Shoes, Feet and Fit

Your feet are the primary anchor point between you and your bike. The importance of proper shoe fit, foot alignment and cleat position can not be stressed enough. Inaccuracy here can lead to loss of power and efficiency as well as discomfort and even injuries. Proper shoe fit, arch support, foot alignment and cleat position are the foundations from which we build an accurate fitting. We've learned a lot in the past decade and we're always getting better.

One thing we've learned about shoe fit  is that "tighter" is not the answer to more power and efficiency. Tighter is all too often a recipe for circulation issues, hot spots, numbness and in extreme cases, nerve and soft tissue injuries in the foot.  It's very important to get sized up the right way. Some of us got used to our feet hurting, we thought it was normal, that was wrong, it is not, and with a bit of work we can pretty much solve any shoe/foot problem out there.

There are three main components to measuring a foot. We use an industry standard tool called a brannok device, likely you've seen one. It measures overall foot length, arch length and width. The combination of these three measurements help determine your ideal shoe size. There are other elements such as foot volume, riding style and personal preference to consider as well. For example, two feet that measure the same on a Brannok won't necessarily fit in the same shoe the same way. Some feet are literally thicker than others, taller insteps, different heels and so on. It's important to be diligent in getting the proper shoe for your foot, not all brands fit all feet. This is another instance where what a pro rides or what looks cool may not be the right choice for you. Don't let others (or marketing hype) make decisions for you.

 What we've learned in the world of foot alignment has come a long way. Proper foot alignment and arch support lead to better overall physical alignment, better knee tracking, increased efficiency and increased comfort. The right pair of shoes is part of this but proper arch support is the second half of the equation. We've been working with a company called Esoles that makes custom footbeds using a 3D image taken of your foot here at Bespoke and then machines them to fit in the specific make, model and size of your shoe. We've provided Esoles for runners, skiers and many other athletes as well as cyclists. We've yet to find a better means of providing foot alignment with this level of accuracy. There are a number of stock products out there offering the same thing. The truth is that the majority of them are made so conservatively that they aren't likely cause problems but they rarely provide accurate support.

Putting all this together, we're beginning to establish our foundation for accurate fit. We're eliminating causes of discomfort, injury and we're increasing power and efficiency. We're using established guidelines, accurate knowledge and experience to make sure that you are set up properly and that you understand why it all matters.

Curious? Give us a shout or come by. Sharing what we know, our experiences and helping cyclists reach their goals is what we're all about. 

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Esoles