Toe cramp

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Parrot of Doom

Original Poster:

23,075 posts

235 months

Tuesday 21st June 2011
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Lately I've been getting cramps in my left foot, specifically the two toes next to my little toe. I've had this since I was a child, but never when cycling.

What should I do? I'm well hydrated, my feet get a little bit cold but not too bad. Salt tablets?

The Walrus

1,857 posts

206 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
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Change of insoles may help as it sounds like you may be getting hot spots or excessive presure on a point affecting those toes.

itsnotarace

4,685 posts

210 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
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Sounds like hotspot to me too. Adjust cleats slightly in first instance

Get Karter

1,934 posts

202 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
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Parrot of Doom said:
Lately I've been getting cramps in my left foot, specifically the two toes next to my little toe. I've had this since I was a child, but never when cycling.

What should I do? I'm well hydrated, my feet get a little bit cold but not too bad. Salt tablets?
I get this occasionally too.

It tends to happen when I am reasonably fatigued and my feet/toes are cold. It is exacerbated by the stiff soles of cycling shoes limiting the movement of the toes.

So I'm pretty sure it is poor circulation in the toes due to lack of movement and cold air flow through cycling shoes designed for Italian summers.

I do the old pro's trick of folding a magazine page (Cycling Weekly ones are perfect thickness!) over my toes (over my socks) before putting on my cycling shoes. This reduces wind chill and helps in all but the coldest 'summer' days.


Parrot of Doom

Original Poster:

23,075 posts

235 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
quotequote all
The Walrus said:
Change of insoles may help as it sounds like you may be getting hot spots or excessive presure on a point affecting those toes.
They're Specialized MTB shoes, I must admit the soles aren't anywhere near as stiff as my road SIDIs. What would you recommend, does someone sell a really stiff insole?

Parrot of Doom

Original Poster:

23,075 posts

235 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
quotequote all
Get Karter said:
It tends to happen when I am reasonably fatigued and my feet/toes are cold.
This is exactly when I get it, usually 90+ minutes into a two-hour ride.

The Walrus

1,857 posts

206 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
quotequote all
Parrot of Doom said:
They're Specialized MTB shoes, I must admit the soles aren't anywhere near as stiff as my road SIDIs. What would you recommend, does someone sell a really stiff insole?
You can get different specialized soles, do you know what kind of foot you have in terms of shape ? if you do a search you will find a few sites telling you how to do it and some off the peg recommendations.

You can also get custom moulded in soles from a few places but they are £60 - £70 and I would imagine probably a bit more than you are willing to spend at this point.

http://www.cyclefit.co.uk/sidas-conformable-footbe...



Edited by The Walrus on Wednesday 22 June 11:52

Parrot of Doom

Original Poster:

23,075 posts

235 months

Wednesday 22nd June 2011
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Pretty much, I've spent a fortune recently and don't want to spend any more just yet!

The Walrus

1,857 posts

206 months

Thursday 23rd June 2011
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In that case have a look at some of the online guides for cleat allignment and check to see if you can gain anything for a tweak or two.