I have been doing some brick workouts lately and when i have been changing from bike shoes to run shoes i have been having trouble slipping them on. I have tried using talcum powder(baby powder) but it still hasnt worked. I have heard that people use vaseline. I was just wondering where u put the vaseline in the shoes. I cant get my toes past the middle of the shoe. I was wondering if you just put vaseline in the heel of the shoe or if you put it down where the shoe suppurts the arch of the foot. If you have any other ways of making T2 easier help would be appreciated
I would suggest getting some Yankz!. Play around with how tight you make them and you’ll find that sweet spot where it is easy to slide the shoe on yet it holds your foot well.
x2 on using elastic laces. I just put some BodyGlide on the inside of the heel tab, and a bit on the arch (the lube on the arch is to help with blisters in my case, not ease of getting them on).
Your feet swell during a workout, so non-elastic lacing that seemed fine before you biked might be too tight for T2.
I have K-swiss K-onas and have a replica of xtenex laces htat are called knotty boy laces. I have them at a tension that I can slip them on and off easiy enough but if I have them any looser they dont feel tight enough. I also now think that its also because I have sweaty feet coming into t2. If there are any more suggestions that would be great.
Do they have fabric loop on heel ? if not sew one on or bring to a shoe repair guy and tell him what you want to do. just need a loop to get one finger in. Probbly need a doble stitch for strength
I would have never thought of the loop at the back of the shoe. I dont really want a loop at the back of my 1 month old K-swiss. It a good suggestion though for the future.
Have you tried putting the baby powder in your cycling shoes too? I have had luck with it. I am doing sprints too so that might make a difference. I run and ride sockless.
This made me ponder what I would try. Besides having a shoehorn handy, I might try a glop of Vaseline on the top of a shoe, or on something next to my shoes. First thing to do is wipe my toes across the glop and if I need some on top of the toes, I’d just use my fingers to spread some. Then slide my feet into the shoes. Not the quickest, but certainly quicker than struggling getting the feet in.
Still sounds like your laces are too tight. Do your shoes leave an imprint on the top of your foot after extended wear? If so the laces are too tight, especially on top middle of your foot.
I had this problem with Yanks and my Avia Bolts. The next pair of shoes I got, I made the laces much looser, almost to the point of maybe too loose at first wear. I can now whip them on in transition no problem and can go sockless for a 1/2 IM with no blisters.
As another poster stated, your feet are going to be swollen by T2 which will already make getting your shoes on a bit difficult.
Another thing I noticed on colder races, my toes are a bit stiff like to “stick” to the bottom of the shoe when I try to put it on. Toe covers on the bike helped.
lock laces, and leave them open all the way.
the lace loop on the heel is also great. works like a charm. I think some shoes like the saucony type A3’s have them.
If you wear socks have them half way inside out, so you can get the front of your foot in and then a quick yank on to finish pulling them up.
If you wear compression socks on the run and they are right or left specific, make sure the “L” or the “R” are visible or get a marker and put a larger “L” or"R" on the toe area of the socks so it makes things mentally simpler.
I don’t lace my shoes up through every eyelet, I skip every other set, I also use lace locks, this allows me to pull the tongue out very far creating a huge opening for my foot to enter.
I lace my training shoes the same way so I am accustom to the fit and have 0 problems. I can get my shoes on very fast and without trouble. I was once asked if lacing my shoes this way made them fit too loose, it doesn’t at all, they fit very snug and I have no slip in the heel whatsoever. And I don’t wear socks up to and including Oly distance.
Agree that elastic laces help a bunch with the shoes in T2. I would definately try some if you haven’t.
I have been using Yankz and they are okay, but plan to try something else this upcoming season. I don’t really like the the plastic contraption on the Yankz… seems like complicated solution for a simple problem. I never adjust it once it is set up. If the lace pops out of the plastic holder, then the whole piece is flapping around. Have had it happen during a training run, but never in a race… yet.
Thanks for all the help but im looking for slipping on runnong shoes easily not cycling shoes. I can slip on the cleats easily.
I think he’s saying put some in your cycling shoes TOO and it will help you slip on your running shoes. Less sweat, already have some talcum powder on your feet so they slip in easier.
Get some bodyglide and rub it all over the back part of the shoe that your heel hits when you put it on, and on the underside of the tongue as well where the top of your foot hits. Vaseline would work too but I would imagine they would get messy after a while, the bodyglide seems to vanish. They ought to slide on like slippers.
Also, having loose laces is an acquired taste. I used to be a “lace cranker” but now run all the time with them pretty loose.