Pintsized
journeyman
Reged: 02/27/05
Posts: 90
Loc: Corvallis OR
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A little off the Calfee topic I imagine, but I thought it was of interest to bikees, who presumably pay attention to their "fees-se-lach" (feet), as my gramma used to call them.
I recently replaced the Peterson footbeds in my cycling shoes with the black Superfeet ones. I like the Superfeel much much better. The Superfeet are thinner, so that may explain some of this. But they also seem to have the hils and valleys in the right place for my feet. So if anyone has wondered if there is a difference, for me there has been. I think these inserts are all around the same price, too.
If this was a ski site, like Telemarktips, we'd likely talk about high and low volume feet or something. Oddly, I'm not sure that's what is making the difference. I think I have a low volume foot, but the thinner footbed...which, being thiiner, presumably takes up less room, not more.. right??...seems to be better.
Also, has anyone else been using the Bridgedale Ski Ultralite sock with their cycling shoes? This is probably an eccentricity on my part, since I have to roll em down around my ankles in warm weather, and that's a pain. But I love em. I started using em in the winter, and now I can't bear to go to my summer socks.
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Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
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This post about feet and such by me is not going to be of much use, I think. I wear athletic socks and decent Shimano SPD mountain bike shoes. The shoes are a slightly loose fit, which I like because they are a good compromise between walking (recessed cleats) and biking.
Whenever I feel any fatigue or numbness in my feet I realize I have been letting my feet lay on the pedals, basically letting my pushing leg lift my lazy leg. Once I realized this and concentrated on getting my spin corrected my feet began to become comfortable again. That said I am adamant that proper fit is number one. It just happened that the SPD shoes were wide enough for my feet. Cotton socks are great for holding moisture so cooling can take place.
Because my shoes fit properly and the factory inserts are in good shape I don't need to add inserts to my shoes.
Shoes I use for Civil War reenacting are different and I just put new inserts in them, but that's not a topic for this thread. 
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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I've used Superfeet for years and like them.
For socks I wear Smartwool. I was told if I wore them once that would be my sock of choice. They are available a variety of places.
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skuke
captain
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 322
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Quote:
Pintsized wrote:
If this was a ski site, like Telemarktips, we'd likely talk about high and low volume feet or something. Oddly, I'm not sure that's what is making the difference. I think I have a low volume foot, but the thinner footbed...which, being thiiner, presumably takes up less room, not more.. right??...seems to be better.
I have narrow feet (narrow heels to be more specific) and low volume feet. I've used Superfeet in all my tele boots (leather, original T1 and now T3) for the last 15 years and alpine boots much longer than that. Without the orthotic, my toes cramp by midday. With the insole, I've made multi-day ski tours and have no problems. In my cycling shoes, I use whatever insole they come with.
I think the volume issue is the reason for me and ski boots. The ski boots (even leather tele boots) are so rigid above the sole that it is very difficult to close down evenly around my foot with pressure distributed evenly. The orthotic fills some of the void and raises my foot a little which means less deformation to the upper boot and thus a better shape. With cycling shoes, only the sole is really stiff. The uppers are fairly flexible and whatever cinching system (Sidi Genius 3 w/ ratchet and velcro for me) is employed can easily "re-shape" the tops to fit my low volume feet.
Also, what has helped me fill the shoe better is that now my road and mtn shoes, tele and alpine ski boots, and hiking boots are all womens models. They are (usually) made on narrower lasts and that works better for me.
For you, Pintsized, perhaps the Superfeet tech. was better and just fitted your foot better? Are you using the heated-cork-vacuum-fitted version? Those have a real deep heel cup and that tends to take up volume better for me (remember, I have a very narrow heel/ankle). With the deep heel cup, your heel doesn't get "splayed" out which effectively lowers the rear foot. For me, that keeps my ankle and heel tighter in the pocket.
...Might be a Calfee site, but I'm up for most any topic.
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Skuke
95 Carbonframes Tetra Pro
92 Bridgestone MB-1
90 Moser 51.151
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Quote:
skuke wrote:
I have narrow feet (narrow heels to be more specific) and low volume feet. I've used Superfeet in all my tele boots (leather, original T1 and now T3) for the last 15 years and alpine boots much longer than that. Without the orthotic, my toes cramp by midday. With the insole, I've made multi-day ski tours and have no problems. In my cycling shoes, I use whatever insole they come with.
I think the volume issue is the reason for me and ski boots. The ski boots (even leather tele boots) are so rigid above the sole that it is very difficult to close down evenly around my foot with pressure distributed evenly. The orthotic fills some of the void and raises my foot a little which means less deformation to the upper boot and thus a better shape. With cycling shoes, only the sole is really stiff. The uppers are fairly flexible and whatever cinching system (Sidi Genius 3 w/ ratchet and velcro for me) is employed can easily "re-shape" the tops to fit my low volume feet.
Also, what has helped me fill the shoe better is that now my road and mtn shoes, tele and alpine ski boots, and hiking boots are all womens models. They are (usually) made on narrower lasts and that works better for me.
For you, Pintsized, perhaps the Superfeet tech. was better and just fitted your foot better? Are you using the heated-cork-vacuum-fitted version? Those have a real deep heel cup and that tends to take up volume better for me (remember, I have a very narrow heel/ankle). With the deep heel cup, your heel doesn't get "splayed" out which effectively lowers the rear foot. For me, that keeps my ankle and heel tighter in the pocket.
Hey Skuke...TMI    
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skuke
captain
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 322
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Quote:
Lon wrote:
Hey Skuke...TMI
TMI??
Sage, please enlighten me.
A padawan learner.
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Skuke
95 Carbonframes Tetra Pro
92 Bridgestone MB-1
90 Moser 51.151
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Pintsized
journeyman
Reged: 02/27/05
Posts: 90
Loc: Corvallis OR
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I don't know what TMI is either.
Yes, the Superfeet just fit my foot better. That is the bottom line. The arches seemed less lengthy for the same size insert and that might have helped. In fact, I have a narrow heel, too, though a normal width front foot. All I need is the webbing between the toes ! Anyhow, my experience with inserts in tele boots was like yours, if I understood you right.
I'm not sure if I have the "heated cork" Superfeet (in the cycling shoes) or not. Are those meant to be heated and shaped to fit? What I have didn't need to be heated. They came ready to use. Ski boot wise, I have the T3's that came out the year before Scarpa went to a heat-shaped insole and I don't have Superfeet insoles in those boots. I got one of those bargain snowboard inserts that people were reshaping by just putting them in the oven and then on the socked feet. It worked great, much to my surprise.(Remember the Telemarktips exchanges about how to do that of about a year ago?)
You're in Alaska, yes? Mighta figured an Alaskan would be a tele-er.
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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I think they just plain old make a good product. I bought my first pair based on a very favorable review and I have read several since then all positive. They appear to work well for everyone. As much as I love my Sidi's I agree with reviews of their shoe that name the insert as the weak spot.
I just wish they weren't so expensive.
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jaleel_da_sheik
new member
Reged: 02/25/05
Posts: 19
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TMI = too much information
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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skuke
captain
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 322
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Quote:
Pintsized wrote:
I'm not sure if I have the "heated cork" Superfeet (in the cycling shoes) or not. Are those meant to be heated and shaped to fit?
Yes. The cork insoles are placed into a "toaster oven" then vacuumed sealed onto your foot to shape. You sit in an elevated chair so your foot dangles freely. The tech then holds your foot/ankle in a "neutral" position while the heated insole is being sucked to your foot with vacuum.
An experienced and knowledgeable tech makes a HUGE diffence in fit and comfort. My favorite ski boot tech was out of town once and somebody else in the shop made my insole for my new alpine boots. After several days of skiing and shimming the outer ankles on my own (I'm quite proficient in doing that), I couldn't get comfortable. I finally went back to the shop and "my" tech had returned and made me a new pair of insoles. ...worked perfectly.
Quote:
Remember the Telemarktips exchanges about how to do that of about a year ago?
I stopped participating in the Tele forums a few years ago. No particular reason other than time and off season boredom.
Quote:
You're in Alaska, yes? Mighta figured an Alaskan would be a tele-er.
If you're asking Skuke, then nope. Your reply was to Lon's message so it was bit hard to tell.
I live in San Jose, CA!
Most time I ever spent in Alaska was when I stopped in Anchorage once on a layover to Japan!
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Skuke
95 Carbonframes Tetra Pro
92 Bridgestone MB-1
90 Moser 51.151
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skuke
captain
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 322
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Quote:
jaleel_da_sheik wrote:
TMI = too much information
Just wait till I show you what verbose is *really* like.
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Skuke
95 Carbonframes Tetra Pro
92 Bridgestone MB-1
90 Moser 51.151
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Mike
contributor
Reged: 12/25/03
Posts: 101
Loc: Oregon
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Lon and Pint-Sized,
I used Superfeet for years to eliminate foot pain caused by the pancake flatness of the things on the ends of my legs. While they work well in my street shoes, I've found that Down-Unders purple insoles work much better in all my cycling shoes. They just seem to be shaped better for cycling shoes, and they have metatarsal pads in them that keep my feet happy long after my legs are toast.
I have had a pair in one set of sidis that are 7 years old. While the shoes have had it, the insoles look new. You can find more info at:Gear Review
They may be hard to find in some places, but you can get them fairly easily in Oregon, as they are manufactured in Bend. Give them a try next time, I'd be curious to see if they work as well for others.
Another insole I recently purchased are called "Sole". You heat them in the oven, shove them in your shoes, stand in them until they cool, and you get a semi custom fit. They are very well made, and look like they will last quite a while. They come in two thicknesses. I have them in a pair of hiking boots, and while they always feel strange when I first put them on, my feet never hurt when I walk long distances with them. No other insole has accomplished that for me. Check them out at Sole Footbeds
-mike
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Thanks. I need a new pair soon. I'd bet I could find them on-line. Sound great as I bet my feet are flatter than your feet!
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garygromet
friend
Reged: 01/28/04
Posts: 36
Loc: Miami, FL, USA
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I recommend a better shoe.
Rocket7 provides great comfort and performance in hot or cold, wet or dry conditions.
Rocket7 produces a road shoe that is a perfect match to the Speedplay X-1 pedal.
This kind of happiness for the feet does not come cheap, but the shoes are light and durable.
An additional plus is that the sole is extremely stiff, transferring more power to the pedal. The shoe itself does not transfer road vibration to the foot.
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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I've heard and read great reviews on their shoes.
I have a son in a very expensive school. Rocket 7 shoes are on indefinite hold...could go through to Doctorate.
I buy my Sidi's on sale.
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BikerDoug
friend
Reged: 12/29/03
Posts: 88
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Another custom shoe to look at is D2. They are getting rave reviews as well. From what I understand, the guys have 30 years experience with custom shoes.
www.d2customfootwear.com
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Limace
journeyman
Reged: 03/09/05
Posts: 54
Loc: Oregon
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Mike, where in the PDX area are Superfeet and/or Down-unders available. Thanks
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Mike
contributor
Reged: 12/25/03
Posts: 101
Loc: Oregon
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Limace,
You can get superfeet almost anywhere (REI, River city bicycles, most sporting goods stores).
The US Outdoor Store on Broadway in Portland has downunders.
The Thinner Sole inserts are available at lakeside bicycles in lake oswego, and sunset cycles in the bethany area. The thicker sole inserts are available at the running company on Grand Ave in Portland.
mike
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