I had foot pain I thought was from old running shoes. It turns out cycling is hurting my foot (p.f.) and achilles tendon . I use egg beaters and touring shoes on a road bike. Has anyone had a problem like this? I need a quick fix.
Thanks Thom
I tried using custom orthotics to fix this and it didn’t work well for me. Over time I think my foot has strengthened so sorry I don’t have a quick fix for ya. You could try some kind of orthotics but that actually takes some getting used too.
Cycling doesn’t usually hurt (and does not cause) plantar fasciitis. A good road cycling shoe (especially with the newer carbon fiber soles) doesn’t bend at all. Plantar fasciitis, like most “tendonitis” type injuries are the ultimate result of “overuse” (but that is a very vague meaning since overuse could be running 10 times to the fridge instead of 4 for a couch potato vs. a hilly 20 mile training run instead of a runner’s usual 10K run).
Search online for the multitude of info available about stretches, ice, etc. Good news is that 95% of cases ultimately resolves with simple, conservative care (although it can take a year) - professional help basically just “speeds this up” or ultimately may “fix” it if you are one of the unlucky 5% that end up with me after 2-3 years of suffering.
There is no “quick fix” that you are looking for except that if you want to continue cycling, get some good, stiff, carbon soled shoes and some nice pedals (i.e. spd DA or Ultegra, Time, Look, etc.) This should no put too much stress on the plantar fascia - and concentrate on spinning at 90-100 instead of mashing/standing.
Remember, ice is your friend too 
I do have carbon shoes and look pedals. I am just lazy and like to walk around in my shoes at the store or park. I will try to use the “good stuff”. I am going to try to move my cleat back 10mm and see if that helps. I guess a stiff sole might be just the thing .
Thom
I can’t imagine how cycling could cause plantar fasciitis. I don’t even think it would bother your achilles tendon unless your seat is too high – just don’t “ankle” with every pedal stroke.
Meanwhile, moving your cleat back should reduce tension on the achilles tendon, but it will also increase ankling motion if your seat is too high.
Treatment of plantar fasciitis might include stretching, night splinting, and physical therapy. Orthotics can help, too, sometimes. I don’t know why continuing to bike would hurt, even while you treat the p.f. Have you seen a physician for this?
P.S. Egg beaters and touring shoes should be fine. Fancy cleats/shoes won’t make a difference.
I have a very wide foot and high arch. 4 years ago I was getting a pain in the centre of the foot after 3 hours of riding. A podiatrist said it was due to my foot spreading out each downstroke and re-arching each upstroke. At 90 rpm my foot was “overused” after 3 hours (which is 16,000 flexes of the foot).
I switched to Look pedals to spread the force over a wider cleat and got orthodics with a foam mound in the centre. This keeps the foot from spreading out on the downstroke. I haven’t had a problem since and now can go on 6-7 hour rides with no foot pain.
You can get achilles tendonitis from cycling and you can aggrevate a PF injury from cycling, there is no question about this. Moving the cleats back towards the heel will generally reduce the load on both your PF and your achilles, but there is no free lunch. The force has to get transmitted somehow, and usually ends up providing more stress on the knees as you are more in a stomping mode than an ankling mode.
Having the cleats further back, also means that it is harder to ride high RPM, so it is more of a quad centric cycling technique, while having your cleats further forward, makes it easy to keep the RPM up as the calves, hamstrings and hip flexors are more actively engaged.
I do agree with the other posters that initially an orthotic might do the trick, but you should go back to no orthotic eventually.
My sports doc, who was also a 2:22 marathoner refused to prescribe me orthotics during my first PF injury back in 1996. He made me do everything else in the book to reduce inflammation and he also forced me to make my feet stronger. Realistically, this is what needs to be done. Using orthotics is like a crutch. Eventually, you have to stand on your own two feet. Your body has evolved since you were a baby to do everything with its own feet, not your feet with big chunks of molding underneath. Your brain is wired accordingly. You stuff an orthotic in there and you interfere with your natural coordination.
At the age of 53 I am thinking I musta stood on my feet to long haha;')
It starts with a click in the a.t. coming down stairs in the morning after a long ride.Then a pain in the p.f. soon after. I think I will try the looks and my carbon road shoes. I just don’t want to miss the pre imlp epic next year cause of some foot problem like this year. I did think it was a running problem. Well to soon old to late smart for me I guess.
Thanks all for the input
Thom the ice man ( i got cold feet )
Brent - you should look at Specialized cycling shoes - they have an insole designed just for this (and like this) with a met pad (the “mound”) you described as part of the cycling sock liner.
Paul -
The “orthotic” isn’t a “crutch” anymore than are eyeglasses. By that “logic”, you would have one stop wearing eyeglasses as they should get stronger as well. Facts are, some “things” are best treated with orthotics and some are not. I personally don’t like orthotics for tendonitis type/overuse injuries (although they can certainly aid in healing “like a crutch”), but not everyone is born with perfect feet. Some children don’t even make it out of hospital without surgery for clubfoot and will never be the same regardless of how well the procedure goes.
Lastly, there are lots of runners out there who would not go without orthotics, but probably could. What is wrong with that? I’m a good marathoner too and my patients know it and they always ask if I wear orthotics for my pretty flat feet - I do not…
reply: Brent - you should look at Specialized cycling shoes - they have an insole designed just for this (and like this) with a met pad (the “mound”) you described as part of the cycling sock liner.
With the EEE width foot I needed to go with Carnac shoes. I ended up taking the met pad out of my orthodics after about 6 months and find the shoes very comforable now.
I had p.f. caused by running with flat feet. Orthotics got me back to running pain free after a short time, but I still have to wear them due to my extreme pronation. I too had a flare-up due to cycling. I agree that your’s is probably shoe related. I think flexible shoes and long or hard rides do not mix. A cycling orthotic may help but start with a stiff shoe. If you still want walkability get a high end MTB race shoe, and to go a step further, you could try speedplay frog pedals for a more stable platform. Good Luck, CST
I dusted off the carbon specialized road shoes and look pedals. I havn’t used them in a long time. I was checking just how stiff the are . What a diferance . Things are looking good. I didn’t screw up my foot using the other shoes. So I cought it in time.
Thom