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Assessing heel lift
I had a recent thread on custom shoes and received a lot of very useful ideas. Thank you.
I decided to give another go with stock shoes, so I made the rounds to several LBSs today. While trying on shoes, I realized that I have no clue how to assess the degree of heel lift without being in the bike. For clarity, I’m talking about road shoes and I’m interested in max efficiency as I try to return to racing after a major accident two years ago. Recovery has been very slow, but I was lucky and am on the upswing. This is my last go at racing at age 55, so I don’t want to leave anything on the table. Hence the hand-wringing over heel lift. In the store, what’s the best way to test for heel lift? if I put weight on the ball of my foot, the heel barely lifts in my current (but wearing out SWorks 6) shoes. In new ones I try on, there is a range from about 1cm to 3cm of lift. Is this indicative of what would happen with cleats attached while pedaling or is it a flawed analogy? Thanks in advance for your sage advice. |
#2
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I'm not sure you can even get heel lift when pedaling a bike. I've never experienced it.
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#3
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I have, frequently. It only afflicts the thin-heeled among us.
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#4
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Try google to pose your question, add REI and scan the entire article.
A pretty good response included. |
#5
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Ask to bring your bike and put it on a trainer, perhaps in some out of the way corner. Heck; bring your own trainer if you have a portable one.
If you're going to spend good money on shoes at a retailer, I would think they would accommodate you. If not, take your money elsewhere.
__________________
http://hubbardpark.blogspot.com/ |
#6
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#7
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#8
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You sure there is not some fit element in this that couldn't help?
I have some MTB shoes I have a monster amount of heel lift in. I have had my foot come completely out of the shoe pushing the bike up a really steep hill! But as soon as I get on the bike zero heel lift. |
#9
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I’m hoping someone has a better approach to assessing acceptable amounts of heel lift when trying on shoes in store? |
#10
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Go to a local TREK shop and try XXX (on sale) and the new RSL or Velocis. You have 30 days to love them and can indeed ride them...good chance even on a trainer inside to help. XXX and RSL have pretty narrow heel cups with a grippy cats tongue like fabric, and new RSL wider toe box by a mile.
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#11
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Limited sizes for a while....what color and size you looking for? |
#13
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Black, probably 45.5 — they seem to run a bit larger than Specialized in this model. I may wait to see if a sale materializes.
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#14
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I would bet $$$ you could find a NOS SW6.
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#15
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If you are getting heel lift while on the bike I'd suggest starting with a good bike fit - something needs to be altered and a good bike fitter will be able to assess and fit for shoes within that.
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