue with any of my Shimano SPD pedals on the mtn bike (yes the MTN and road shoes are the same size 44.5). The mtn shoes have a ratchet and heel stabilizer while the road upper is secured by velcro straps and does not have the heel retention deveice.

If I loosen the lower straps on the road shoes it does delay the onset of the discomfort. I have a narrow heel that slips a bit in the road shoes even with the top strap as tight as I can get it. I have also tried cleat wedges to see if the varus tilt is the issue and while they helped they did not stop the pain from eventually coming. I have also tried blue superfeet insoles in the road shoes as the sidi insoles are dead flat and do not provide much support. I am starting to wonder of the width of the shoe is too narrow for my feet at widest part yet still loose around the heel. I have visited the shop where I bought my last bike and their "fitters" were not confidence inspiring so I am turning to a wider pool of experienced people in hopes of getting some more recommendations to try.
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Gregorio
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by Gregorio

I think shoes are like saddles...not every one fits the same. Find a shoe that fits you. I have had sidis for years road and mtn. They always fit my foot great, but that is not to say that they would fit every size 44 foot the same way.

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dj97223
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Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 7:27 pm

by dj97223

Interesting. I've had a similar issue in one foot in a new pair of Sidis. I have had a pair of 43 Genius (not sure what number, but they have the fiberglass-type sole) for 4 or 5 years, and they fit great, but were a little short. At a fitter's recommendation, and because one of my toes was sometimes bumping against the front of the shoe, I went to a 43.5 and bought the Ergo II with the "carbon-lite" sole, and the pain began. My fitter's theory is that the pain is caused by my foot trying to rotate or flex, but being constricted by the stiffer carbon sole. I've been able to resolve it, mostly, by adding a couple of LeMond wedges under the first metatarsal of the affected foot.
“If you save your breath I feel a man like you can manage it. And if you don't manage it, you'll die. Only slowly, very slowly, old friend.”

Illuminate
Posts: 404
Joined: Mon May 24, 2010 4:18 am
Location: Australia

by Illuminate

Depending on your setup, two things worth checking:

1. Cleat mounting bolt lengths (more towards the centre of the shoe) - ensure that they're not poking through too far and into the sole of your foot. Remove innersole - if there are any raised bumps from the screws, consider cutting /filing them down. I've had to take off as much as 6mm in some cases.

2. Shoe width - I had an old set of Carnac ellipse shoes. Beautifully comfy in the shop. After 1 hour of riding though, the pain was agonising. Extreme numbness wasn't uncommen too. I finally narrowed it down to the shoes being too narrow. The edges of the sole actually went upwards slightly (just the way they were molded) which was the really bad news. I suspect the bones/nerves were being pinched together (foot was 'sagging' in the middle).

Hope you get it sorted out soon.

Cheers,
I

shippkd
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:08 pm

by shippkd

I had a similar problem with my Sidi's. If I tightened the straps enough for a secure fit, I developed pain after a few miles. My solution was to take an x-acto knife and make a slit in the side of each shoe where the widest part of my foot was pressing. The comfort level was greatly improved.

shadwell
Posts: 575
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 1:25 am
Location: Gold Coast Australia

by shadwell

Hi All,

Something you may like to look into...
Majority of people have an amount of natural Varus (tilt) in their feet.
This can be seen clearly if you knee on a stool with you legs hanging off the back of the stool. note the feet at anlged so that the inside of the foot is closer to the butt...

Long story short if you have a flat soled shoe you will be distributing pressur eon the outside of the foot as this is the natural anglee of you ankle... ...
If left unchecked it often resutls in knee movement left to right through the pedal stroke as the load can cause the shins to take on an angle which places off center loads through the knees (and worst case knee pain).

The relatively simple solution is to support the foot at an angle.. i.e. add Varus...
Specialised have i beleive 1.5 degree's built in to all their shoes which i why many people find them more comfortable in this aspect.

To save you ditching you current shoes take a look into "Wedge" either big meat or Le Wedge.. the goal here is to achieve a distribution of lad which is central across the shoe i.e in lin ewith your middle toe.. you will need to fit the wedge such that the thickest edge in on the crank side of the sohe tilting the big toe up as you look down on it...

Centralising this load may relieve the sensation you are describing, and inadvertantly provide you improved joint alignment and inpprved power or durability....

Hope this is helpful....

scico
Posts: 215
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:56 pm

by scico

TiDude wrote:I’ve been wearing Sidi Genius road shoes and no matter how I adjust the buckle, with or without orthotic insoles I get pain on the outer portions of my feet near where the buckles fasten. The pain feels like the buckle has been fastened too tight but I can completely loosen the buckles and I still get the pain. I’m using speedplay road pedals as well. Has anyone experienced this pain? My feet are normal width and I’m using normal width shoes. Should I try a different brand of shoe? Any suggestions?
Thanks

I experience your same problem with almost every cycling shoes I use. Now I own a brand new pair of Ergo II...very painful.
It seems like I have a bone protrusion on the outer foot, exactly where you say, where the buckle fastens (red circle on the picture). I can hardly fasten the buckle and th result is that the foot moves inside the shoe :noidea:
Trying shoes in shop I don't feel any pain, becuse standing the load is central and the bone is 'cushioned'.
With Specy SWorks the comfort wasn't much better.
At least I know that I'm not alone :beerchug:
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Last edited by scico on Tue Aug 10, 2010 5:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

scico
Posts: 215
Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:56 pm

by scico

shippkd wrote:I had a similar problem with my Sidi's. If I tightened the straps enough for a secure fit, I developed pain after a few miles. My solution was to take an x-acto knife and make a slit in the side of each shoe where the widest part of my foot was pressing. The comfort level was greatly improved.

Can you show us what you did?

HUMP DIESEL
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by HUMP DIESEL

If you are having to cut slits in your shoes, then the shoes do not fit period. You need a wider shoe. I did this once with a Nike Pogio, and then I went Custom, and then I went to Northwaves.
Why are the best things in life always the ones you start last?

Jameslee92
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 5:54 pm

by Jameslee92

I had the same issue with Sidi MTB shoes. I changed pedals, got a bike fit to eval my position. Nothing helped. Eventually someone said Sidi's are narrow Euro sized shoes. I tried some LG's which are noticeably wider and they were great. No more foot issues. no complaints at all. I've heard really good things about the specialized shoes as well. If you are cutting slits in the shoes, wouldn't that impact power transfer to some level?

Try different shoes. Your footsies will thank you.

dmp
Posts: 422
Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 8:31 pm
Location: Seattle

by dmp

for all of you who find their Sidi's too narrow- I am currently using Diadoras and they're a bit too wide (I have B width feet). If you wear a 42.5 and want to get rid of your pair let me know!

by Weenie


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Johnny Rad
Posts: 2025
Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2006 6:22 am
Location: Zion

by Johnny Rad

The more I "fat" out my Sidi 6.6's, the better they get.

Early in the season, I had what I think is the same side of the foot pain being described above. It was odd when the pain would occur. Sometimes short rides, other time long rides and sometimes never. I used shoe horns to stretch them out a bit, which has worked well.

I wore Sidi Megas, but found them too wide after 2-3 seasons. That's why I'm in the non-Megas now. They were tight in the begninning, but have only gotten better over time.

I'm all for trying new shoes this coming season, like Bonts or Specialized BG.

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