Sensation through carbon soles - how do you correct it?

[SquareDaff]

On one of my spd-sl carbon soled shoes I'm feeling what I assume is the "dip" on the sole where one of the cleat bolt engages. I don't notice until about 50 miles after which it becomes uncomfortable - but not painful.

Are there any suggestions on how to overcome this? Do I sick in some extra padding where the "dip" is? Can I just tape over it? Or do I need any additional/replacement insole?

 

[jim55]

i get this as well in my spd shoes (but its more like twenty miles for me ),same thing though ,i was thinking another insole ,thats stiffer?

 

[Rob3rt]

Find the dip and plug it with blue tac

 

[SquareDaff]

Does blue tac work? Another of it's 1001 uses?
I was actually thinking of glueing in some high density foam patches - but thought I'd check for "hi-tec" solutions on here 1st!

 

[Rob3rt]

Every bike or cyclist should have at least one ghetto fix on the go!

 

[SquareDaff]

I've added some thin shock absorbing gel inner soles to my shoes - then added the shimano sole on top. Took a bit of fiddling with to ensure a decent, non moving fit but will try them out on the way home tonight.

My theory was, if they gave me grief on the London 100 I could just stop and take them out. If I'd bought a whole new set of inner soles I wouldn't have been able to do that!!

 

[dellzeqq]

take the shoes back whence they came

 

[SquareDaff]

I think it's the cheapo inner soles rather than the shoes that are the problem. The soles that came with the shoes have "worked into" the indented cleat sections and it's that I'm feeling. But with just 3 days to go to London I'd probably not get a replacement set of soles so this method will do in the interim - if it works. If not, it's uncomfortable not painful so I can put up with it.

 

[gaz]

Had this pretty badly on a pair of shoes recently. Took them back to the shop and got a warranty replacement there and then.
I couldn't last 40 mins in them though, the dip was pretty big.

 

[dellzeqq]

presumably these weren't cheap shoes. Presumably your feet aren't that different from anybody else's (I'm not actually enquiring, by the way). Somebody has designed these shoes, and they've designed them badly.

The supposed virtue of carbon soled shoes is that they don't flex. Insoles are neither here nor there, except that they undermine the purpose of the shoe which is to transfer power from your foot to the pedal. If they don't work as it came to you then take them back.

 

[SquareDaff]

They're Shimano R133 SPD's and as far as I know my feet are "normal". If the footbed of the shoe without the inner sole should be level then they are faulty and I will send them back.

 

[dellzeqq]

you bought shoes mail order?

 

[SquareDaff]

Through Evans - so I have have the shop option and the mail order option. Plus if I order them, I can try them at the shop and exchange for a different size - OR in this case, take them back to the shop!

 

[fossyant]

You really should not have any dip where the cleat bolts go. Poor shoe design. I would send back and explain.