So I tried my home made shoes in a local sprint 2 weeks ago (the strap-less version in earlier posts here). I left them clipped to the pedals in T1. Getting into them with cold wet bare feet was very easy. I don't know what if any performance effect they had on the bike (I don't race with power).
My legs felt GREAT coming off the bike and starting the run, unusual as I am a novice "runner". My feet were completely numb coming off the bike most likely from exposure (wet feet, uninsulated carbon fiber "shoes", 65F, 10% humidity, 45 minutes on the bike). My feet started waking up after about 15 - 20 minutes into the run, and by the end of the run I could tell my right big toe will be black.
I initially thought it must have banged against the front of the bike shoes while riding in aero with toes down (and no strap on shoes). So last week I attached straps to the shoes with rivets, and these prevent my feet from sliding forward. Time will tell if I like them or not.
Later I realized that my running shoes I raced in are a bit small and that my right big toe is a little longer than the left, so likely the black toe occurred as a combination of not feeling my feet while running and the big toe hitting the front of my running shoe.
Anyone out there making carbon shoes? How is it going? I am increasingly disappointed with the factory choices due to the narrow toe boxes (even the Bont's I'd have to heat mold the big toe area extensively), the massive toe spring, and the limited cleat placement fore-aft.
Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.